Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments (SAAA) Digital AGAR Update

Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments (SAAA) is delivering a project, with our partners, to introduce a web-based portal for the submission of elements of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR). Lance is working with SAAA as User Acceptance and Training - Project Manager (UA&T-PM) to communicate with all 'Category 2' authorities (commonly known as Smaller Authorities). These include smaller and larger councils, to cover all types of AGAR submission, including parish meetings and councils that certify as exempt from the external limited assurance checks.

Lance Allan joined SAAA as a consultant in September 2025, responsible for delivering the Making AGAR Digital Project to around 10,000 Category 2 Smaller Authorities. Lance has 35 years of experience in the sector as a parish councillor, chair of a county association and town clerk at Trowbridge in Wiltshire from 2005 to 2025.

The system has been live trialled for submission of the 2025-2026 AGAR with over 70 councils and other Category 2 authorities included in the trial. This session will demonstrate the new portal to clerks and others so that they are fully prepared for April 2027. Those councils submitting in 2027 using the portal will receive a cash-back incentive equivalent to their External Audit fee.