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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 £25,000 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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