As a Parish Council, we have a statutory duty through the Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015 to inform our residents and tax payers how we spend public money in respect of our accounting and auditing procedures. We do this in a number of ways.

• At every Parish Council meeting (excluding extradordinary meetings), the Parish Councillors review and approve all of the invoices that are scheduled for payment or which have been paid after prior authorisation by the Council. These invoices are also summarised in the draft payment list document. Councillors also have the opportunity to review latest bank statements and to reconcil the amount against the draft financial statement that is also presented. 
• The end-of-year accounts are produced in April, following the end of the financial year on 31 March. Each year, an internal auditor is then appointed by the Council to review the accounts and all aspects of internal financial control. The internal auditor, who is strictly independent from the Council, then reports findings back to the Council and signs the auditors annual report on the Annual Governance and Accountability Review (AGAR) to highlight issues or to confirm that the council’s system of control is competent and operating transparently. Once the Internal Audit has been undertaken, the parish council has to complete and adopt the governance statement and accounting statements and the accompanying documents required for external audit.
• The Annual Return and documents are then sent for External Audit and a period of Public Rights to view the unaudited accounts occurs. Once the report from the External Auditor has been received, a second period of Public Rights (to view the audited accounts) then occurs.

If you are a registered local government elector (i.e. you appear on the electoral register for the area covered by the Council) you have legal rights to inspect, ask questions about and challenge items in your council's accounts.

For more information, the National Audit Office has published a guide - Council Accounts - a guide to your rights

Notice of Public Rights

Annual Governance

Accounting Statement

Internal Auditors Report

Certificate

Conclusion

Notice of Public Rights

Annual Governance

Certficate

Conclusion

Notice of Public Rights

Internal Audit

Accountign Statement

Annual Governance

Certificate

Conclusion

Notice of Public Rights

Annual Governance

Certificate

Conclusion

Notice of Public Rights

Annual Goverance

Certificate

Conclusion

Notice of Public Rights

Internal Audit

Annual Governance

Certificate

Internal Audit

Annual Goverance