Budget, Accounts & Audit Arrangements 

The Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015 set out the responsibilities of all local councils in respect of their accounting and auditing procedures.

Each year, the Council’s financial accounts and statements are examined by an independent ‘internal’ auditor appointed by the Council.

The Council is also required to complete an ‘Annual Return’ which includes the findings of the Internal Auditor, together with Governance Statements and Financial Statements. This Annual Return is then submitted to another independent ‘external’ auditor for examination. The external auditor is appointed by the government (Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments Ltd (SAAA). The current auditor is PKF Littlejohn LLP.

As part of this process, the Council must publish the unaudited Annual Return and must make arrangements for a period in which interested persons can inspect the Council’s accounts and related documents. If you are a registered local government elector (i.e. you appear on the electoral register for the area covered by the Council) you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them.

In due course (and by the 30th September each year) the Council must also publish a final copy of the audited Annual Return, once this is received back from the External Auditor after they have completed their examination.

Internal audit is a key component of the system of internal control. Its purpose is to review whether the systems of financial control and other controls over the activities of the council are adequate, effective, and in line with current regulations. Internal audit does not actively seek evidence of fraud, corruption, error or mistakes, but can assist the council in its responsibility for the prevention and detection of such occurrences.

The Internal Auditor is independent of the operations (financial control/management) of the Council and competent in the understanding of the law as applicable to Local Councils, of simple accounting and basic PAYE and VAT requirements.

Burley Parish Council has appointed Yorkshire Internal Audit as its Internal Auditor for this financial year. The scope of the internal audit is reviewed annually and agreed by the Council.