Our financial performance

At the end of each financial year, all councils have to publish a Statement of Accounts.

The accounts show how we have used public money in the year and that we have been honest and responsible.

Public inspection of the 2025/26 draft accounts

After being approved by the Responsible Financial Officer as a true and fair view, draft accounts are placed "on deposit" for 30 working days. This is so local electors can inspect them and ask questions about them or challenge them.

The council's public inspection period for 2025/26 will run from Monday 6 July to Friday 14 August 2026.

During this time you can view a copy of the draft accounts and the interim annual governance statement, and you can ask the council for further information and raise questions or objections with its auditors.

The Public Inspection notice below explains your inspection rights, and tells you how to contact the council's auditor if you wish to do so.

Public Inspection of the Accounts 2025/26
  1. Leeds City Council’s draft accounts for 2025/26 will be available for public inspection Monday 6 July 2026 and Friday 14 August 2026. You can view and download them online at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/performance-and-spending/our-financial-performance. Local electors can request to have a copy of the draft accounts sent to them either by emailing StatementofAccountsQueries@leeds.gov.uk , by contacting the council’s general enquiries service, or by writing to Corporate Financial Management, Civic Hall, Portland Crescent, Leeds, LS1 1UR.
  2. During this time you can also see supporting documents including books, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts, and ask for copies of these or of the accounts. However the law does not give you a right to see documents which are protected by commercial confidentiality, or to see personal information relating to a particular individual.
  3. You can request to see or have copies of supporting documents either by emailing StatementofAccountsQueries@leeds.gov.uk, at the Civic Hall, or by contacting the council’s general enquiries service.
  4. During the public inspection period, council electors and their representatives can ask the approved auditor questions about the accounts or make objections to them. Please contact the approved auditor, with any questions or objections either by emailing mark.c.stocks@uk.gt.com or at the following address:

Grant Thornton UK LLP
7th Floor, City Square House
11 Wellington Street,
Leeds
LS1 4DL

  1. A local elector can make an objection to the auditor if they believe that -
    1. an item in the accounts is unlawful, or
    2. it is in the public interest that something should be considered by Leeds City Council or brought to the attention of the public.
  2. If you want to object to the accounts, you can contact the approved auditor at either the Grant Thornton address given above or at the Civic Hall. Your objection must be in writing and must clearly set out the grounds on which you are objecting. You must also send a copy to the Chief Finance Officer, Civic Hall, Leeds LS1 1JF.
  3. If you are considering raising a question or an objection with the auditor, you may find it helpful to refer to the National Audit Office publication 'Councils' accounts - your rights', available at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/performance-and-spending/our-financial-performance or from the Chief Finance Officer.

Publication of the final audited accounts

Over the summer our external auditors conduct a full and detailed examination of the draft accounts, after which they issue their accounts audit letter and, if all is well, they also issue an audit certificate to confirm that the accounts give a true and fair view. Once this is received, our Corporate Governance and Audit Committee approve the final audited accounts and the council publishes them.

Our most recent audited accounts are the 2024/25 accounts which were authorised on 20 February 2026. The 2024/25 audit will not be formally concluded until the council’s Whole of Government Accounts return has been audited, and until the 2023/24 audit has formally concluded. The 2023/24 audit will not be formally concluded until two elector objections have been resolved.

Leeds voters are also entitled to ask for a copy of the accounts and the auditors report to be delivered to them. The council is allowed to make a reasonable charge to cover the cost of doing this.

Reports available from earlier years

Copies of the accounts, the annual governance statement and the external auditors' report are available.

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

2020-21

2019-20

Copies of the final accounts from earlier years are also available on request.