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.

The annual accounts show the financial performance of Dorset Council and details of our finances. The accounts are prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.

2025 to 2026

Notice of public rights for audit of accounts 2025 to 2026

2024 to 2025

2024 to 2025 financial statements

Delayed audit completion notice 2024 to 2025

Annual Audit Letter 2024 to 2025

2023 to 2024

2023 to 2024 financial statements

Notice of audit completion from 2023 to 2024

Audit Certificate 2023 to 2024

2022 to 2023

2022 to 2023 financial statements

Notice of audit completion from 2022 to 2023

Audit Certificate 2022 to 2023

Annual Audit Letter 2022 to 2023

2021 to 2022

2021 to 2022 financial statements

Notice of audit completion from 2021 to 2022

Audit Certificate 2021 to 2022

Annual Audit Letter 2021 to 2022

2020 to 2021

2020 to 2021 financial statements

Notice of audit completion from 2020 to 2021

Audit Certificate 2020 to 2021

Annual Audit Letter 2020 to 2021

2019 to 2020

2019-20 financial statements

Public Notice of Completion of audit 2019 to 2020

Audit Certificate 2019 to 2020

Annual Audit Letter 2019 to 2020

If you would like these documents in a different format, please contact the Head of Corporate Finance, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ or email [email protected].

Annual Accounts

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.

Former council annual accounts

Shadow Dorset Council Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2018-19 - Declaration of No Accounts