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Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 11:03 PM
Subject: [Biggleswade OnLine] New comment on Biggleswade Town Council Accounts year ended 31st ....
Rob has left a new comment on your post "Biggleswade Town Council Accounts year ended 31st ...":
We're currently in the period when the accounts are available for inspection, as outlined on the noticeboard outside the council offices recently. I was surprised you didn't bring it to our attention. You clearly have the time on your hands - make an appointment. Posted by Rob to Biggleswade OnLine at 30 June 2011 23:03
We're currently in the period when the accounts are available for inspection, as outlined on the noticeboard outside the council offices recently. I was surprised you didn't bring it to our attention. You clearly have the time on your hands - make an appointment. Posted by Rob to Biggleswade OnLine at 30 June 2011 23:03
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Having found the time this morning when passing through the town, I went and looked at the noticeboard. Lo and behold there is a notice:
Everything looks fine until you read all of the rules in the new Statutory Instrument. The statement issued by the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles sums up the situation.
"The Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced the introduction of new rules requiring councils to publicise the right of the public and press to inspect councils' detailed financial accounts, ledgers and records.
Under the changes announced to the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011, councils will be required to highlight the public's opportunity to inspect their accounts on their website, in addition to the existing requirement to notify the public of their rights through the local press.
Local authorities are already required to open their accounting records for public inspection and challenge over a set time period each year. However, in the government's opinion, the public often do not realise that these rights include "all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts related to them", which effectively enable them to check any spending under the £500 transparency threshold without the need to submit Freedom of Information Act requests.
The revised Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011 now include the following notification requirements:
Under the changes announced to the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011, councils will be required to highlight the public's opportunity to inspect their accounts on their website, in addition to the existing requirement to notify the public of their rights through the local press.
Local authorities are already required to open their accounting records for public inspection and challenge over a set time period each year. However, in the government's opinion, the public often do not realise that these rights include "all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts related to them", which effectively enable them to check any spending under the £500 transparency threshold without the need to submit Freedom of Information Act requests.
The revised Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011 now include the following notification requirements:
- the period during which the accounts and other documents will be available for inspection
- the place at which, and the hours during which, they will be so available
- the name and address of the auditor
- the right to make objections at audit; and
- the date appointed for the exercise of rights of electors.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: "An open Government is vital for good democracy and that's why councils have to open their ledgers to the public - everyone has a right to know how their taxes are spent.
But it's not enough to just publish them quietly, armchair auditors and local journalists need to know exactly where to find that information and these new changes will make sure they are not just out in the open but under the spotlight too.”
But it's not enough to just publish them quietly, armchair auditors and local journalists need to know exactly where to find that information and these new changes will make sure they are not just out in the open but under the spotlight too.”
Has anybody seen a notice published in the local press?? I have scoured the last four weeks Chronicles, as has my little helper and we cannot find it.
Has any body seen it published on the Town Council website ??
I will of course be writing to the Town Clerk.
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