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Michael Letch - Locum Clerk Ongar Town Council

Please see the below statement issued by the Essex Association of Local Councils on behalf of our colleague Ann Wood.

Statement from Ann Wood and Mr. David & Mrs. Jennifer Lester.

It is with deep sorrow that we wish to inform you of the death of Mike Letch at Broomfield Hospital on 12th February 2024, following a short illness.

After leaving school, Mike started work at Marconi as an electronics engineer and then moved to work in the NHS in the pathology laboratory. He was a Licentiate of the Royal Society of Chemistry and worked as a process chemist. During this time, he studied for an MBA, which led to his move into public service.

Mike became a parish clerk in 2010, after he was made redundant from Braintree District Council, where he had worked for 15 years. In the 14 years since then, he qualified with CiLCA and he worked with many councils and clerks in Essex in various capacities, including as a tutor for the EALC. His extensive knowledge, dedication to the sector and dry sense of humour was appreciated by many. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

A memorial and funeral service is being arranged and the date and details will follow.

“Don’t think of it as dying” said Death “just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush” – Terry Pratchett

Full Council meeting 18th April 2024 at 8 pm Planning meeting 18th April 2024 at 7 pm

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AGAR 2022/23

20th June 2023.

Each year the smaller authority’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR has been published with this notice. As it has yet to be reviewed by the appointed auditor, it is subject to change as a result of that review.

Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2023, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to the Clerk. Ongar Town Council. between 23rd June and 4th August.

Local government electors and their representatives also have the opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; and the right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority.

The appointed auditor can be contacted at the address below for this purpose between the above dates only.

PKF Littlejohn LLP (Ref: SBA Team)15 Westferry CircusCanary WharfLondon E14 4HD (sba@pkf-l.com)

Here are some really important documents for you to study. It's the Annual Governance and Audit Review.

Part one - the governance statement.

Part two - the accounts statement.

The internal Auditor's report. .

Notice of Conclusion of audit

The Auditor has concluded their work on the governance and audit report and have found an error where the data from the computer was copied onto their form which has to be completed by hand. This report will cost you £1,000 so make sure you read it carefully. However, they will not be signing-off the audit yet as they will be investigating complaints received about one of the council's decisions. Meanwhile, they have issued an interim certificate for you to study.

Governance Audit Reports for previous years