IT'S YOUR 'RIGHT TO KNOW'

The legislation governing the public's rights to examine and make copies of local government accounts is profiled in the section below.

The Audit Commission Act (England) Accounts & Audit Regulations (England) The Public Audit (Wales) Act Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations The Veolia & Nottinghamshire County Council court case (2009) The ONB & Lincolnshire County Council court hearing (2005) The HTV & Bristol City Council court case (2004) Investigations and Exposés FAQs and Check List

LIFTING THE LID OFF TOWN HALLS



Public Inspection of Local Authority Accounts 2008/2009
UNITARY COUNCILS IN ENGLAND

The public inspection period is...

t.b.c. pending open closed

8/30 local authorities have published the
statutory newspaper notices on the web

Bath/NE Somerset Files open: 6 Jul-3 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Blackburn/Darwen Files open: 3 Jul-30 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Blackpool Files open: 29 Jun-24 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Bournemouth Files open: 3 Aug-28 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Bracknell Forest Files open: 29 Jul-25 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Brighton/Hove Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Bristol Files open: 27 Jul-21 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Darlington Files open: 8 Jun-3 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Derby Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

East Riding Files open: 31 Jul-27 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Halton Files open: 6 Jul-3 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Hartlepool Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Isle of Wight Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Hull Files open: 3 Aug-28 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Leicester Files open: 13 Jul-10 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: No Warning: Council website states that the period of inspection is 2 weeks. ONB verdict: Misleading.

Luton Files open: 23 Jul-19 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Medway Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Middlesborough Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes NB: ONB requested dates on 02/07/09. Council responded on 30/07/09. ONB verdict: Unreasonable.

Milton Keynes Files open: 61 Jul-28 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes NB: ONB requested dates on 02/07/09. Council responded on 03/08/09. ONB verdict: Unreasonable.

North East Lincolnshire Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

North Lincolnshire Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

North Somerset Files open: 13 Jul-7 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Nottingham Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Peterborough Files open: 16 Jul-12 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Plymouth Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Poole Files open: 13 Jul-7 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Portsmouth Files open: 14 Jul-10 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Reading Files open: 3 Aug-28 Aug Council website notice: t.b.c.

Redcar & Cleveland Files open: 29 Jun-21 Jul Council website notice: Yes

Rutland Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Slough Files open: 29 Jun-24 Jul Council website notice: Yes

South Gloucestershire Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Southampton Files open: 17 Jul-13 Aug Council website notice: Partial Newspaper notice: Yes

Southend Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Stockton on Tees Files open: 3 Jun-30 Jun Council website notice: Yes

Stoke on Trent Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Swindon Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Telford/Wrekin Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Thurrock Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N Warning: FOI request for details submitted 23/06/09. No response as of yet. ONB verdict: Unreasonable

Torbay Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Warrington Files open: 13 Jul-7 Aug Council website notice: Yes

West Berkshire Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Windsor/Maidenhead Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Wokingham Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

York Files open: 13 Jul-7 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

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LONDON & REGIONAL UPDATES:

To find out when the 2008/2009 accounts of major local authorities are open to public inspection, click the links below.

London Borough Councils Metropolitan Councils (England) County Councils (England) Unitary Councils (England) Unitary Councils (Wales) Unitary Councils (Scotland) Metropolitan Police Authorities Police Authorities (England) Police Authorities (Wales) Police Boards (Scotland)