Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Nether Stowey Parish Council
Notice of conclusion of audit
Annual Governance & Accountability Return for the year ended 31 March 2024
Sections 20(2) and 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
Section 16 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)
1. The audit of accounts for Nether Stowey Parish Council for the year ended 31 March 2024 has been completed and the accounts have been published.
2. The Annual Governance & Accountability Return including the auditor’s certificate and opinion is available for inspection and copying by any local government elector of the area of Nether Stowey Parish Council on application to:
Caro Slaymaker
Clerk to the Parish Council
10am-1pm Monday-Wednesday and Friday
3. Copies will be provided to any local government elector of the area on payment of £1 for each copy of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return.
Announcement made by: Caro Slaymaker
Date of announcement: 16 September 2024
- Notice
- Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ended 31 March 2024
More information at https://netherstowey-pc.gov.uk/your-parish-council/accounts
Do you qualify for Pension Credit? You may not get Winter Fuel Payments if you don’t. Find out more!
Nether Stowey Parish Council urges residents of state pension age to check whether they could claim Pension Credit, which is worth over £3,500 a year on average. Do you know someone of pension age who might qualify? Please let them know!
From this autumn, those not claiming Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer get the annual winter fuel payments, currently worth between £100 and £300.
Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. You may also be able to get help with heating costs, help with rent and Council tax, a free TV licence for those aged over 75 years and help with the cost of NHS services, such as NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs to hospital appointments.
You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension and you can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home. 
Someone may still get Pension Credit if they:
- have not paid National Insurance contributions
- have some savings or a small pension
- live with their grown-up family
- own their own home
Use the Pension Credit calculator to find out how much Pension Credit someone could get – without giving any personal details. Check your eligibility at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling 0800 99 1234. Advice is also available at AgeUK – pension credit or call into the Parish Office
New Councillor – Lesley Bowditch and other changes
The Parish Council are delighted to welcome Lesley Bowditch to the Council. She was co-opted at the Parish Council meeting on 8 July, bringing the Council back to full strength for the first time in almost a year.
At the same meeting, Cllr John Roberts was elected Chairman of the Council, and Cllr Kevin Ferriday was elected Vice-Chairman.
A full list of current Councillors and details of the new MP for the Bridgwater constituency is available here.
Parish Council Accounts and Audit 2023/2024
Annual Governance and Accountability Return (unaudited)
Notice of public rights and audit
Local Authority Accounts: a Summary of your Rights
Furter documents are available at the Parish Council Finance and Accounts page
The Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015 set out the responsibilities of all local councils in respect of their accounting and auditihttp://the Parish Council Finance and Accounts pageng procedures. As part of this process, the Council must publish the unaudited Annual Return and must make arrangements for a period in which interested persons can inspect the Council’s accounts and related documents. The period this year is Wednesday 12 June until Tuesday 23 July, during office hours or by appointment.
Each year, the Council’s financial accounts and statements are examined by an independent ‘internal’ auditor appointed by the Council to advise them. This year our accounts were audited by MJ Dodden & Co in Bridgwater.
The Council is also required to complete an ‘Annual Return’ which includes the findings of the Internal Auditor, together with Governance Statements and Financial Statements. This Annual Return is then submitted to another independent ‘external’ auditor, PKF Littlejohn, for examination. The External Auditor is appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd (SAAA), not the Parish Council.
If you are a registered local government elector (i.e. you appear on the electoral register for the parish) you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them. Details about your rights are given in Local Authority Accounts: a Summary of your Rights
The Parish has a new notice board!
A new notice board has been installed at the corner of Malherbie Road and Church View.
If you would like us to put up a notice about your organisation’s event or similar notice please bring it to the Parish Office or contact Caro at clerk@netherstowey-pc.gov.uk, or phone 01278 733779.
We are happy to have local events, fund-raising and charity events in the Parish. Maximum size A4 please. We will try to put posters up for local events that are in nearby Parishes, but priority is given to official notices and Nether Stowey events.
Please note that we cannot accept political or commercial material of any kind and we reserve the right to refuse any material that we consider unacceptable.
Don’t forget your voter ID
Voter ID requirement
Voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.
Find out more about accepted forms of photo ID
If you don’t have an accepted form of ID you can apply for free voter ID now, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate or download the form to print here. You can also get a printed form from the Parish Office. Forms must be returned to Somerset Council.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to vote in the Parliamentary general election on Thursday 4 July is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.