Our local parish council is not publishing the monthly payment list in any shape or form. Redress?

Question

I know this is incorrect and not transparent - minutes merely approve the total amount spent per month.  Can anyone give me the necessary authorities? LGA 1972, financial regulations, Localism Act? How do I tackle this as a parishoner?

Answer 1

I know this can occur , as it does in our parish-if on any given month, the clerk's salary is the only expense, we don't publish as their salary is confidential. Could it be something like this? You do sound very confrontational; it might be better to just ask first?

Answer 2

You have the public right to inspect PC accounts annually as per:

Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2023, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:

Whilst you will have missed that window for 22/23 accounts, you can still raise your concerns with the PC's internal auditor.  

Steps along the way:

1 read the PCs financial regs and see what they say about publication

2 Check the PCs ICO publication scheme compliance

3 Ask the clerk in writing for the information you seek - choose your question carefully to avoid the FoI being bounced by an exception

4 wait till next years public inspection period and ask to see all accounts, vouchers, receipts etc.

5 Take with a pinch of salt the previous answer which inappropriately labels you as 'confrontational'  and incorrectly states that a payment summary with a clerks salary makes it confidential.  

Answer 3

The answer to whether the parish is required by law to publish monthly information does actually depend upon the size of the parish.  Do you know what the annual income and/or expenditure of your parish council is?