School Standards and Framework Act 1998

Information

52 Financial statements

(1) Before the beginning of each financial year a local education authority shall prepare a statement containing such information relating to their planned expenditure in that year as may be prescribed.

(2) After the end of each financial year a local education authority shall prepare a statement containing such information with respect to the following matters as may be prescribed—

(a) the planned expenditure in that year specified in the statement prepared by the authority under subsection (1),

(b) expenditure actually incurred, or treated by the authority as having been incurred, by them in the year, and

(c) any other resources allocated by the authority in the year to schools maintained by them during any part of the year.

(3) A statement under this section shall—

(a) be prepared in such form, and

(b) be published in such manner and at such times,

as may be prescribed.

(4) The authority shall furnish the governing body and head teacher of each school maintained by them with a copy of each statement prepared by the authority under this section or, if regulations so provide, with a copy of such part or parts of it as may be prescribed.

(5) A governing body provided with such a copy under subsection (4) shall secure that a copy of it is available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school.

(6) Subsection (5) does not apply to a temporary governing body of a new school at any time before the school opening date.

53 Certification of statements by Audit Commission

(1) A local education authority shall, if directed to do so by the Secretary of State, require the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales to make arrangements in accordance with section 28(1)(d) of the [1998 c. 18.] Audit Commission Act 1998 for certifying—

(a) such statement or statements prepared by the authority under section 52 above, or

(b) such part or parts of any such statement or statements,

as may be specified in the directions; and for the purposes of section 28(1)(d) of that Act any statement under section 52 above shall be treated as a return by the authority.

(2) The arrangements made by the Audit Commission in pursuance of subsection (1) shall include arrangements for sending to the Secretary of State—

(a) a copy of the statement or statements so certified, or

(b) a copy of the part or parts so certified,

as the case may be.

(3) Directions given under subsection (1) may relate to any local education authority or to local education authorities generally or to any class or description of such authorities.