Transparency

What is Local Government Transparency?

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government issued the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) which came into effect on 1st April 2015. The Code was issued through powers under Section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and replaces any previous codes issued in relation to local authorities in England under those powers.
The aim of the Code, which can be found on .gov.uk website, is to increase transparency through publication of open and reusable data enabling taxpayers to see how local authorities are using public money.
The Code does not replace, or supersede, the existing framework for access to public sector information provided by the:
•

• Freedom of Information Act 2020 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004
• Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
• Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community Regulations 2009
• Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (ss.25 and 26) which provides the rights for persons to inspect a local authority’s accounting records and supporting documentation, and to make copies of them

The Code applies to Town and Parish Councils which have a gross income or expenditure in excess of £200,000. The code for Councils with annual turnover of £25,000 or less is called the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities. Wistow Parish Council currently sits between two codes and has therefore adopted the Local Government Transparency Code 2015.

Information Which Needs to be Published

Under the below headers, information and data will be published at least quarterly by the Council. Under the Data Protection Act 2018, personal data will be redacted if it can identify an individual.
Where contracts are awarded through a tender process and the value exceeds £50,000, the data will be published upon project delivery.

Expenditure Over £500

Wistow Parish Council publishes all expenditure, especially that over £500, including supplier and transaction information. The Council’s expenditure for each financial year can be found by clicking on our Finance page of our website.
All expenditure is reported to Full Council at each ordinary meeting which is once each month (excluding August & December), as detailed in the schedule of meetings.

End of year accounts

Wistow Parish Council publish their statement of accounts according to the format included in the Annual Return form. Publication of the relevant page of the completed Annual Return form will meet this requirement. Wistow Parish Council publish their yearly statement of accounts which are approved and signed by the Responsible Financial Officer and the Chairman of the meeting. The statement of accounts can be founds on our finance, policies and document page.

Grants and Donations to Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector Organisations

As part of its ongoing commitment to the local community and voluntary sector, the Council offers grants throughout each financial year to support groups, activities and projects organised to benefit the people of Wistow. A list of these grants can be found by clicking on our Finance page of our website.

Senior Employees

The Code requires local authorities to publish details of any senior employee salaries, job title and responsibilities for those earning over £50,000 per annum. As at 31st March 2026, the Council does not meet this criteria. The code also requires the Council to publish staff structure. As at 31st March 2026, there is only one employee of the Council and this does not meet this criteria.

Councillor & Responsibilities

Wistow Parish Council must publish a list of Councillors together with their responsibilities. The list can be found on our People page

Agendas, Minutes and Meeting Papers

Wistow Parish Council must publish all of the Council agenda, minutes and meeting papers. These documents can be found on our Meetings Page.

Contracts and Tenders

Copies of contracts to businesses worth more than £5,000 can be found on the schedule of payments. Invitations to tender and quote are issued for goods and services over £5,000. Tenders will be published on Find a Tender. Tenders and contracts prior to March 2025 can be found on Contracts Finder.

Policies and Governance Documents

The Council’s policies and governance documents can be found on our finance, policies and document page.

Council Budget

The Council’s annual budget is published annually. As well as other income, the Council is funded through the precept, which is collected as part of residents’ council tax. The budgets can be founds on our finance, policies and document page.

Internal and External Auditors

Internal Audit

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, councils are required to have an annual internal audit. The Internal Auditor is appointed by the Council to evaluate and review the Council’s risk management, controls and governance. All internal audit reports can be found on the finance, policies and document page.

External Audit

The Annual Governance Accountability Return (AGAR) must be submitted by the Council to the government appointed External Auditor each year. The current nationally appointed External Auditor for Cambridgeshire is PKF Littlejohn. All external audit reports can be found on the finance, policies and document page.

Public Land and Property Owned By The Council

In order to ensure transparency and reasonableness, items are included on the Council’s asset register whether they have been gifted, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Council, together with their location. The Land and Property can be found in the Council’s asset register.

Standing Orders and Financial Regulations

The Council reviews and readopts its Standing Orders and Financial Regulations annually. These can be found on our finance, policies and document page.

Social Housing

The Council does not provide any social housing or own any social housing stock. For any queries of this nature, please visit the Huntingdonshire District Council website.

Waste Contracts

There are no waste collection contracts managed by Wistow Parish Council.