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.
Delayed audit completion notice 2023-24
Publication of Dorset Council’s Statement of Accounts and Audit Opinion
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015
The Council’s external auditors, Grant Thornton UK LLP, have advised the Council that the audit of the financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2024 has been completed and an audit opinion issued, but they have yet to issue their certificate of completion of the audit.
Grant Thornton cannot formally conclude the audit and issue an audit certificate to the Council for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with the requirements of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Code of Audit Practice until they have completed the work necessary in relation to consolidation returns, including Whole Government Accounts (WGA), and the National Audit Office has concluded their work in respect of WGA for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Regulation 16(1) of The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 requires the Council to publish a statement:
- that the audit has been concluded
- that the statement of accounts has been published
- of the rights of inspection conferred in local government electors by section 25 of the Act and the address at which, and the hours during which, those rights may be exercised.
As the audit has not yet been concluded, the Council cannot yet issue this statement.
The notice of conclusion of the audit will be added to the website, alongside the external auditors’ delayed certificate as soon as this is issued.
Aidan Dunn - Executive Director (Corporate Development)
(Chief Financial Officer)
28 February 2025
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.
Financial statements 2023-24
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 audit has not yet been concluded. The public notice of conclusion of the audit will be added to the website, along with the audit certificate as soon as that is issued.
Financial statements 2022-23
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.
Financial statements 2021-22
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.
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.
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