Digital future for AGAR set to transform parish and town council reporting
Parish and town councils across England are set to benefit from a major overhaul of statutory reporting, as Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments (SAAA) moves the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) process to a fully digital system. In a significant step forward for the sector, SAAA has outlined plans to modernise the AGAR process, with the ambition of making the process more accurate, efficient and accessible for councils of all sizes.
The new digital platform will provide a single, secure online environment where parish and town councils can prepare, complete and submit their AGARs, replacing the current largely manual approach. A live trial is planned for the 2025/26 reporting year, with full rollout expected in 2027.
At the heart of the programme is a focus on reducing administrative burden while improving the quality and consistency of data. The digital system will introduce automated checks, logical question routing and built-in validation, significantly reducing common errors linked to manual data entry, outdated templates and calculation mistakes, and minimising the need for follow-up queries from auditors.
The platform is being developed to work for parish and town councils of every size. Smaller authorities will be able to confirm their Certificate of Exemption directly within the system. At the same time, larger councils will benefit from a structured, step-by-step approach to completing their returns.
The move to digital will also enhance the audit process itself. By providing auditors with standardised, clearly structured data, the new system is expected to reduce time spent on clarification and allow a greater focus on core assurance work, supporting stronger governance across the sector.
SAAA has placed flexibility at the centre of the system's design. The platform will be able to adapt to changes in legislation, thresholds or AGAR requirements without the need for major redesign, helping to future-proof the process. Enhanced security measures, including multi-factor authentication, will further strengthen system resilience and protect sensitive data.
Recognising the scale of change, SAAA will provide comprehensive support to parish and town councils throughout the transition, including training sessions, detailed guidance and refresher opportunities to ensure clerks and responsible financial officers are fully prepared ahead of the first digital submissions.
Parish and town councils are encouraged to engage early by taking part in training and, where possible, contributing to the testing and development of the system. Ensuring that SAAA holds up-to-date contact details for clerks will also be essential to enable secure access to the new platform.
The shift to a digital AGAR marks a major milestone in the ongoing modernisation of local governance. By working closely with parish and town councils, auditors and technical specialists, SAAA is developing a system that will streamline reporting, reduce administrative burden and strengthen the overall assurance framework for years to come.
