People who are entitled to vote in local council elections for the area may ask the auditor questions about the accounts. The date that the auditor is available to answer questions is set out in an advertisement published by the council.

Your right to ask the auditor questions is limited. You have the right to ask questions about the accounts, but you cannot ask questions about the council's policies, finances or procedures that are not about the accounts.

Before you ask the auditor any questions you should inspect the accounts so that you know what they contain. You may then ask the auditor to explain certain points in the accounts before deciding whether or not you wish to object to them.

If you do ask questions that are not about the accounts the auditor may suggest that you ask the council for the information that you want. As a general rule the auditor will not act as a 'post box' for questions to, and replies from, the council.

Your questions should be about facts and not opinions. The auditor must also work independently, so you cannot ask him questions about how he is carrying out, or has carried out, his work.

The council must meet the cost of dealing with questions and objections, although you may be required to pay for copies of documents.