Taxpayers and members of the public are being given a rare opportunity to delve through Kingston Council's accounts over the next four weeks to see how their money is being spent.

Every year any interested person can inspect the accounts and some other related documents including books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts and ask for copies to be made.

They also have the right to make objections to the accounts, or any items in them, asking for the auditor to issue a report in the public interest and apply to the court for a declaration that an item in the accounts is contrary to law.

The council said it planned to publish easy to understand information in summary form. It said: "This is because the formal accounts are required to be in a standard form common to all local authorities and this can make for 'heavy reading'."

A draft version of the accounts, available on the council's website, was approved by councillors at the end of June to be submitted to the independent auditor, who will issue his verdict on September 23.

The compiling of this year's accounts was sadly punctuated by the sudden and untimely death in May of Morris Palmer, a senior council accountant who had worked on the books for many years.

The accounts will be open between 9.30am and 4.30pm from Monday, July 27, up to and including Friday, August, 21.

To request a viewing contact Keith Hosea, the audit manager, on 020 8547 5598.

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