Scrapping of audit watchdog for English councils ‘led to soaring costs and chaos’

Some of the biggest increases in audit costs were at financially stricken councils, including a dramatic 620% rise in fees at Woking, Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

David Cameron’s “bonfire of the quangos” decision to abolish England’s council spending watchdog has left a broken system that is costing taxpayers more money than it was promised to save.

In a highly critical report, academics at the University of Sheffield said the coalition government of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had promised savings of £100m a year by abolishing the Audit Commission.