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Financial Accounts, Documents & Policies

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Financial Accounts

Accounting Statements

Accounting statements show the cash balance, precept, staff costs and other income and expenditure for the last accounting year.

Annual Governance & Accountability Return

The Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR) is the document that is submitted by local councils presenting a summary of their audit and financial information.

Bank Reconciliations

Bank Reconciliations show whether the council's bank account statements match the accounting cashbook at the end of the financial year.

Budgets

Councils are obliged to set a budget each year.

Certificate of Exemptions

Certificates of Exemptions are created if a local council is below the ยฃ25,000 threshold for expenditure. This forms part of the AGAR.

Conclusion of Audit

This is a document confirming that the accounts for the last accounting year have been published.

External Audit Reports

This is a certificate signed by an external auditor after a review of the AGAR.

Governance Statements

The Annual Governance Statement is a document signed by the council confirming whether it conforms to certain financial, accounting and auditing measures.

Internal Audits

The Annual Internal Audit is a signed checklist showing whether certain aspects of the council running has been internally reviewed, and whether the council conforms.

Councillor Documents

General Policies and Publications

Asset Register

A formal, up-to-date record of all land, buildings, equipment, and infrastructure owned or managed by a local council.

Complaints Policy

A formal procedure used to handle public dissatisfaction regarding a council's administration, procedures, or staff conduct.

Communications & Social Media

An official set of rules that guides how a local council, its staff, and its councillors share information online and talk with the public.

Code of Conduct

Standards of behavior expected of its elected and co-opted members.

Disciplinary Policy

A formal framework used to handle employee conduct and performance issues fairly.

Equality and Diversity

Commitment to ensuring fair treatment, equal opportunities, and inclusion for all employees, councillors, volunteers, and residents.

Financial Regulations

Mandatory internal rules that govern how a local council manages, spends, and accounts for public money.

Grant Funding Policy

Sets the rules and limits for giving local financial support to community groups and charities.

Grievance Policy

Sets out the formal steps for employees to raise concerns, problems, or complaints about their employment.

Health & Safety Policy

A formal statement outlining the council's commitment to legal compliance, safe working conditions, and the protection of employees, councillors, volunteers, and the public.

Risk Assessments

These documents outline risk assessments carried out by the local council.

Training & Procedure

Sets out how elected members and staff receive the skills and legal knowledge needed for good governance.

Data Policies

Accessibility Statement

A web accessibility statement is an information page on your website that clearly states the level of web accessibility to which the website aims to conform.

Cookie Policy

Cookie policy displaying all information collected whilst on the website

Data Protection Policy

How a local council complies with UK data protection laws, specifically the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

Document Retention

Policy detailing the council's responsibilities for retaining certain documents, and how long they should be retained.

Freedom of Information

The parish council has a general policy of openness, and strives to comply with both the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities.

IT Policy

Outlining the rules, procedures, and responsibilities for using technology and handling digital data.

Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is a statement or legal document that discloses some or all of the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses, and manages a customer or client's data.

Statutory Documents

Standing Orders

The written internal rules that govern how a local council runs its meetings, handles administration, and conducts its daily business.

Commitments & Pledges

Civility and Respect Pledge

This details whether the council has signed the Civility and Respect pledge. This is a project between NALC, SLCC and OVW to help councils show their zero tolerance for bullying, harassment and intimidation in local councils.

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