Statement of accounts

Wakefield Council 2022 to 2023 Accounts Update

Wakefield Council is strongly committed to managing public money responsibly and operating transparently. We know doing that is the only way we maintain public confidence and can continue to deliver the frontline services our communities rely on.

That’s why it’s disappointing that, like many other Councils across the country, we’re being affected by a national delay in signing off Local Authority accounts. The well-documented audit backlog across the whole sector means that our 2022- to 23 accounts will be subject to a disclaimed opinion. 

This term means that the auditor can’t give an opinion on a financial statement. In these circumstances that’s because they haven’t reviewed them due to the backlog and the timing of a backstop set by the Government, rather than because of any issues.

The Government have recently said that local Councils “should not be unfairly judged based on disclaimed or modified opinions, caused by…[arrangements]…that are largely beyond their control.” We support their plans for a wholesale overhaul of the system that delivers Local Government audits.

In the meantime, this disclaimed opinion on our 2022-23 financial statements will also have a knock-on impact on our 2023-24 draft accounts. In particular there will be a lack of audit assurance about our opening position at April 2023. So, like many other Councils, there is now likely to be a period where future accounting is impacted by this disclaimed opinion.

Whilst we wait for the Government to reform the auditing process, we’ll continue to work hard every day to deliver value for money for local taxpayers. 

Statement of Account documents

Councils must produce an annual Statement of Accounts in accordance with legislative requirements and the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the UK.

​Previous years Statement of Accounts are available on request - please call 01924 306418

• 2023-24 Unaudited Statement of Accounts
• Public Inspection Notice 2023-24
• Signed Annual Governance Statement 2023 to 2024
• 2022-23 Statement of Accounts
• 2022-23 Annual Governance Statement
  
• Appendix A - Governance Framework
• 2021-22 Audited Statement of Accounts
• 2021-22 Approved Annual Governance Statement
• 2020-21 Annual Governance Statement Draft
• 2020-21 Audited Statement of Accounts
• 2019-20 Audit Certificate of Completion
• 2019-20 Summary Statement of Accounts
• 2019-20 Annual Governance Statement
• 2019-20 Statement of Accounts