Annual Reports (AGAR)

The Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer must prepare the ‘Annual Governance and Accountability Return’ document as follows:

Section 1 is the ‘Annual Governance Statement’ which lists a number of statements relating to financial activity, internal mechanisms of control, consideration of the results of previous Internal and External Audits and other aspects and expectations involved in the operation of the Parish Council. The Parish Council considers each aspect in detail and must agree and approve whether or not each aspect has been adhered to.

Section 2 completed by the Parish Council is the ‘Accounting Statements’ and is a summary of financial activity through the year. An analysis of the comparison of financial activity with the previous year, an explanation of any ‘significant variances’ is also sent to the External Auditor, together with a bank reconciliation for the end of the financial year.

The two completed sections of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return must be approved by the Parish Council. Once these sections have been approved and the Internal Audit completed, the Annual Governance and Accountability Return is sent to the External Auditor PKF Littlejohn, for audit.