Vale of White Horse District Council

Published on January 17, 2024

Local Plan

The District Council is moving ahead with the Local Plan for the district, which is now in the consultation phase.

The Local Plan is an important document for the district and our village – it sets out the Council’s intent and objectives for the broad issues such as climate, housing & jobs, the environment and community facilities among others.

The poster below sets out how to get involved in the proposals and consultation, including some drop-in events around the district. Also attached is a pdf document with the summary consultation questionnaire.

Response form Nutshell

The plan may have an impact on the village and our local environment, so this is the time to get engaged with these proposals and make your views known. Please read through the information and respond using the questionnaire if you can.

Annual Statutory Documents

The Parish Council (PC) is required to prepare and publish these documents following the end of each financial year. They comprise five main sections:

Certificate of Exemption

Small parish councils are exempt from a detailed annual audit by an external auditor. The definition of a ‘small’ council is annual gross income of less than £25,000; Bourton PC’s annual income falls well within this threshold. This form confirms the PC’s annual income and its exemption from an external audit.

Annual Internal Audit Report

Although exempt from an external audit, the PC’s affairs are still subject to an internal audit by a qualified individual independent of the PC. This is the auditor’s summary report.

Annual Governance Statement

This form deals with the standard of internal controls and general governance standards within the PC throughout the year.

Accounting Statements

This is the summary financial report for the PC for the financial year. It also includes commentary on any significant variances from the previous year’s financial results and a balance sheet reconciliation with bank accounts.

Notice of Public Rights

This notice sets out the rights of local electors to review and query the PC’s statutory returns, including the contact details of the internal auditor.