Annual Internal Audit Report 2021/22

The Leigh Parish Council

https://theleighpc.org

During the financial year ended 31 March 2022, this authority’s internal auditor acting independently and on the basis of an assessment of risk, carried out a selective assessment of compliance with the relevant procedures and controls in operation and obtained appropriate evidence from the authority.

The internal audit for 2021/22 has been carried out in accordance with this authority’s needs and planned coverage. On the basis of the findings in the areas examined, the internal audit conclusions are summarised in this table. Set out below are the objectives of internal control and alongside are the internal audit conclusions on whether, in all significant respects, the control objectives were being achieved throughout the financial year to a standard adequate to meet the needs of this authority.

Internal control objective                                                                                                                                                           Yes                    No     Not covered**

A. Appropriate accounting records have been properly kept throughout the financial                                                        Yes

B. This authority complied with its financial regulations, payments were supported by invoices, all

expenditure was approved and VAT was appropriately accounted for.                                                                                   Yes

C. This authority assessed the significant risks to achieving its objectives and reviewed the adequacy

of arrangements to manage these.                                                                                                                                                   Yes

D. The precept or rates requirement resulted from an adequate budgetary process; progress against

the budget was regularly monitored; and reserves were appropriate.                                                                                      Yes

E. Expected income was fully received, based on correct prices, properly recorded and promptly

banked; and VAT was appropriately accounted for.                                                                                                                     Yes

F. Petty cash payments were properly supported by receipts, all petty cash expenditure was approved

and VAT appropriately accounted for.                                                                                                                                             Yes

G. Salaries to employees and allowances to members were paid in accordance with this authority’s

approvals, and PAYE and NI requirements were properly applied.                                                                                           Yes

H. Asset and investments registers were complete and accurate and properly maintained.                                                Yes

I. Periodic bank account reconciliations were properly carried out during the year.

J. Accounting statements prepared during the year were prepared on the correct accounting basis (receipts

and payments or income and expenditure), agreed to the cash book, supported by an adequate audit

trail from underlying records and where appropriate debtors and creditors were properly recorded.                                Yes

K. If the authority certified itself as exempt from a limited assurance review in 2020/21, it met the

exemption criteria and correctly declared itself exempt. {If the authority had a limited assurance

review of its 2020/21 AGAR tick “not covered)                                                                                                                                 Yes

L. The authority publishes information on a free to access website/webpage up to date at the time of

the internal audit in accordance with any relevant transparency code requirements                                                               Yes

M. The authority, during the previous year (2020-21) correctly provided for the period for the exercise of

public rights as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations (evidenced by the notice published

     on the website and/or authority approved minutes confirming the dates set).                                                                   Yes

N. The authority has complied with the publication requirements for 2020/21 AGAR

(see AGAR Page 1 Guidance Notes).                                                                                                                                                     Yes

O. (For local councils only)                                                                                                                                                                                              Not applicable

Trust funds (including charitable) – The Council met its responsibilities as a trustee.                                                                                                    N/A

For any other risk areas identified by this authority adequate controls existed (list any other risk areas on separate sheets if needed).

Date(s) internal audit undertaken                                                                                                           Name of person who carried out the internal audit

07/05/2022.                                                         HAZEL COTTON

Signature of person who carried out the internal audit                                                                          Date 07/05/2022

*If the response is ‘no’ please state the implications and action being taken to address any weakness in control identified (add separate sheets if needed).

**Note: If the response is ‘not covered’ please state when the most recent internal audit work was done in this area and when it is next planned; or, if coverage is not required, the annual internal audit report must explain why not (add separate sheets if needed).

Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2021/22 Form 3

Local Councils, Internal Drainage Boards and other Smaller Authorities