Finance & Local Government Transparency

What is local government transparency?

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities issued the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) which came into effect on 1st April 2015.  The Code was issued through powers under Section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and replaces any previous codes issued in relation to local authorities in England under those powers.

The aim of the Code, which can be found here, is to increase transparency through publication of open and reusable data enabling taxpayers to see how local authorities are using public money.

The Code does not replace, or supersede, the existing framework for access to public sector information provided by the:

Freedom of Information Act 2020 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
Environmental Information Regulations 2004
Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community Regulations 2009
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (ss.25 and 26) which provides the rights for persons to inspect a local authority’s accounting records and supporting documentation, and to make copies of them

The Code applies to town and parish councils which a gross income or expenditure in excess of £200,000.

Henley Town Council provides some information below but also elsewhere on this website.

Information which needs to be published

Under the below headers, information and data will be published at least quarterly by the Town Council.  Under the Data Protection Act 2018, personal data will be redacted if it can identify an individual.

Where contracts are awarded through a tender process and the value exceeds £50,000, the data will be published upon project delivery.

Expenditure over £500

The Council publishes expenditure over £500 including supplier and transaction information.
The Council's expenditure for each financial year can be found below:

All expenditure is reported to the Finance Strategy and Management Committee at each ordinary meeting which is approximately every six weeks. The schedule for all meetings can be found here.

Income & expenditure

A summary overview of the Council’s income and expenditure as a whole can be found below:

Grants and donations to voluntary, community and faith sector organisations

As part of its ongoing commitment to the local community and voluntary sector, the Town Council offers grants throughout each financial year to support groups, activities and projects organised to benefit the people of Henley. A list of these grants can be found below:

Employees  

The Code requires local authorities to publish details (including job descriptions, responsibilities and staff numbers) of any senior employees earning over £50,000 per annum. Henley Town Council has one employee, the Town Clerk, earning over this amount.
The Council's staff structure can be found here.

Councillor’s allowances and expenses

An annual budget is set aside for the Mayor of Henley to draw upon for expenses incurred whilst attending civic functions during their term of office. This budget is included in the budget documents available below. Councillors may claim expenses such as mileage.

Contracts and tenders

Copies of contracts to businesses and to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector worth more than £5,000 can be found on the schedule of payments. Invitations to tender and quote are issued for goods and services over £5,000. Tenders will be published here.

Public Land, property and car parking owned by the Council

In order to ensure transparency and reasonableness, the following items are included on the Council’s asset register whether they have been gifted, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Town Council together with their location. These may include:

Land and buildings held freehold or on a long term lease
Community assets
Vehicles, plant and machinery
Assets considered to be portable, attractive or of community significance

The Town Council's asset register, which includes all the items above, can be found here.

Henley Town Council is responsible for the Mill Meadows and Mill Lane car parks. Details of these can be found here.

Policies and governance documents

The Town Councils policies and governance documents can be found here.

Town Council budget

A copy of the Town Council’s budget is published annually. As well as commercial income,
Henley Town Council is funded through the precept, which is collected as part of residents' council tax.

Internal and external auditors

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, councils are required to have an annual and mid-year internal audit. The Internal Auditor is appointed by Council and evaluates and reviews the Council's risk management, controls and governance. A copy of the latest internal audit reports can be found here.

Annual Governance and Accountability Returns

The Annual Governance Accountability Return must be submitted by the Council to the government-appointed external auditor each year.  The current nationally-appointed external auditor is Moore Stephens. Copies of these can be found below:


Standing orders and Financial regulations

Henley Town Council reviews and readopts its Standing Orders and Financial Regulations annually.
These can be found in the policies section above.

Social housing

Henley Town Council does not provide any social housing or own any social housing stock.

Waste contracts

There are no waste collection contracts managed by Henley Town Council.

If you are unable to find the information you wish to see, please contact us here.

Financial Statements

Click on any of the links below to view financial information for the latest year available.

·       Unaudited Financial Statements - 2019/20
·       Unaudited Financial Statements - 2018/19
·       Unaudited Financial Statements - 2017/18
·       Unaudited Financial Statements - 2016/17
·       Unaudited Financial Statements - 2015/16
·       Notice of Conclusion of Audit - 2018/19
·       Notice of Conclusion of Audit - 2017/18
·       Notice of Conclusion of Audit - 2016/17
·       Notice of Conclusion of Audit - 2015/16
·       NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHT TO INSPECT ACCOUNTING RECORDS - YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2020
·       Annual Governanace and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2019-20 Part 3 (excluding External Auditor Report and Certificate)
·       AGAR explanation of significant variations from last year to this year
·       Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2018-19 Part 3 (excluding External Auditor Report and Certificate)
·       Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2018-19 Part 3 External Auditor Report and Certificate
·       Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2017-18 Part 3 (excluding External Auditor Report and Certificate)
·       Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2017-18 Part 3 - External Auditor Report and Certificate

(there were no 'Issues Arising' to report in 2017/18 or 2018/19)

·       Annual Return - 2016/17
·       Annual Return - 2015/16
·       External Auditor's 'Issues Arising Report' 2016/17
·       External Auditor's 'Issues Arising Report' 2015/16

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) declarations

For monies received from SODC, CIL expenditure, and balances carried forward as at 31st March 2019 please click here

For monies received from SODC, CIL expenditure, and balances carried forward as at 31st March 2018 please click here

For monies received from SODC, CIL expenditure, and balances carried forward as at 31st March 2017 please click here

Grants

Click on the links to see who the Council awarded grants to, and who awarded grants to the Council.

·       Grants Awarded 2018/19
·       Grants Awarded 2017/18
·       Grants Awarded 2016/17
·       Grants Awarded 2015/16
·       Grants & Sponsorships Received 2018/19
·       Grants & Sponsorships Received 2017/18
·       Grants & Sponsorships Received 2016/17
·       Grants & Sponsorships Received 2015/16

Service contracts

For a list of current contracts click on the link below.

List of current service contracts (updated March 2020)

For copies of the contracts themselves please contact l.jones@henleytowncouncil.gov.uk

Advertised Service contracts
Henley Town Bus Service March 2020

Senior salaries

One employee, the Town Clerk, has a salary in the range £55,000 to £60,000.  There are no bonuses or payments in kind. The Town Clerk has a statutory duty to carry out all functions, and in particular to serve or issue all notifications required by law, of a Local Authority's Proper Officer.

The Town Clerk is responsible for ensuring that the instructions of the Council in connection with its function as a Local Authority are carried out, including provision of all services and appointment of all staff.

Pay multiple
The pay multiple is the ratio between the highest taxable earnings figure and the median earmings figure for the Council's entire workforce. For Henley Town Council the ratio is 1.54 : 1.

Fraud
There have been no cases of irregularity or fraud reported or investigated.  The Council's Anti Fraud and Corruption Policy can be found on the 'Policies' page of the website.

Expenses - click below to view Councillors expenses

·      
Councillors Expenses 2018-19
·       Councillors Expenses 2017-18
·       Councillors Expenses 2016-17
·       Councillors Expenses 2015-16

Financial Regulations
For a copy of the Council's Financial Regulations please click here

Budget

Click here for a copy of the Council's budget for 2020/21 (with comparatives for 2019/20)
Click here for a copy of the Council's 2020/21 Budget and Action Plan document
Click here for a copy of the Council's budget for 2019/20 (with comparatives for 2018/19)
Click here for a copy of the Council's 2019/20 Budget and Action Plan document
Click here for a copy of the Council's budget for 2018/19 (with comparatives for 2017/18)
Click here for a copy of the Council's 2018/19 Budget and Action Plan document
Click here for a copy of the Council's budget for 2017/18 (with comparatives for 2016/17)
Click here for a copy of the Council's 2017/18 Budget and Action Plan document
Click here for a copy of the Council's budget for 2016/17 (with comparatives for 2015/16)
Click here for a copy of the Council's 2016/17 Budget and Action Plan document

Standing Orders

Please click here to open a copy of the Standing Orders.