AGAR Image

The AGAR process ensures that all councillors’ agreed decisions, and associated income and expenditure have been properly recorded. Also, that all associated documentation has been made accessible to members of the public to view.

 

Every year parish councils submit a statement (aka AGAR) to an External Auditor. How can the officially signed Annual Governance and Accountability Return help members of the public view the records? What documents are available to view?

 

The AGAR Notice (pg1) states, “Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested”. See BOB’s August viewing pre-queries awaiting answers and an Inspection date. Also, July questions & BPC official response.

 

The Right to Inspect the council’s records is enshrined in law (AGAR Notice pg2). In July 2023 the External Auditor stated that they had, "... written to … [Bleadon] Council about the need to restart the public rights period since the approved AGAR has not been published on the website. Members of the public will therefore have the opportunity to inspect the accounting records and ask questions of the clerk for a further 6 weeks. If any concerns remain after the Council has responded to queries, electors may wish to consider raising objections to the AGAR with the appointed auditor"

 

2023 AGAR BLOG

 

BPC 2023 AGAR RELATED DOCUMENTS EXPLAINED

 

Previous Bleadon AGAR Queries to BPC and External Audit

Audit Info

  • External Audit Final Reports
    • 2021/22 - 12JUN23 pages 55-56 (Min 365.17.ii)
    • 2020/21 - 12JUN23 pages 57-59 (Min 365.17.i)
    • Invoices totalling over £10,307.10K 21JUN23 Min 366.2 & 366.11 -  p10
      • External Auditors Fee for 2020/21 AGAR Net £2,485.00 Gross £2,982.00
      • External Auditors Fee for 2021/22 AGAR Net £6,104.25 Gross £7,325.10
      • Not including additional AGAR specific hours relating to the Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)
        • 13FEB23 (Min 361.3) "Resolved: To recruit Liz Shayler as the Locum Clerk for up to 10 hours a week at £25 an hour until the employment of a Clerk"
        • 13FEB23 (Min 361.5) "Resolved: To recruit Nina Flint as the Finance Officer for up to 7 hours a week at £18 an hour to complete the 2022 / 2023 accounts, facilitate the external audit, begin the new financial year and hand over to the new Clerk / RFO."
        • 13FEB23 (Min 361.13) "That up to an additional 20 hours work for the 2021/22 financial audit be authorised. Any additional time needed will be required to go back to the full council." 

Related BOB Blogs

 

2023

2022

2021