The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) Regulations 2003

PART 7 E+W ACCOUNTS

[F1 Accounting for capital expenditure E+W

29A.   Where expenditure of a local authority—

(a) is expenditure which falls to be capitalised in accordance with proper practices (“capital expenditure”); or

(b) is treated as being capital expenditure by virtue of regulations made, or a direction given, under section 16(2),

that expenditure need not be charged to a revenue account of the local authority.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 29A inserted (1.4.2007) by The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/573), regs. 1(1), 4

Retirement benefits E+W

30.  For a financial year beginning on or after 1st April 2004, a local authority shall charge to a revenue account an amount equal to the retirement benefits payments and contributions to pension funds which are payable for that financial year in accordance with the legislation specified in sub-paragraphs (a) and (c) to (h), and the scheme specified in sub-paragraph (b), of regulation 4(2).

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 30 in force at 1.1.2004 for specified purposes and 1.4.2004 in so far as not already in force, see reg. 1(1)

[F2 Back payment following unequal pay E+W

30A.— (1) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) a reference to an employee of a local authority includes a reference to a former employee, an officer or a former officer of the authority;

(b) a reference to the contract under which an employee was or is employed includes a reference to the terms of appointment under which an officer held or holds office; and

(c) an employee of a local authority received unequal pay when the amount of pay he received from the authority for work done by him during a particular period is less than the appropriate amount of pay for that work done during that period.

(2) In this regulation—

“appropriate amount of pay”, in relation to an employee of a local authority, means the amount of pay to which the employee is entitled in accordance with any equality clause deemed to be included, by virtue of section 1(1) of the Equal Pay Act 1970, in the contract under which he was or is employed;

“back payment” means a payment of arrears of remuneration made by a local authority, for work—

(a)

done by an employee of the authority;

(b)

in respect of which the employee received unequal pay; and

(c)

done before the employee first receives any increase in pay as a result of receiving that unequal pay,

which is paid to the employee, or part of which is paid to the employee (“the net payment”) and part of which is paid to another person on behalf of the employee (“relevant deductions”), because the employee received unequal pay for that work; and

“social security costs” means any contributions by a local authority to any state social security or pension scheme, fund or arrangement.

(3) Where a local authority—

(a) is required by an employment tribunal or a court to make a back payment;

(b) (i) considers that it is probable that an employment tribunal or a court will require it to make a back payment; and

(ii) is able to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of such back payment;

(c) has reached an agreement or otherwise determined to make a back payment; or

(d) (i) considers that it is probable that it will reach an agreement or otherwise determine to make a back payment; and

(ii) is able to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of such back payment,

paragraph (4) shall apply.

(4) Where this paragraph applies, the authority need not charge to a revenue account an amount in respect of—

(a) the back payment; or

(b) social security costs or other costs incurred by the authority in relation to that back payment,

until the date on which the authority must pay that back payment, or the net payment, to the employee (as required by the tribunal or court or in accordance with the agreement or determination, as the case may be).]

Textual Amendments

F2 Reg. 30A inserted (30.3.2007) by The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/573), regs. 1(1), 5(2)

[F3 Early repayment of loans – premiums and discounts at 31st March 2007 E+W

30B.— (1) This regulation applies where—

(a) before 1st April 2007 a local authority repays a loan of money before the date on which the authority is required, in accordance with the terms of the loan, to fully repay the whole or the remaining part of it;

(b) as a consequence of such early repayment—

(i) the authority is required to pay a premium to the lender of the loan or is required, in accordance with proper practices, to account for an amount in respect of a premium as if it were required to pay such a premium; or

(ii) the lender of the loan gives the authority a discount on the loan or the authority is required, in accordance with proper practices, to account for an amount in respect of a discount as if the lender had given the authority such a discount; and

(c) (i) in the case of a premium, an amount in respect of the premium included, in accordance with proper practices, in the authority’s balance sheet at 1st April 2007 is less than the amount so included immediately before that date;

(ii) in the case of a discount, an amount in respect of the discount included, in accordance with proper practices, in the authority’s balance sheet at 1st April 2007 is less than the amount so included immediately before that date.

(2) This regulation does not apply in relation to an amount in respect of a discount where, before 1st April 2007, a local authority credited the total amount of the discount to a revenue account in accordance with proper practices or with proper accounting practices which the authority was required to follow at that time.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), where this regulation applies, in each relevant year, the amount that a local authority shall charge to a revenue account for that year in respect of the premium or credit to a revenue account for that year in respect of the discount, as the case may be—

(a) in the case of a premium, shall be an amount which is the same as or greater than the amount calculated in accordance with the formula specified in paragraph (6);

(b) in the case of a discount, shall be an amount which is the same as or less than the amount calculated in accordance with that formula.

(4) In the case of a premium, where, in relation to a relevant year, the result of the calculation of the formula specified in paragraph (6) is nil, the authority shall not charge any amount to a revenue account for that year in respect of the premium.

(5) By the end of the final year, the total amount charged by the authority to a revenue account in respect of the premium or credited by the authority to a revenue account in respect of the discount shall equal the amount of the premium or the discount, as the case may be.

(6) The formula specified for the purposes of paragraphs (3) and (4) is—

where—

“A” is—

(a)

in the case of a premium, the amount in respect of the premium included in the local authority’s balance sheet immediately before 1st April 2007 less the amount in respect of the premium included in the authority’s balance sheet at 1st April 2007;

(b)

in the case of a discount, the amount in respect of the discount included in the local authority’s balance sheet immediately before 1st April 2007 less the amount in respect of the discount included in the authority’s balance sheet at 1st April 2007;

“B” is the total of—

(a)

in the case of a premium—

(i)

any amounts charged to a revenue account before the current year, by virtue of this regulation, in respect of the premium; and

(ii)

any capital receipts used on or after 1st April 2007 to pay any part of the premium;

(b)

in the case of a discount, any amounts credited to a revenue account before the current year, by virtue of this regulation, in respect of the discount; and

“C” is the number of financial years from the current year to the final year inclusive.

(7) In this regulation, any reference to an amount included in an authority’s balance sheet shall, if no such amount was included, be construed as a reference to nil.

(8) In this regulation—

“current year” means the financial year for which the local authority is calculating the amount to charge or credit to its revenue account in accordance with this regulation;

“final year” means—

(a)

in the case of a premium—

(i)

the financial year in which the whole or the remaining part of the loan would have been due to be fully repaid in accordance with the terms of the loan if the loan had not been repaid before that financial year; or

(ii)

if later, the financial year in which the whole or the remaining part of any replacement loan (or, if more than one, the replacement loan which is due to be fully repaid last) is due to be fully repaid in accordance with the terms of the replacement loan;

(b)

in the case of a discount—

(i)

the financial year in which the whole or the remaining part of the loan would have been due to be fully repaid in accordance with the terms of the loan if the loan had not been repaid before that financial year; or

(ii)

if earlier, the financial year which ends on 31st March 2016;

“relevant year” means the financial year which begins on 1st April 2007 and each subsequent financial year until, and including, the final year; and

“replacement loan” means any loan of money to the local authority some or all of which the authority treats, for accounting purposes, as a replacement for some or all of the loan referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1).]

Textual Amendments

F3 Regs. 30B-30D inserted (1.4.2007) by The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/573), regs. 1(1), 6

[F3 Early repayment of loans – premiums and discounts after 31st March 2007 E+W

30C.— (1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a local authority repays a loan of money on or after 1st April 2007 but before the date on which the authority is required, in accordance with the terms of the loan, to fully repay the whole or the remaining part of it;

(b) as a consequence of such early repayment—

(i) the authority is required to pay a premium to the lender of the loan; or

(ii) the lender of the loan gives the authority a discount on the loan; and

(c) the authority is not required, in accordance with proper practices, to include an amount in respect of the premium or the discount, as the case may be, in its balance sheet on or after 1st April 2007.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), where this regulation applies, in the initial year and in each subsequent financial year until, and including, the final year, the amount that the authority shall charge to a revenue account for that year in respect of the premium or credit to a revenue account for that year in respect of the discount, as the case may be—

(a) in the case of a premium, shall be an amount which is the same as or greater than the amount calculated in accordance with the formula specified in paragraph (5);

(b) in the case of a discount, shall be an amount which is the same as or less than the amount calculated in accordance with that formula.

(3) In the case of a premium, where, in relation to a financial year referred to in paragraph (2), the result of the calculation of the formula specified in paragraph (5) is nil, the authority shall not charge any amount to a revenue account for that year in respect of the premium.

(4) By the end of the final year, the total amount charged by the authority to a revenue account in respect of the premium or credited by the authority to a revenue account in respect of the discount shall equal the amount of the premium or the discount, as the case may be.

(5) The formula specified for the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3) is—

where—

“D” is the amount of the premium or the amount of the discount, as the case may be;

“E” is the total of—

(a)

in the case of a premium—

(i)

any amounts charged to a revenue account before the current year, by virtue of this regulation, in respect of the premium; and

(ii)

any capital receipts used to pay any part of the premium;

(b)

in the case of a discount, any amounts credited to a revenue account before the current year, by virtue of this regulation, in respect of the discount; and

“F” is the number of financial years from the current year to the final year inclusive.

(6) In this regulation—

“current year” means the financial year for which the local authority is calculating the amount to charge or credit to its revenue account in accordance with this regulation;

“final year” means—

(a)

in the case of a premium—

(i)

the financial year in which the whole or the remaining part of the loan would have been due to be fully repaid in accordance with the terms of the loan if the loan had not been repaid before that financial year; or

(ii)

if later, the financial year in which the whole or the remaining part of any replacement loan (or, if more than one, the replacement loan which is due to be fully repaid last) is due to be fully repaid in accordance with the terms of the replacement loan;

(b)

in the case of a discount—

(i)

the financial year in which the whole or the remaining part of the loan would have been due to be fully repaid in accordance with the terms of the loan if the loan had not been repaid before that financial year; or

(ii)

if earlier, the ninth financial year after the initial year (counting the financial years, immediately following the initial year, consecutively); and

“initial year” means the financial year in which the loan is repaid.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Regs. 30B-30D inserted (1.4.2007) by The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/573), regs. 1(1), 6

[F3 Interest on loans given by local authorities E+W

30D.— (1) Where—

(a) on or after 1st April 2007, a local authority gives a loan to a person;

(b) the authority, in accordance with proper practices, includes an amount in respect of that loan in its balance sheet at the end of the financial year in which the loan is given (“the loan year”); and

(c) the amount referred to in sub-paragraph (b) is less than the amount of the loan outstanding at the end of the loan year,

paragraph (3) shall apply.

(2) Where—

(a) a local authority gave a loan to a person before 1st April 2007 and the whole or any remaining part of the loan is outstanding on or after 1st April 2007;

(b) the authority, in accordance with proper practices, includes an amount in respect of that loan in its balance sheet at the end of the financial year which began on 1st April 2007 (“the 2007 financial year”); and

(c) the amount referred to in sub-paragraph (b) is less than the amount of the loan outstanding at the end of the 2007 financial year,

paragraph (3) shall apply.

(3) Where this paragraph applies, the amount of the interest, if any, in respect of the loan, which the local authority credits to its revenue account—

(a) (i) where the loan was given on or after 1st April 2007, in the loan year; or

(ii) where the loan was given before 1st April 2007, in the 2007 financial year; and

(b) in each subsequent year until, and including, the financial year in which the whole or any remaining part of the loan is fully repaid,

shall be the amount of the interest, if any, which it is due to receive in that year in accordance with the loan agreement for that loan.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Regs. 30B-30D inserted (1.4.2007) by The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/573), regs. 1(1), 6

Proper practices E+W

31.  For the purposes of section 21(2) (accounting practices) the accounting practices contained in the following codes of practice and guide are proper practices—

(a) “A Statement of Recommended Practice: Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom” published by CIPFA, as amended or reissued from time to time(1);

(b) “Best Value Accounting Code of Practice” published by CIPFA, as amended or reissued from time to time(2); and

(c) in relation to parish councils only, “Governance and Accountability in Local Councils in England and Wales: A Practitioners' Guide 2003 Edition” published jointly by the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks, as amended or reissued from time to time(3).

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 31 in force at 1.1.2004 for specified purposes and 1.4.2004 in so far as not already in force, see reg. 1(1)

(1)

The current issue of this code of practice was published in London in 2003. ISBN 0 85299 981 X. Back [1]

(2)

The current issue of this code of practice was published in London in 2003. ISBN 0 85299 975 5.

(3)

The current issue of this guide was published in Taunton in 2003.