Statement of Accounts 2020 – 2021 (2MB pdf)
31 May 2021 – Delay in publishing audited Statement of Accounts: Year Ended 31 March 2021
The external audit of the draft Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 has not yet been completed by our external auditors, Deloitte LLP, due to delay in receipt of response from pension fund auditor and receipt of information from pension administrators for completion of pension assets and membership audit.
This situation is allowed for by Regulation 10, paragraph (2) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234), as amended by the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/263).
This notification explains, as per Regulation 10 (2) (a), that we are not yet able to publish our audited 2020-21 Statement of Accounts in line with publication date of 30 September 2021, as per Regulation 10 (1). The Fire Authority is continuing to work closely with the external auditor to ensure the required work is completed as soon as possible. In line with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, Avon Fire Authority published a draft Statement of Accounts subject to audit on 15 July 2021 and the final audited Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 will be published as soon as the audit is concluded, and the Independent Auditor’s Report issued.
Fire Authorities must produce an annual Statement of Accounts in accordance with legislative requirements and the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the UK. Our draft 2020-21 annual Statement of Accounts are available below for the public to inspect.
Draft Statement of Accounts and Narrative Report 2020 – 2021 (2MB pdf)
17 July 2021 – Public inspection notice
Audit of accounts year ended 31 March 2021
Notice of pubic rights
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
Notice is hereby given under Regulation 15(2)(b) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 that from 15th July 2021 to 26th August 2021 between 9.00 am to 4.30 pm 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 2021, 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 accounts will also be available at www.avonfire.gov.uk.
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, and the grounds on which it is made, must be sent to the auditor in writing, with a copy to The Treasurer, 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:
- any item of account which is alleged to be contrary to law; and
- 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 the Ian Howse, Appointed Auditor, Deloitte LLP, 5 Callaghan Square, Cardiff, CF10 5BT.
A guide to your rights can be found at Local authority accounts: A guide to your rights (nao.org.uk)
Date: 14/07/2021
Danielle Neale
Treasurer to the Fire Authority
