Statement of Accounts

2023-24 Statement of Accounts

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 specify that Draft Accounts should be approved and published by the 31 May.  Prior to last year, during the coronavirus pandemic the deadline was deferred to the 31 July under The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021 in recognition of the impact of the pandemic. 

On 31 March 2023, local authorities were informed that the deadline for the Draft Accounts would be returned to the 31 May.  While every effort has been made to meet this deadline, information commissioned to support the accounts from third parties is still to be delivered and therefore, there will be a slight delay to allow appropriate scrutiny before publication. 

This will not affect your rights to inspect the Draft Accounts under Section 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.  The Act states that the inspection period covers the first 10 working days of June.  This period will be amended to reflect the actual publication date of the Draft Accounts and to ensure that the full inspection period remains at 10 working days.

Draft Accounts will be available on this website within the next few days.

Date: 31 May 2024

James Cunningham
Treasurer
Cheshire Fire Authority,
Sadler Road, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 2FQ

Productivity and Efficiency Plan 2023-2024

Cheshire Fire Authority (the Authority) has been successful in recent years in maintaining a high quality of service against a backdrop of significant funding challenges and cost pressures. This Efficiency Plan shows how the Authority is planning to meet the continuing challenge of maintaining service levels and ensuring quality in an operational and financial environment which remains uncertain.

Productivity and Efficiency Plan 2023-2024

2022-23

Notice of Conclusion of Audit

Notice is hereby given that the Audit of the 2022-23 Accounts of Cheshire Fire Authority has been concluded . 

Cheshire Fire Authority has issued its Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2023. The unaudited accounts  were approved by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 26 September 2023. The audit has now been concluded and the statement of accounts were signed on 24^th January 2024.

The Statement of Accounts includes a narrative report, a statement of responsibilities, the financial statements, the independent auditors report and the annual governance statement.

Download a copy of the Statement of Accounts 2022-23:

Statement of Accounts 2022-23

You can also find a full copy of the accounts at the Authority's Headquarters in Winsford. If you are a Local Government Elector in any of the Local Authority areas we serve (Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton or Warrington), under Section 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act, you have the right, if you wish, to:

• Inspect and make copies of the accounts

• Inspect and make copies of reports made to the body by an auditor

• Ask the Authority to make copies of the statements or reports, for which there would be a reasonable charge.

If you want to speak to someone about this, please contact:

James Cunningham: Treasurer (Section 151 Officer) to Cheshire Fire Authority. 

Telephone: 01606 868700

Email: feedback@cheshirefire.gov.uk

External Audit

The Auditor’s report dated 24 January 2024 is included the statements of accounts page 101-107. This includes the Audit closure certificate.

The Auditors also produce an Annual Report which includes their Value for Money work.

The Auditor’s Annual Report for Cheshire Fire Authority – year ended 31st March 2023