Notice of public rights

Audit of Accounts year ended 31 March 2022

Notice of Public Rights

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021

The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021 introduced revised deadlines applicable to local authorities as:  

• Approve Draft Accounts 31 July 2022 (previously 31 May) 

• Public Inspection Period to start on or before first working day of August 2022 (previously included first 10 working days of June) 

• Publish Final Audited Accounts 30 September 2022 (previously 31 July) 

Notice is hereby given under the amended regulations for accounts with the year ended 31 March 2022 that from Friday 29 July to Thursday 8 September 2022 between 10:00am and 4:00pm on weekdays any person may be able to inspect, and make copies of the accounts and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other related documents of Cheshire Fire Authority for the year ended 31 March 2022, as stipulated in Section 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. 

The accounts and other documents will be available for inspection at Cheshire Fire Authority, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 2UA by prior arrangement. Please telephone 01606 868700 to make an appointment.  In the current climate, it may be necessary to make alternative arrangements other than onsite visits. 

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, Cheshire Fire Authority, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 2UA. Any objection must state the grounds on which the objection is being made and particulars of:

i)any item of account which is alleged to be contrary to law; and

ii)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 auditor, Grant Thornton UK LLP at Landmark, St Peter’s Square, 1 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 4PB.

A guide to your rights can be found at: 

https://www.nao.org.uk/code-audit-practice/council-accounts-a-guide-to-your-rights 

Date:  29 July 2022

Paul Vaughan
Treasurer (Section 151 Officer)
Cheshire Fire Authority
Winsford
Cheshire
CW7 2UA