Financial records
The upkeep of the Commons is funded by a precept from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, supplemented by grants and donations. Quarterly accounts are presented at each Conservators’ meeting, the budget for each year is proposed in January and the annual accounts are presented at the April meeting.
Accounts are externally audited every year by PKF Littlejohn and, following best practice, they are also internally audited by Mulberry Local Authority Services Ltd.
The Conservators’ financial year runs from 1st April to 31st March.
Annual Return 2023/24
The accounts for the year 2023/24 have been completed and approved by the Conservators:
Statement of Accounts for 2023/24
Annual Governance Statement 2023/24
The Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2023/24 has been audited by PKF Littlejohn (Ref: SBA Team, 15 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD) and is hereby published for public inspection as set out in the notice of public rights:
The Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2023/24 has been subject to internal audit by the Mid Kent Partnership and external audit by PKF Littlejohn LLP. The internal auditors answered “no” for Section 1.4 and Internal Control Objective N, explained here:
Explanation for response No in Section 1.4 and Internal Control Objective N
The external auditors raised two except for issues, as detailed in their report:
External Auditor’s certificate and report 2023/24
Annual Return 2022/23
Statement of Accounts for 2022/23
Statutory notice of the period to inspect unaudited accounts
Annual Governance Statement 2022/23 and Accounting Statements 2022/23
External Auditor’s certificate and report 2022/23.
Annual Return 2021/22
Audited Statement of Accounts for 21/22
Statutory notice of the period to inspect the unaudited accounts
Annual Governance and Accounting Statements for 2021/22
Notice of conclusion of audit for 2021/22
External Auditor’s certificate and report 2021/22
Annual Return 2020/21
Audited Statement of Accounts for 20/21
Annual Governance and Accounting Statement 20/21
Notice of conclusion of audit for 20/21
External Auditor’s certificate and report 2020/21
Annual Return 2019/20
Budget
The budget for the current financial year can be found here: Budget 2025/26
For comparison with previous years:
Year to date expenditure (2024/25)
Year to date financial reports and signed bank reconciliations as presented to the Conservators at each quarterly meeting in the current financial year can be found here:
Statement 1 and signed bank reconciliation
Statement 2 and signed bank reconciliation
Statement 3 and signed bank reconciliation
Statement 4 and signed bank reconciliation
Previous quarterly statements:
2023/4 – Statement 1 , Statement 2, Statement 3. Our new Treasurer started on 29th February 2024, as such a Statement 4 was not produced for 2023/24.
2022/23 – Statement 1, Statement 2, Statement 3, Statement 4
2021/22 – Statement 1, Statement 2, Statement 3 Statement 4
2020/21 – Statement 1, Statement 2, Statement 3 Statement 4