Council Audit and Annual Return
Osbaston Parish Council has a legal duty under the Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015 to inform residents and taxpayers about how public funds are managed, accounted for, and audited. We fulfill this responsibility in several ways:
Parish Council Meetings
At each Parish Council meeting, all payments are reviewed and approved by Councillors. These payments, along with the amounts requested, are listed on the meeting agenda under the relevant item. Additionally, Councillors review and approve bank reconciliations and conduct quarterly budget monitoring to ensure financial transparency.
Internal Audit
An independent internal auditor is appointed annually to review the Council’s accounts and assess internal controls. The auditor provides a report on their findings to the Council and completes the Annual Governance and Accountability Review (AGAR), confirming that the Council's financial management and controls are both effective and transparent.
Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities
In 2017, changes to the external audit process introduced new requirements for smaller councils with annual expenditure under £25,000. Such councils, including Osbaston Parish Council, are eligible to certify themselves as exempt from external audits under the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities.
This change emphasizes the role of local residents in holding councils accountable. However, the Council still conducts an internal audit and publishes financial documents to maintain transparency. These documents, as required by the Transparency Code, are available on this website.
External Audit Requirements
If the Council's annual expenditure exceeds £25,000, an external audit will be carried out. Until that threshold is reached, Osbaston Parish Council will continue to certify itself as exempt.
Your Rights as a Local Elector
As a registered local government elector, you have the legal right to:
- Inspect the Council’s accounts.
- Ask questions about financial decisions.
- Challenge items in the Council's accounts.
For more information, refer to the National Audit Office's guide: Council Accounts – A Guide to Your Rights.
By maintaining robust financial practices and adhering to these requirements, Osbaston Parish Council remains committed to transparency and accountability.
Annual Audit 2023-2024
Please see below the annual governance and accountability review for financial year 2023-2024.
File Name | Last Modified | File Size |
---|---|---|
Accounting Statement 2023 24.pdf | 29 May 2024 | 443kB |
Annual Governance Statement 23 24.pdf | 29 May 2024 | 463kB |
Bank Reconciliation Proforma 2024_v2.xlsx | 29 May 2024 | 12kB |
Bank Transactions Apr23 Mar24.csv | 29 May 2024 | 3kB |
Breakdown of Reserves Held.xlsx | 29 May 2024 | 12kB |
Certificate of Exemption 23 24.pdf | 29 May 2024 | 521kB |
Council accounts a guide to your rights.pdf | 29 May 2024 | 298kB |
Explanation of Variances.xlsx | 29 May 2024 | 15kB |
Notice of Public Rights Exempt Authorities.docx | 29 May 2024 | 25kB |
Annual Audit 2022-2023
Please see below the annual governance and accountability review for financial year 2022-2023.
File Name | Last Modified | File Size |
---|---|---|
Accounting Statement 22 23.pdf | 26 May 2023 | 407kB |
Annual Governance Statement 22 23.pdf | 26 May 2023 | 297kB |
Certificate of Exemption 22 23.pdf | 26 May 2023 | 291kB |
Complete AGAR Form 2 2022 23.pdf | 26 May 2023 | 1.72MB |
Exempt authority Notice of Public Rights 22 23.pdf | 26 May 2023 | 115kB |
Internal Auditors Report 22 23.pdf | 26 May 2023 | 510kB |
Annual Audit 2021-2022
Please see below the annual governance and accountability review for financial year 2021-2022. Please note that these accounts are currently unaudited.
File Name | Last Modified | File Size |
---|---|---|
Accounting Statement 21 22.pdf | 28 June 2022 | 272kB |
Annual Governance Statement 21 22.pdf | 28 June 2022 | 303kB |
Annual Internal Audit Report 21 22.pdf | 28 June 2022 | 397kB |
Bank Reconciliation 21 22.xlsx | 28 June 2022 | 15kB |
Certificate of Exemption 21 22.pdf | 28 June 2022 | 279kB |
Notice Exercise of Public Rights 2021 22.docx | 13 June 2022 | 22kB |