Finance

Accounts

Local Councils are required by law to appoint an officer who is responsible for the administration of its financial affairs. That person, in the case of Fornham All Saints Parish Council is the Clerk to the Council. It is the duty of the clerk, as the responsible financial officer (RFO) to determine the form and content of the council's accounts and supporting records, subject to any directions from the Council and in compliance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations of 2014 and 2015. The RFO must ensure that the accounts and records are maintained in accordance with proper practices and and kept up to date.

For a copy of the accounting statements and files that make up the financial records for each year end (local authorities year runs from 1 April to 31 March) please click on the accounts folders at the bottom of the page. Any person wishing to see further copies of all the books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to the Accounting Statements (and the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR)) has the right so to do. Please contact the Clerk for a mutually agreeable appointment to view the relevant documents.

Precept and Budget

Under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 ss 39, 41, 51 and 52 and the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regs. 1992 No. 613 and 4(1) the Parish Council has the power to raise money from those resident within its parish to meet all of its expenses.

(1) Local Council Administration - Charles Arnold-Baker - note overspends to be funded from reserves held by the council.

Parish Councils are the cheapest and least bureaucratic kind of local authority. They are funded by a small share of the council tax but get no government grant so they have every incentive to ensure that they give and get value for money. This funding is done by levying a parish rate in the form of a precept and is collected by St Edmundsbury Borough Council as the billing authority. The Parish Council may also occasionally receive grants and income from other sources and use these funds for improvements within it's local community.

Annual Returns

Local Councils in England with an annual turnover of £1 million or less must complete an annual return which summarizes its financial activities at the end of the financial year.

The financial year for all local authorities runs from 1 April to 31 March. (Click here to go to the Annual Returns page to find out more)