Telling the story: improving the presentation of local authority financial statements

The Telling the Story Review

This review has taken the form of a review group and a number of consultations culminating in the Telling the Story Improving the Presentation of Local Authority Financial Statements (Telling the Story consultation) in the summer of 2015.

This consultation built on the messages of previous consultations that the local authority financial statements did not clearly reflect traditional local authority performance, ie the movements on General Fund and Housing Revenue Account balances.

After consideration of the consultation responses, the changes to the 2016/17 Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom (the Code) as a result of the Telling the Story consultation have two main strands:

• To allow local authorities to report on the same basis as they are organised by breaking the formal link between the Service Reporting Code of Practice (SeRCOP) and the Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement.
• To introduce a new Expenditure and Funding Analysis which provides a direct reconciliation between the way local authorities are funded and prepare their budget and the Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement in a way that is accessible to the lay-reader.

This analysis is supported by a streamlined Movement in Reserves Statement, the changes have replaced the current segmental reporting note.

A more detailed description of the changes to the 2016/17 Code can be found in Technical Information Note 16 (01).

Further clarification of the Telling the Story changes to the Code was included in the 2018/19 Code. For more information see:

The CIPFA/LASAAC Feedback Statement in Technical Information Note 18 (01) (PDF, 275)

Understanding Local Authority Financial Statements

CIPFA and CIPFA/LASAAC have published Understanding Local Authority Financial Statements (previously How to Tell the Story) as a part of its programme of changes under the Telling the Story Review.

This publication is intended to help chief finance officers and other senior staff to present the financial statements to members and other key stakeholders by explaining how the formats can be used to convey key information in these areas and covers the main financial statements.

It also features the changed formats of the financial statements from the 2016/17 Code and discusses the new Expenditure and Funding Analysis.

CIPFA and CIPFA/LASAAC are clear that the financial statements have a key part to play in accountability to taxpayers and other stakeholders as to how public money is used.

A key to achieving the aims of the changes brought about by the review will be to use the information not just in the narrative section of the financial statements to explain performance during the year, but more widely to all stakeholders, including elected members as citizens’ representatives, in a range of formats and media to provide a definitive position on financial performance. Local authorities are also urged to look to their balance sheets as a part of this explanation and the key messages that can be drawn out.

We welcome your views on streamlining and simplication

CIPFA and CIPFA/LASAAC are committed to the improvement of the presentation of local authority financial statements and has an ongoing project to that effect. The consultation page on the 2018/2019 Code raises the issue of streamlining and simplification of local authority financial statements and CIPFA seeks interested parties views on the issue.

In addition the Society of London Treasurers and CIPFA's Local Authority Accounting Panel have established a working group which will produce a publication on streamlining and simplification of local authority financial statements. This will include both technical and practical guidance and examples of how local authorities can present streamlined financial statements. If you have any comments for that working group please email them to financial.reporting@cipfa.org.