Parish Councils must maintain an asset register to ensure fixed assets are appropriately safeguarded. Once recorded on the asset register at acquisition cost, the value of assets must not change from year to year until disposal. Concepts of depreciation and impairment adjustments are not appropriate for local councils.
A Parish Council’s fixed asset register has four main purposes:
- It forms a basis for decisions on risk and insurance issues.
- It provides information on the age and potential lifespan of certain items.
- It provides assurance of the continued existence of Council’s property.
- It forms a basis for completion of box 9 in the ‘Annual Return.’
The asset register is updated by the Parish Council at the end of each financial year but is a working document it will be amended as necessary.
The Asset register will be used to inform the insurers of Council assets. For the purposes of insurance, the value to be used is the replacement value of items and not the purchase price as per the asset register