Annual Accountability & Governance Return (AGAR) and the Council's Accounts
The Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015 set out the responsibilities of all local councils in respect of their accounting and auditing procedures.Each year, the Council's financial accounts and statements are examined by an independent internal auditor appointed by the Council.
The Council is also required to complete an Annual Accountability & Governance Return (AGAR) which includes the findings of the Internal Auditor, together with Governance Statements and Financial Statements. The AGAR is then submitted to another independent external auditor for examination.
For the financial year ending 31st March 2020, the Council's Financial Statements have been produced and the work of both the Internal Auditor has been completed.
The Council's Financial Statements and AGAR were approved at a meeting of the Full Council held on 13th August 2020 and have now been submitted to the Council's External Auditors (Messrs Littlejohn LLC of Canary Wharf, London).
The external auditor is normally required to complete their audit by 30th September each year but, for 2020, this has been extended to 30th November as part of the government's Coronavirus Regulations.
Copies of relevant documentation can be viewed below.
Year Ending 31st March 2020
The Council's Financial Statements and Annual Accountability & Governance Return (AGAR) submission for the year-ending 31st March 2020 were approved by the Full Council at its meeting held on Thursday 13th August 2020.
The completed AGAR, together with the relevant supporting documentation, has been submitted to the external auditor.
The following documents are available to view or download:
Financial Statements 2019-2020
A copy of the Financial Statements for Skipton Town Council for the year ending 31st March 2020 can be viewed or downloaded below:
Financial Statements 2019-20These Financial Statements provide a 'snapshot' of the Council's financial position as at 31st March 2020 and summarise the financial activities of the Council during the financial year.
AGAR Documentation
Copies of the various sections of the Council's Annual Accountability & Governance Return can be viewed or downloaded below.
Annual Governance Statement 2019-2020
This section sets out a number of statements made by the Council itself regarding systems of internal control and arrangements for the preparation of accounting statement for the year ending 31st March 2020. These were approved by the Council at its meeting on 13th August 2020.
Annual Governance StatementAccounting Statements 2019-2020
This section summarises the Council's financial position as at 31st March 2020 in terms of income and expenditure. The figures are drawn from the Council's Financial Statements.
Accounting Statements 2019-20Internal Audit Report
Alongside the Financial Statement, an 'internal' audit is undertaken each year. The findings of the Internal Auditor are summarised into a further section of the AGAR.
Exercise of Electors' Rights
Local electors have a statutory period of time during which they may examine the Council's Financial Statements, AGAR and any relevant background information.
This period runs from 14th August 2020 to 28th September 2020
Electors Rights NoticeThe Council is required to make available any AGAR information for a period of five years from the conclusion of the Audit. You should contact the Council's offices if you wish to review any information from a previous year.
Financial & Transparency Information
Under the Local Government Transparency Code 2014 the Council is obliged to publish certain elements of information including, for example, details of any items of expenditure in excess of 500.00, details of any tenders or contracts exceeding a value of 5,000.00, details of any land or building assets owned by the Council and details of any grant funding given to community groups and voluntary organisations.This legislation came into force in May 2014 and information will be posted to this section of the website on a minimum quarterly basis.
Payments Over 500.00
The following downloads show, on a month by month basis, any individual item of Council expenditure in excess of 500.00 in value (excluding VAT).
Payments over 500 September 2015Payments over 500 October 2015Payments over 500.00 November 2015Payments over 500.00 December 2015Payments over 500.00 February 2016Payments over 500.00 March 2016Payments over 500.00 April 2016Payments over 500.00 May 2016Payments over 500.00 June 2016Payments over 500.00 July 2016Payments over 500.00 August 2016Payments over 500.00 September 2016Payments over 500.00 October 2016Payments over 500.00 November 2016Payments over 500.00 December 2016 Payments over 500.00 January 2017 Payments over 500.00 February 2017Payments over 500.00 March 2017Payments over 500.00 April 2017Payments over 500.00 May 2017Payments over 500.00 June 2017Payments over 500.00 July 2017Payments over 500.00 August 2017Payments over 500.00 September 2017 Payments over 500.00 October 2017Payments over 500.00 November 2017Payments over 500.00 December 2018 until April 2018Payments over 500.00 May 2018Payments over 500.00 June 2018Payments over 500.00 July 2018Payments over 500.00 August 2018Payments over 500.00 September 2018Payments over 500.00 Oct until Dec 2018Payments over 500.00 January & February 2019Payments over 500.00 March 2019Payments over 500.00 April 2019 Payments over 500.00 May 2019Payments over 500.00 June 2019Payments over 500.00 July 2019Payments over 500 August 2019 Payments over 500 September 2019Payments over 500.00 October 2019Payments over 500.00 November 2019Payments over 500.00 December 2019Payments over 500.00 January 2020Payments over 500.00 February 2020Payments over 500.00 March 2020Payments over 500.00 April 2020Payments over 500.00 May 2020Payments over 500.00 June 2020Freedom of Information Requests
If you need any information on lodging a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request or a Subject Access Request (SAR), please contact the Council for assistance.
Government Coronavirus regulations mean that normal timescales regarding FOI and SAR requests may not currently apply.
Complaints Procedure
As with any organisation, from time to time, the Council may get things wrong, or you may feel that the Council hasn't acted in the correct manner.The vast majority of problems or complaints can be resolved quickly and informally - and Skipton Town Council would always prefer to deal with any matter in this manner, rather than take a more formal route. You should contact the office with details of any issue and they will refer your problem to the most appropriate staff member.
If it proves not to be possible to resolve an issue informally, Skipton Town Council does have a formal Complaints Procedure.
Generally, any formal complaint should be addressed, in the first instance, to the Chief Officer of the Council. The Chief Officer will acknowledge your complaint and give an indication as to how long it will take to investigate the matter and respond to you. If you are not satisfied with any subsequent response, you may request that your complaint be escalated up to the Council's 'Complaints Panel' of Councillors or, ultimately, to the Full Council. Details of the procedures for various types of complaint are set out in the 'Complaints Procedure' document which can be viewed below. Copies are also available from the Council's offices.
Please note that the Local Government Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over Town or Parish Councils.
Download a copy of the Council's Complaints Procedure:
Complaints Procedure 2016/17Publication Scheme
This section of the website is currently being updated to take account of changes in legislation.The updated Publication Scheme will appear here shortly. If you require any further information in the meantime, please contact the Council's offices.
Skipton Town Council Email: admin@skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk Tel: 01756 700553
Skipton Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, Skipton, BD23 1FD