Removing the Lid
A long overdue inquiry has been made recently into the workings of local councils and their low standards. Urgent reform has been urged in order to make the standards framework fairer, stronger and more consistent across all tiers of local government. It has recently been reported by NALC that ‘the Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel ( SAPPP ) has replaced the AGAR form (t he Annual Governance and Accountability Return) which local councils have to complete annually and submit to a reputable auditor. This stands at the heart of good governance and sound financial management across England's smaller authorities. This is the body that defines what best practice really means, setting the standards that guide thousands of parish and town councils in ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the use of public funds. Unfortunately, when questioned, the Betley Parish Clerk stated that she ...