Financial information is regularly reported to the Parish Council throughout the year, and the Council has also been required to complete annual returns which are sent to an (independently chosen) external audit company. During this annual return process accounting information has always been open for public scrutiny on request.

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 now sets out a new audit framework for local public authorities whereby small authorities (this includes Barnwell Parish Council) will now be exempt from routine external audit. In place of this, small authorities will be subject to the new transparency requirements laid out in the act. This will enable local electors and ratepayers to access relevant information about authorities' accounts and governance.