Notice of Public Rights: Audit of Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2024

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

The draft unaudited Statement of Accounts and Narrative Report for Avon Fire and Rescue Service for the year ended 31 March 2024 have now been published, marking the commencement of the period for the exercise of public rights. The Statement of Accounts and Narrative Report, as published, may be subject to change.

Notice is hereby given under Regulation 15(2)(b) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, that from 31^st May 2024 to 12^th July 2024 between 9.00am to 4.30pm on weekdays, any person may inspect and make copies of the accounts and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other related documents of the Fire Authority for the year ended 31st March 2024, as stipulated in Section 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

The accounts and other documents will be available for inspection at The Finance Department, City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR, by prior arrangement. Please telephone 0117 3521404 to make an appointment. The draft accounts will also be available on our website.

During this period, a local government elector for any area to which the accounts relate, or their representative, may question the auditor about the accounts, or make an objection to the accounts as set out in sections 26 and 27 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. Any objection, together with the grounds on which it is made, must be sent to the auditor in writing, with a copy to Statutory Finance Officer, Avon Fire Authority at Police & Fire Service Headquarters, Valley Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8JJ. Any objection must state the grounds on which the objection is being made and particulars of:

1. any item of account which is alleged to be contrary to law; and
2. any matter in respect of which it is proposed that the auditor could make a public interest report under section 24 of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 7 to, the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

Objections should be addressed to Craig Sullivan, Key Audit Partner, Bishop Fleming, 10 Temple Back, Redcliffe, Bristol, BS1 6FL.

A guide to your rights can be found on the National Audit Office website.

Read the Draft Statement of Accounts and Narrative Report 2023/2024.

Date: 31 May 2024 Verity Lee

Statutory Finance Officer to the Fire Authority