Council Budgets & Spending

Brentwood Borough Council strives to provide high quality, efficient and value for money services and seeks continuous improvement in service delivery to meet the needs of the community.

Brentwood Borough Council

Delay to the Notice of the Commencement of the Period for the Exercise of Public Rights

The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

The Council is required by The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 to present its Statement of Accounts (and associated documents) for public inspection for a period of 30 days which must include the first 10 working days of June, this allows for a common inspection period with all other (Category 1) Local Authorities.

However, having considered the increasing impact of COVID19 is having on Local Authorities as they divert resources to support the community in these unprecedented times, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has extended the statutory deadlines for local authorities to approve and publish their accounts for the 2019/20 financial year.

The revised deadlines applicable to local authorities are as follows:

• Approve Draft Accounts 31 August 2020 (previously 31 May)
• Public Inspection Period to start on or before first working day of September 2020 (previously included first 10 working days of June)
• Publish Final Audited Accounts 30 November 2020 (previously 31 July)

The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 have implemented these new deadlines by amending the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

Notice of the commencement of the period for exercise of public rights (including the inspection of the accounts and associated documents) will be published on the Council’s website in advance of the start date.

Brentwood Borough Council

Notice of the Commencement of the Period for the Exercise of Public Rights

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015

The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Notice is hereby given that the unaudited statement of accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 has been published.    A copy can be accessed by clicking the link below.

The statement of accounts is unaudited and may be subject to change.

Notice is hereby given that from Tuesday 1^st September 2020 to Monday 12^th October 2020, any person may inspect the accounting records of the Council for the year ended 31 March 2020, and certain related documents (comprising books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents).   They may also make copies of all or any part of those records or documents.

Note that section 26 of the Act contains prohibitions on inspecting any part of a record or document containing information that is protected on the grounds of commercial confidentiality or that contains personal information.

Any persons wishing to exercise their rights of inspection should contact the Corporate Finance Department by email (auditqueries@brentwood.gov.uk) to make an appointment, giving a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.

The Council’s accounts are subject to external audit by:

Ernst & Young LLP, 400 Capability Green, Luton, LU1 3LU.

During the inspection period, local electors (or their representative) have the following rights under the 2014 Act:

• to be given the opportunity to question the auditor about the accounting records (section 26 of the 2014 Act): 
• to make an objection to the auditor which concerns a matter in respect of which the auditor could make a public interest report or could apply for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful (section 27 of the 2014 Act).

Any person wishing to question the auditor should contact the external auditor at the address given above to make arrangements to ask questions.

Under section 27 of the 2014 Act, any proposed objection must be submitted in writing to the Auditor.  Any such objection must comply with the requirements of regulation 17 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.   A copy must also be sent to the Council at the following address:  

Jacqueline Van Mellaerts CPFA,

Director of Corporate Resources,

Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AY

Jacqueline Van Mellaerts CPFA, Director of Corporate Resources

29 July 2020

Statement of Accounts

• Unaudited Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2020
• Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2019
• Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2018
• Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2017
• Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2016
• Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2015
• Statement of Accounts for year ended 31st March 2014