PART 1Introductory

Interpretation2.

(1)

In these Regulations—

“the 1989 Act” means the Local Government and Housing Act 19895;
“the 2011 Act” means the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 20116;

“the Act” means the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014;

“audit letter” means the annual audit letter to the relevant authority by the local auditor sent pursuant to the Code of Audit Practice published by the National Audit Office, 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London SW1W 9SP and dated January 2015. Reference number: 10495-001;

“Category 1 authority” means a relevant authority that either—

(a)

is not a smaller authority7; or

(b)

is a smaller authority that has chosen to prepare its accounts for the purpose of a full audit in accordance with regulation 8 of the Smaller Authorities Regulations;

“Category 2 authority” means a smaller authority which is not a Category 1 authority;

“Category 2 authority with exempt status” means a Category 2 authority that has certified itself as exempt under regulation 9(1) of the Smaller Authorities Regulations;

“period for the exercise of public rights” means the period of time referred to in regulation 14 within which the rights of objection, inspection and questioning of the local auditor conferred by sections 26 and 27 of the Act may be exercised;

“Smaller Authorities Regulations” means the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 20158;
“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday in England under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 19719.

(2)

Any reference in these Regulations to the “responsible financial officer” means—

(a)

the person who, by virtue of—

(i)

section 151 of the Local Government Act 197210 (financial administration);

(ii)

section 17(1) of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 198811 (accounts);

(iii)

section 112(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 198812 (financial administration as to certain authorities);

(iv)

section 6(1) of the 1989 Act (officer responsible for financial administration of certain authorities);

(v)

paragraph 13(6) of Schedule 7 to the Environment Act 199513 (National Park Authorities);

(vi)

section 127(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 199914;

(vii)

paragraph 6(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the 2011 Act (police and crime commissioners);

(viii)

paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 2 to the 2011 Act (chief constables);

(ix)

paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 4 to the 2011 Act (Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis);

as the case may be, is responsible for the administration of the financial affairs of a relevant authority or, if no person is so responsible, the person who is responsible for keeping the accounts of such an authority; or

(b)

if the person referred to in sub-paragraph (a) (P) is unable to act owing to absence or illness, such member of P’s staff as is nominated by P for the purposes of section 114 of the Local Government Finance Act 198815 (functions of responsible officer as regards reports) or where that section does not apply to the relevant authority, such member of staff as is nominated by P for the purposes of these Regulations.

(3)

Where a relevant authority is a corporation sole, references to “members of the authority meeting as a whole” are to a holder of that office of corporation sole.

(4)

The references in these Regulations to a “local auditor” in—

(a)

regulation 12(3)(b); and

(b)

regulation 15(2)(b)(iii),

must, where such a reference concerns a Category 2 authority with exempt status, which is also an opted in authority16 within the meaning of the Smaller Authorities Regulations, be construed as a reference to the specified person under regulation 3 of those Regulations.

(5)

Any reference in these Regulations to publication on an authority’s website must be construed as—

(a)

in the case of a Category 2 authority without its own website, a reference to publication on any website, provided that information so published is accessible by any member of the public without registration or payment;

(b)

in the case of a Category 2 authority which is a parish meeting, a reference to—

(i)

publication on a website of the type specified in paragraph (a); or

(ii)

displaying the information in question in a conspicuous place in the area of the authority for at least 14 days.