All councils have to publish a Statement of Accounts covering specified matters. It shows how we have used public money and that we have been honest and responsible. We try to make the accounts meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders, but to see how well we deliver individual services you may also want to look at the performance indicators in the Strategic Plan. This page always has the most recent audited accounts plus any draft accounts.
After being approved by The Responsible Financial Officer as a true and fair view, draft accounts are placed "on deposit" in the Civic Hall and here online for twenty working days. This is so local electors can inspect them and ask questions about them or challenge them (see the attached document Councils' accounts - your rights). The Responsible Financial Officer approved the 2010/11 accounts on 30 June 2011 and the deposit dates were from 25 July to 19 August.
Over the summer our external auditors conduct a full and detailed examination of the draft accounts. This underpins their accounts audit letter which is received by our Corporate Governance and Audit Committee by the end of September. If all is well they also issue an audit certificate to confirm that the accounts give a true and fair view. On the basis of the auditors' opinions, Corporate Governance and Audit Committee approved our 2010/11 accounts on 30 September 2011. From this page you can download copies of the final audited accounts, the annual governance statements and the external auditors' report for 2010/11. Copies of the equivalent documents for 2009/10 can be found on the page for prior year accounts. Earlier accounts are also available on request.
Leeds residents also have the right to inspect a hard copy of the accounts. Details of where and when this can be done are given on the Audit of Accounts 2010/11 page.
As the full accounts are complex and wide-ranging, we also publish compact accounts which are available to download on this page - these have no formal legal standing, but by stripping out a lot of technicalities they give a simpler view of our financial position.
The auditors give a more strategic view of issues arising from their work for the year including performance and governance matters in the Audit and Inspection letter which appears on the Corporate Governance documents page.
In addition to your statutory rights we welcome feedback on whether the Statement of Accounts is clear, informative and useful. Please use the e-mail link on this page to send comments or requests.