Budget & Precept
Every Council in England must prepare a budget for the financial year and decide on the amount of moneys required to deliver that budget. That money is then ‘precepted’ or demanded from the principal (Council Tax) authority. For Snainton Parish Council that principal (Council Tax) authority is Scarborough Borough Council, who then adds the sum required or precepted to the Annual Council tax Bill sent to households.
The impact of the amount required for the budget on households will vary as the number of houses varies in the Parish.
Audit
Every smaller authority in England must complete an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) at the end of each financial year in accordance with proper practices summarising its activities. The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
Snainton Parish Council has a sound system of internal controls to ensure the effective financial management of its affairs. Each year an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) is completed which forms a summary of the previous years' financial activities of the Council. Legislation requires that the AGAR must be approved by the Council, and submitted for external Audit by 30th June each year. However the Council’s present external auditors require that the AGAR is completed, approved by the Council and returned to them by 10th June.
The Audit Process
The AGAR and the Accounts of the Council are subject to an Internal Audit, by a competent person appointed by the Council, and by an External Auditor appointed on behalf of Government to review the Internal Auditor’s work, and review the Council’s AGAR.
As a part of the audit process local residents have a right to inspect, ask questions about and challenge items in the Council's accounts during a thirty day period each year. The dates of this period are published annually and must include the first 10 working days of July.
For more information about your rights from the National Audit Office is available here.
Audited Accounts
Once the external auditor has completed their review of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) it is available for inspection by any local government elector living in Snainton.
Period of Exercise of Public Rights
The Period of Exercise of Public Accounts runs from June to July each year