Finances 2020 - 2021

Conclusion of audit for the year ending 31 March 2021

The limited assurance review for Thurston has now been completed by the External Auditors: PKF Littlejohn LLP.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234) as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/404) set out what the Parish Council must do at the conclusion of the review. In summary, we are required to:

  • Prepare a “Notice of conclusion of audit” which details the rights of inspection, in line with the statutory requirements. We attach a pro forma notice you may use for this purpose.
  • Publish the “Notice” along with the certified AGAR (Sections 1, 2 & 3) before 30 September, which must include publication on the smaller authority’s website. This deadline has been extended from 30 September 2020 for 2019/20 only as a result of the restrictions imposed by the government to prevent the spread of Covid-19. (Please note that when the statute and regulations were amended in 2014 and 2015, they did not include a requirement for the length of time for which the “Notice” must be published. There is no requirement for the “Notice” to be publicly accessible for 5 years, as there is for the AGAR and the external auditor report and certificate. The previous statute required 14 days; but it is now up to the authority to make this decision).
  • Keep copies of the AGAR available for purchase by any person on payment of a reasonable sum.
  • Ensure that Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the published AGAR remain available for public access for a period of not less than 5 years from the date of publication.

For all relevant documents as detailed above please see the box below headed up "For the Accounts relating to 2020 -2021, please view the relevant documents as listed below.

 Accounts for the year 2020 - 2021

At its meeting on 5 May 2020, Thurston Parish Council reviewed a number of documents which made up the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) which, following approval, were submitted, along with supporting documentation to the external auditors, PKF Littlejohn, to enable them to carry out a limited assurance review.

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015 and the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, there is a requirement for the parish council to publish a number of documents on a public website - all of which are available to download direct from this website.

Notice of the Conclusion of Audit  
External Auditor Report and Certificate (Section 3 of the AGAR) Audited Accounts (Sections 1 and 2 of the AGAR)
Internal Audit for the year ending 31 March 2021 Unaudited Annaul Governance Statement of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 
Unaudited Accounting Statements of the AGAR Approved Summary of the Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2021
Approved Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2021 Explanation of High Reserves held for the year ending 31 March 2021
Approved Reserve Position for the year ending 31 March 2021 Explanation of Variances for the year ending 31 March 2021
Asset Register for the year ending 31 March 2021 Year end Bank Reconciliation for the period ending 31 March 2021
Risk Assessment and Management (Financial) for 2020-2021 Risk Management Strategy 2020-2021
Donations for the year ending 31 March 2021 Budget versus actual income and expenditure review to 31 March 2021
Budget versus actual income and expenditure review to 31 December 2020 Budget versus actual income and expenditure review to 30 June 2020
Internal Audit Review - Quarter Three Internal Audit Review - Quarters One and Two
Revised budget for 2020-2021 - COVID-19 Finalised budget for 2020-2021

In accordance with the accounting records for the financial year ending 31 March 2021, (which includes all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records) were made available for inspection by any person interested, during a period of 30 working days set by the smaller authority which included the first 10 working days of July 2021. 

For details of the dates set for Thurston please use this link to download the details which also include an article on: Local Authority Accounts: A Summary of Your Rights. 

For a copy of the detailed guide produced by the National Audit Office 'Local authority accounts: a guide to your rights' please click here to download the guide.