Part 2

Basic concepts and requirements

General requirements for accounts
3
1
A relevant authority, other than a health service body, must keep adequate accounting records.
2
“Adequate accounting records” means records that are sufficient—
a
to show and explain the relevant authority's transactions,
b
to disclose at any time, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the authority at that time, and
c
to enable the authority to ensure that any statements of accounts required to be prepared by the authority comply with the requirements imposed by or under this Act.
3
A relevant authority, other than a health service body, must prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.
4
In this Act “financial year” means a period of 12 months ending with 31 March.
5
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
a
make provision for the financial year of a relevant authority, other than a health service body, for the purposes of this Act to be such period as is specified in the regulations;
b
make provision for any requirement in this section not to apply, or to apply with modifications, in relation to the relevant authorities, other than health service bodies, specified or described in the regulations.
6
Regulations under subsection (5)(a) may—
a
amend this Act or provision made under it in its application to a relevant authority to which the regulations apply, or
b
provide for this Act or provision made under it to apply in relation to such a relevant authority with modifications.
7
Regulations under subsection (5)(a) may make provision in relation to—
a
all relevant authorities (other than health service bodies);
b
the relevant authorities specified or described in the regulations.
8
Section 32 enables the Secretary of State by regulations to make further provision about accounting records and statements of accounts.
9
In this Act “
health service body
” means—
a
an integrated care board;
b
an NHS trust all or most of whose hospitals, establishments and facilities are situated in England.
S. 3(5)-(7) in force at 9.4.2014 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/940, art. 2(b)
S. 3 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(c) (with Sch. para. 1) (as amended (27.6.2016) by S.I. 2016/675, art. 2)
S. 3(3) modified (25.3.2017) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions to the Mayor) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/470), arts. 1(3), 9(1)
S. 3(3) modified (8.5.2017) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Fire and Rescue Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/469), arts. 1(3), 11(1)
S. 3(3) modified (1.1.2019) by The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire (Fire and Rescue Authority) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1072), arts. 1, 11
S. 3(3) modified (30.1.2021) by The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/112), arts. 1(2), 41(1)(3)
S. 3(9) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 7 para. 16; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
S. 3(3) modified (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 39(1)(2)
S. 3(3) modified (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 54(1)(2)
S. 3(3) modified (21.3.2024) by The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/414), arts. 1(2), 11(2)
S. 3(3) modified (E.) (7.5.2024) by The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/402), arts. 1(3), 10(1) (with art. 9)
S. 3(3) modified (26.6.2025) by The Local Audit (Modification of Financial Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/652), regs. 1(1), 2