24 June 2026
Your Right to Inspect the Accounts
Each year, the Council’s AGAR must be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR for 2025/26 has now been published. As it has not yet been reviewed by the appointed auditor it remains subject to change as a result of that review.
Any interested person has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the year, along with all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts, and other related documents. These will be made available for inspection on reasonable notice.
The period for the exercise of public rights runs from Thursday 25th June 2026 to Wednesday 5th August 2026.
Ashington Town Council, as a public body, is responsible for its own finances. It is required to make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs and to ensure that one of its officers has responsibility for this. That officer is known as the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO). At Ashington, the RFO is the Executive Officer, Sarah Eden.
The Council must work within the legal framework set out in the Accounts and Audit Regulations and must ensure that its business is conducted in accordance with the law and proper standards.
Good governance, accountability, and transparency are essential to improving public services. The Council must ensure that public money is safeguarded, properly accounted for, and used economically, efficiently, and effectively.
We are required to complete an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) each year under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. Electors are entitled to inspect the Council's accounts during a set period each year.
Inspection period
The Annual Return is completed in June and usually returned in September — five months after the end of the financial year. During this period, members of the public are invited to inspect the Council's accounts. Residents may also ask to see the accounts at any time, and questions about spending can be put to the Executive Officer/RFO.
For a summary of your rights regarding local authority accounts, see: Local Authority Accounts — A summary of your rights (PDF).
Note: As the Accounts and Audit Regulations require a physical ‘wet ink’ signature on the original AGAR, the Council is not able to fully comply with Accessibility Regulations for scanned documents. The National Audit Office is aware that the two pieces of legislation are not fully compatible.
Appointed by the Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments Limited (SAAA).
Mazars LLP — Smaller Authorities External Audit Team
Tel: 0191 383 6348
local.councils@mazars.co.uk
The Council is required to appoint an Internal Auditor to monitor and review financial arrangements.
Mrs Susan Saunders
The documents below form the Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2026/27. All documents are PDFs unless otherwise stated.
Previous Annual Governance and Accountability Returns are available below.
| Financial Year | Documents |
|---|---|
| 2025/26 | View documents |
| 2024/25 | View documents |
| 2023/24 | View documents |
| 2022/23 | View documents |
| 2021/22 | View documents |
| 2020/21 | View documents |
| 2019/20 | View documents |
| 2018/19 | View documents |
| 2017/18 | View documents |
| 2016/17 | View documents |
| 2015/16 | View documents |
If you have any questions about the Council’s accounts or the AGAR process, please contact the Executive Officer.
Email: admin@ashingtontowncouncil.gov.uk
Telephone: (01670) 624521
24 June 2026
Your Right to Inspect the Accounts
Each year, the Council’s AGAR must be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR for 2025/26 has now been published. As it has not yet been reviewed by the appointed auditor it remains subject to change as a result of that review.
Any interested person has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the year, along with all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts, and other related documents. These will be made available for inspection on reasonable notice.
The period for the exercise of public rights runs from Thursday 25th June 2026 to Wednesday 5th August 2026.
