(1)The Audit Commission shall prescribe a scale or scales of fees in respect of inspections carried out under section 10.
(2)An authority inspected under section 10 shall, subject to subsection (3), pay to the Commission the fee applicable to the inspection in accordance with the appropriate scale.
(3)If it appears to the Commission that the work involved in a particular inspection was substantially more or less than that envisaged by the appropriate scale, the Commission may charge a fee which is larger or smaller than that referred to in subsection (2).
(4)Before prescribing a scale of fees under this section the Commission shall consult—
(a)the Secretary of State, and
(b)persons appearing to the Commission to represent best value authorities.