Leigh Cricket Club welcomes players of any ability, gender and experience; those who want to play every week or just occasionally. The Club plays a mixture of village league and friendly matches from April to the end of September. Most are competitive but they always have fun.
LEIGH PARISH COUNCIL
NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF UNAUDITED ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 26 and 27
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)
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NOTICE |
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1. Date of announcement 26TH JUNE 2022 2. Each year the smaller authority’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR has been published with this notice. As it has yet to be reviewed by the appointed auditor, it is subject to change as a result of that review. Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2022, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:
(b) CLERK VIA EMAIL ON leighparishcouncil@gmail.com or in writing to Leigh Parish Council 7, Yew Tree Road, Charlwood RH6 0DE
commencing on (c) __Monday 27th June 2022
and ending on (d) ___Friday 5th August
3. Local government electors and their representatives also have:
· The opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; and · The right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority.
The appointed auditor can be contacted at the address in paragraph 4 below for this purpose between the above dates only.
4. The smaller authority’s AGAR is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO’s Code of Audit Practice 2015. The appointed auditor is:
PKF Littlejohn LLP (Ref: SBA Team) 15 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf London E14 4HD
5. This announcement is made by Laura Mann Clerk & RFO
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LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCOUNTS: A SUMMARY OF YOUR RIGHTS
Please note that this summary applies to all relevant smaller authorities, including local councils, internal drainage boards and ‘other’ smaller authorities.
The basic position
The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (the Act) governs the work of auditors appointed to smaller authorities. This summary explains the provisions contained in Sections 26 and 27 of the Act. The Act and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 also cover the duties, responsibilities and rights of smaller authorities, other organisations and the public concerning the accounts being audited.
As a local elector, or an interested person, you have certain legal rights in respect of the accounting records of smaller authorities. As an interested person you can inspect accounting records and related documents. If you are a local government elector for the area to which the accounts relate you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them. You do not have to pay directly for exercising your rights. However, any resulting costs incurred by the smaller authority form part of its running costs. Therefore, indirectly, local residents pay for the cost of you exercising your rights through their council tax.
The right to inspect the accounting records
Any interested person can inspect the accounting records, which includes but is not limited to local electors. You can inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records. You can copy all, or part, of these records or documents. Your inspection must be about the accounts, or relate to an item in the accounts. You cannot, for example, inspect or copy documents unrelated to the accounts, or that include personal information (Section 26 (6) – (10) of the Act explains what is meant by personal information). You cannot inspect information which is protected by commercial confidentiality. This is information which would prejudice commercial confidentiality if it was released to the public and there is not, set against this, a very strong reason in the public interest why it should nevertheless be disclosed.
When smaller authorities have finished preparing accounts for the financial year and approved them, they must publish them (including on a website). There must be a 30 working day period, called the ‘period for the exercise of public rights’, during which you can exercise your statutory right to inspect the accounting records. Smaller authorities must tell the public, including advertising this on their website, that the accounting records and related documents are available to inspect. By arrangement you will then have 30 working days to inspect and make copies of the accounting records. You may have to pay a copying charge. The 30 working day period must include a common period of inspection during which all smaller authorities’ accounting records are available to inspect. This will be 1-14 July 2022 for 2021/22 accounts. The advertisement must set out the dates of the period for the exercise of public rights, how you can communicate to the smaller authority that you wish to inspect the accounting records and related documents, the name and address of the auditor, and the relevant legislation that governs the inspection of accounts and objections.
The right to ask the auditor questions about the accounting records
You should first ask your smaller authority about the accounting records, since they hold all the details. If you are a local elector, your right to ask questions of the external auditor is enshrined in law. However, while the auditor will answer your questions where possible, they are not always obliged to do so. For example, the question might be better answered by another organisation, require investigation beyond the auditor’s remit, or involve disproportionate cost (which is borne by the local taxpayer). Give your smaller authority the opportunity first to explain anything in the accounting records that you are unsure about. If you are not satisfied with their explanation, you can question the external auditor about the accounting records.
The law limits the time available for you formally to ask questions. This must be done in the period for the exercise of public rights, so let the external auditor know your concern as soon as possible. The advertisement or notice that tells you the accounting records are available to inspect will also give the period for the exercise of public rights during which you may ask the auditor questions, which here means formally asking questions under the Act. You can ask someone to represent you when asking the external auditor questions.
Before you ask the external auditor any questions, inspect the accounting records fully, so you know what they contain. Please remember that you cannot formally ask questions, under the Act, after the end of the period for the exercise of public rights. You may ask your smaller authority other questions about their accounts for any year, at any time. But these are not questions under the Act.
You can ask the external auditor questions about an item in the accounting records for the financial year being audited. However, your right to ask the external auditor questions is limited. The external auditor can only answer ‘what’ questions, not ‘why’ questions. The external auditor cannot answer questions about policies, finances, procedures or anything else unless it is directly relevant to an item in the accounting records. Remember that your questions must always be about facts, not opinions. To avoid misunderstanding, we recommend that you always put your questions in writing.
The right to make objections at audit
You have inspected the accounting records and asked your questions of the smaller authority. Now you may wish to object to the accounts on the basis that an item in them is in your view unlawful or there are matters of wider concern arising from the smaller authority’s finances. A local government elector can ask the external auditor to apply to the High Court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, or to issue a report on matters which are in the public interest. You must tell the external auditor which specific item in the accounts you object to and why you think the item is unlawful, or why you think that a public interest report should be made about it. You must provide the external auditor with the evidence you have to support your objection. Disagreeing with income or spending does not make it unlawful. To object to the accounts you must write to the external auditor stating you want to make an objection, including the information and evidence below and you must send a copy to the smaller authority. The notice must include:
Other than it must be in writing, there is no set format for objecting. You can only ask the external auditor to act within the powers available under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
A final word
You may not use this ‘right to object’ to make a personal complaint or claim against your smaller authority. You should take such complaints to your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, local Law Centre or to your solicitor. Smaller authorities, and so local taxpayers, meet the costs of dealing with questions and objections. In deciding whether to take your objection forward, one of a series of factors the auditor must take into account is the cost that will be involved, they will only continue with the objection if it is in the public interest to do so. They may also decide not to consider an objection if they think that it is frivolous or vexatious, or if it repeats an objection already considered. If you appeal to the courts against an auditor’s decision not to apply to the courts for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, you will have to pay for the action yourself.
| For more detailed guidance on public rights and the special powers of auditors, copies of the publication Local authority accounts: A guide to your rights are available from the NAO website. |
If you wish to contact your authority’s appointed external auditor please write to the address in paragraph 4 of the Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited Annual Governance & Accountability Return.
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There will be lots going on in Leigh over the weekend of the Queen’s Jubilee, 2nd – 5th June. Look out for the flier which will be dropping through your door shortly and check out the events on this website.
On 19th March the Leigh and District Cottage Garden Society planted a commemorative tree to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year on the village green. With thanks to Chairman of Surrey County Council Helyn Clack for her support, as well that of other local councillors, cottage garden society members and villagers, not to mention the enthusiastic help of some smaller members of our community. The tree is a Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) which it is hoped will be an attractive feature at the heart of the village for many years to come.
Now that summer is on its way, there’s no better time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
I am hoping to create a local walking group, open to all residents of Leigh. Everyone welcome, bring your dogs too!
I am home-based during the day so could do walks during the day or anytime.
It would be lovely to meet new people in the village and have some company on walks.
If you are interested, please email editor@leigh-surrey.org.uk for your details to be passed on.
I look forward to hearing from you and to creating a new walking group.
Kate
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Leigh and District Cottage Garden Society will be planting a Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this Saturday March 19th at 2.30pm. The tree will be planted on the Village Green.
All villagers and members of LDCGS are invited to attend. Please bring along children and grandchildren. Trowels will be provided for children to add some soil.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
(8 hours per week, pay dependant on experience)
Leigh Parish Council is seeking to recruit a new part time Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.
The Clerk is required to prepare the agenda for, attend and to produce the minutes of all Council meetings and the Annual Parish Meeting. They are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the council and all its assets, managing the Council’s finances in accordance with Government Accounting Regulations and be responsible for the Council’s communication through the website and newsletters.
The position is home-based but will require a commitment to attend ad hoc meetings and some site visits, mainly within the Parish.
The Clerk needs to be an effective communicator, have robust IT skills and be able to manage the Councils finances accurately and securely.
The post will be based on a salary range of SCP 18-23 (currently £13.21 to £14.67 per hour) determined by qualifications and experience.
The job description and person specification can be accessed here.
To be considered for the position or for more information, please contact the clerk at leighparishcouncil@gmail.com.
Leigh Women’s Institute
Abbots Pass Hall, Bunce Common Road, Leigh, RH2 8NS
Meetings – Second Monday of each month at 7.30
Members of our friendly WI group live in and around Leigh. We operate mostly as a social group and organise theatre and cinema trips and a variety of outings to gardens and historical sites. We visit Christmas markets and take advantage of the beautiful Surrey countryside for walks, coffee mornings and alfresco lunches. The talks at our monthly meetings cover a range of topics including craft demonstrations, cookery, local history and life experiences.
Please see below a list of confirmed events coming up in the first half of 2022. Other events and outings will be added throughout the year.
Feb 14th WI meeting Talk – Air Ambulance
Feb 19th Afternoon Tea
March 14th WI meeting with guest Magician
March 16th Wisley Gardens
April 11th WI meeting Talk – My Life in Leather
April 23rd Jumble Sale
June 13th WI meeting with guest Harpist
July Summer walk and Supper
For more information please either email our secretary via leighwisecretary@gmail.com or contact our President Mrs Judith Bartley on 01306 611472
If you are new to softball then the best way to described it is to say it is a cross between Rounders and Baseball but the important thing is it is a mixed game and we play for the exercise and to have fun. Our age group ranges from 15 to 69.
Soft Ball is a good way to keep fit, there is quite of bit of running/jogging involved be it when you are fielding or batting. It does not matter if you are not very good at hitting a ball or catching a ball as the emphases is on having fun.
If you have never played before then do not worry, the rules are very simple to learn and we are a very social group more interested in having fun than playing a competitive sport. Family groups of mixed age and sporting ability are very welcome.
We play on the Cricket Ground it Leigh (RH2 8NP) every Thursday evening during the summer months, weather dependant from about 18.30 till 20.00. Our local Pub, The Plough supports us by providing a snack/meal after every game for a very reasonable price. There is also a very small charge for playing each week which goes towards paying for our Insurance.
For more info please either text or ring Mike on 07708 614090
or email mike.harrison52@btinternet.com
This year, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, seventy years of service. Throughout the year, Her Majesty and members of the Royal Family will travel around the country to undertake a variety of engagements culminating with the focal point of the Platinum Jubilee weekend in June.
Leigh Parish Council is organising an initial meeting in January to see how we can mark the special occasion in Leigh. We are happy to facilitate a discussion to see what plans may already be in place, or what other ideas there may be to take forward. We would welcome anyone who may be interested in participating in the discussions and potentially playing a part in running the celebrations (no contribution is too big or small). We are fortunate to have several committed and creative residents, local clubs, businesses, and groups who are encouraged to come along to share ideas and explore opportunities.
Due to current Covid restrictions, we will be holding the meeting online via zoom on Thursday 20th January from 7.30pm. Please contact me to register your interest and I will give you the details for the call. We look forward to hearing from you.