LOCAL COUNCILS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
ANNUAL RETURN
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2004

WOODBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL

SECTION 1 - THE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

I certify that the statement of accounts contained in this annual return presents fairly the financial position of the council and its income and expenditure, or properly presents receipts and payments, as the case may be for the period ended 31 March 2004

(Responsible Financial Officer) RL Hodges Date 07.06.04

I confirm that these accounts were approved by the council and recorded as council minute reference 7 June 2003 - Finance dated 02.06.04
 Signed on behalf of the above council

(Chair of meeting approving council's accounts) JE Harlow Date 07.06.04

In completing the boxes below please explain any significant variances on a separate sheet and send this to the external auditor together with a copy of your bank reconciliation as at 31 March 2004.

	Year Ending		Notes and Guidance for Compilers
	31 March 2003 £	31 March 2004 £
1 Balances brought forward	21,933	32,200	Total balances and reserves at the beginning of the year as recorded in the council's financial records
2 (+) Annual Precept	16,500	16,500	Total amount of precept income received in the year
3 (+) Total other receipts	28,788	21,828	Total income or receipts as recorded in the cashbook minus the precept.
4 (-) Staff Costs	(8,165)	(9,156)	Total expenditure or payments made to and on behalf of all council employees.   Include salaries and wages, PAYE and NI (employees and employers), pension contributions and related expenses.
5 (-) Loan interest/ capital repayments	NIL	NIL	Total expenditure or payments of capital and interest made during the year on the council's borrowings (if any)
6 (-) Total other payments	(26,857)	(19,945)	Total expenditure or payments as recorded in the cashbook minus staff costs (line 4) and loan/interest expenditure/payments (line 5).
7 (=) Balances carried forward	32,200	41,426	Total balances and reserves at the end of the year.  (Must equal (1+2+3) - (4+5+6)

8 Total cash & investments	27,933	37,101	The sum of all current and deposit bank accounts, cash holdings and investments helds as at 31 March - to agree with bank reconciliation
9 Total fixed assets	536,202	555,593	The recorded current book value at 31 March of all tangible fixed assets owned by the council as recorded in the asset register (Insurance Value)
10 Total borrowings	NIL	NIL	The outstanding capital balance as at 31 March of all loans from third parties (usually PWLB)

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SECTION 2 - STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE

We acknowledge as the members of WOODBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL our responsibility for the preparation of the accounts and confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, with respect to the council's accounts for the year ended 31 March 2004, that;

	Agreed - Yes or No*	"Yes" means that the council:
1 we have approved the accounts which have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations and proper practices.	Yes	prepared its accounts in the way prescribed by law.
2 we have maintained an adequate system of internal control, including mesures designed to prevent and detect fraud and corruption	Yes	made proper arrangements and accepted responsibility for safeguarding the public money and resources in its charge.
3 we have taken all reasonable steps to assure ourselves that there are no matters of actual or potential non-compliance with laws, regulations and codes of practice which could have a significant financial effect on the ability of the council to conduct its business or on its finances	Yes	has only done things that it has the legal power to do and has conformed to codes of practice and standards in the way it has done so.
4 we have provided proper opportunity for the exercise of electors' rights in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations	Yes	has given all persons interested the opportunity to inspect and ask questions about the council's accounts.
5 we have carried out an assessment of the risks facing the council and taken appropriate steps to manage those risks including the introduction of internal controls and/or external insurance cover where required.	Yes	considered the financial and other risks it faces in the operation of the council and has dealt with them properly.
6 we have maintained an adequate and effective system of internal audit of the council's accounting records and control systems.	Yes	arranged for a competent person, independent of the financial controls and procedures, to give an objective view on whether these meet the needs of the council.
7 we have taken what we consider to be appropriate action on all matters raised in previous reports from the internal and external auditors	Yes	has taken appropriate action in response to matters brought to its attention by auditors
8 we are not aware of any litigation, liabilities or commitments, events or transactions, occurring either during or after the end of the financial year being reported, other than those included in the accounts.	Yes	disclosed everything it should have about its business during the year including events taking place after the year-end if relevant.

This Statement of Assurance is approved by the council and recorded as council minute reference  7 June 2004 - Finance  dated  07.06.04

Signed on behalf of  Woodborough Parish Council

Signed by:  Chair  JE Harlow          Date  07.06.04

Signed by:  Clerk  RL Hodges          Date  07.06.04

*Please provide explanations to the external auditor on a separate sheet for each "No" response that has been given and describe what action is being taken to address the weaknesses identified.

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SECTION 3 - EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S CERTIFICATE AND OPINION

We certify that we have completed the audit of the annual return of Woodborough Parish Council for the year ended 31 March 2004

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SECTION 4 - ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

WOODBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL

The council's internal audit, acting independently and on the basis of an assessment of risk, has included carrying out a selective assessment of compliance with relevant procedures and controls expected to be in operation during the financial year ended 31 March 2004.

The internal audit has been carried out in accordance with the council's needs and planned coverage.  On the basis of the findings in the areas examined, the internal audit conclusions are summarised in this table.  Set out below are the objectives of internal control and, opposite, are the internal audit conclusions on whether, in all significant respects, the control objectives were being achieved throughout the financial year to a standard adequate to meet the needs of the council.

	Agreed? - Please choose from one of the following Yes/ No*/Not covered**
Appropriate books of account have been properly kept throughout the year.	Yes
The council's financial regulations have been met, payments were supported by invoices, expenditure was approved and VAT was appropriately accounted for.	Yes
The council assessed the significant risks to achieving its objectives and had adequate arrangements to manage these.	Yes
The annual precept requirement resulted from an adequate budgetary process; progress against the budget was regularly monitored; and reserves were appropriate.	Yes
Expected income was fully received, based on correct prices, properly recorded and promptly banked; and VAT was appropriately accounted for.	Yes
Petty cash payments were properly supported by receipts, expenditure was approved and VAT appropriately accounted for.	Yes
Salaries to employees were paid in accordance with council approvals and PAYE and NI requirements were properly applied.	Yes
Asset and investment registers were complete and accurate and properly maintained.	Yes
Periodic and year-end bank reconciliations were properly carried out.	Yes
Year end accounts were prepared on the correct accounting basis (income and expenditure), agreed with cash book, were supported by an adequate audit trail from underlying records, and, where appropriate debtors and creditors were properly recorded.	Yes
For any other risk areas identified by the council (list any other risk areas below or on separate sheets if needed) adequate controls existed:	Not Applicable

Name of person who carried out the internal audit        DAVID R BROOKS (ACMA)

Signature of person who carried out the internal audit    D R Brooks  Date  21.06.04

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