Public able to scrutinise the Council’s accounts

Residents are to have an opportunity to scrutinise and raise questions about the annual accounts of St Albans City and District Council.

A first draft of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 will be published early next month when they can be viewed on the Council’s website.

Included will be details of the Council’s spending over the 2019/20 financial year as well as the income it has received from its various services and funding sources.

During the summer a team of external auditors from the professional services firm BDO will examine them and advise on any revisions.

Residents will be able to raise questions or objections with the auditors who will take those into consideration.

Councillors on the Council’s Audit Committee will meet informally on Tuesday 29 September to review the draft. They will be able to take into account any points raised by the public.

The accounts will then be finalised before an Audit Committee meeting on Thursday 15 October when members will vote on whether to approve them.

This meeting, which may be held online because of Covid-19, will be open to the public.

To meet a Government deadline, the final version of the annual accounts will need to be published by Monday 30 November.

Councillor Daly said:

The Council is a public body which provides a range of important public services across the District, so it is important that its finances are rigorously checked.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having a severe impact on the Council’s finances, detailed scrutiny of the accounts will be more important than ever.

This process is conducted in a transparent way to maintain the confidence and trust of our residents.

I  urge anyone with an interest in local affairs to take a look at the draft accounts and also to voice any concerns or issues they may have.

The draft accounts will be published here: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/accounts-budgeting-and-spending in early July.

Residents can also purchase a paper copy along with supporting documents by applying to the Deputy Chief Executive (Finance and Legal) at FinancialStatements@StAlbans.gov.uk.

Anyone wishing to question or object to the accounts will have 30 days from the date of publication. Contributions should also be submitted to FinancialStatements@StAlbans.gov.uk.

Councillor contact: Cllr Julian Daly, Chair of the Audit Committee, cllr.j.daly@stalbans.gov.uk, 07775 657200.

Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533,  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.