Your rights to inspect the accounts are set out in Sections 14, 15 and 16 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. The detailed regulations that set out how you can use these rights are in the Accounts and Audit Regulations.
Under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 any persons interested may inspect the accounts to be audited and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to them and make copies of all or any part of the accounts and those other documents.
The accounts must be placed on deposit for a period of 30 working days to allow any persons the opportunity to exercise these rights. The council is required to advertise on their website giving the dates, times and places where the public can see and copy documents at least 14 days before they are placed on deposit.
You do not have the right to inspect and copy documents that contain personal information, including personal information about a member of staff. This means that details of payments or other benefits that a council employee receives will be confidential.
Once you have inspected the accounts you have the right to question the auditor and to object to the accounts.
Dorset Council notice of accounts
2022 to 2023 accounts
Audit of accounts
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (Sections 25 to 28)
Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015 (Regs. 9, 14 and 15)
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015
Under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 regulations 9 and 15, the commencement period for the exercise of public rights to inspect the draft 2022 to 2023 accounts and related documents, based on an account’s completion date of 31 May 2023, should include the first 10 working days of June, with inspection dates being between 1 June and 12 July 2023. The public inspection period for Dorset Council will take place later than would otherwise be the case under normal practice, as explained below.
Notice is given that from 2 January 2024 to 12 February 2024 between 9am and 5pm any person interested may inspect, and make copies of, the accounts of Dorset Council for the year ended 31 March 2023 and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to those accounts. The accounts and other documents will be available for inspection at the offices at which they are normally kept, or otherwise by arrangement. Application should be made initially to the Head of Strategic Finance, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ or by emailing corporatefinance@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Notice is given that from 2 January 2024 to 12 February 2024 between 9am and 5pm a local government elector or his/her representative for the area of the body to which the accounts relate, may question the relevant auditor about the accounts. Please contact the auditor at the address below to make arrangements to ask questions.
Notice is given that from 2 January 2024 to 12 February 2024 between 9am and 5pm a local government elector or his/her representative for the area of the body to which the accounts relate, may make objections as to any matter in respect of which the auditor could take action under section 28 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (namely, an unlawful item of account), or could make a report in the public interest under Section 24 paragraph 1 of that Act.
Questions regarding Dorset Council may be received at County Hall, Dorchester, by arrangement with the auditor: Mr. I Howse, Deloitte LLP, 5 Callaghan Square, Cardiff, CF10 5BT (Telephone No 029 2026 4319).
An objection, and the grounds on which the elector relies, must be sent to the auditor in writing. A copy must be sent to Dorset Council at the address below.
Matt Prosser
Chief Executive of Dorset Council
County Hall,
Colliton Park,
Dorchester,
Dorset,
DT1 1XJ
Draft annual statement of accounts and external audits
Councils must produce an annual statement of accounts in accordance with legislative requirements and the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the UK.
2022 to 2023 accounts
Our draft 2022-23 annual statement of accounts are in the link below and will available for local electors to inspect from 2 January 2024:
2021 to 2022 accounts
Our draft 2021-22 annual statement of accounts are in the link below and are available for local electors to inspect:
If you would like these documents in a different format, email corporatefinance@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or write to the Head of Strategic Finance, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ.
External audit of the 2021-22 statement of accounts
The annual accounts show the financial performance of Dorset Council and details of the finances. The accounts are prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.
Public notice of accounts for 2021-22
Delayed audit of the 2021-22 accounts
The external audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 for Dorset Council has not yet been completed by our external auditors, Deloitte LLP. The delay has arisen as explained in the public notice.
Public notice of delayed audit 2021-22
Financial Statements 2019-20
The annual accounts show the financial performance of Dorset Council and details of the finances. The accounts are prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.
If you would like this document in a different format, please contact the Head of Strategic Finance, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ or email corporatefinance@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
The public notice of completion of audit, audit certificate and annual audit letter for the financial year ended 31 March 2020 can now be viewed:
- Public Notice of Completion of audit 2019 to 2020
- Audit Certificate 2019-20
- Annual Audit Letter 2019-20
Financial statements 2020-21
The annual accounts show the financial performance of Dorset Council and details of the finances. The accounts are prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.
2020-21 financial statements
If you would like this document in a different format, please contact the Head of Strategic Finance, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ or email corporatefinance@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.