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THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NO.: 2721675 REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1013845
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2020
| CONTENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Page | ||
| Company information | 2 | |
| Report of the Directors | 3- 4 | |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 5 | |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 | |
| Balance Sheet | 7 | |
| Notes to the Financial statements | 7- 8 |
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THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST
COMPANY INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2020
President Dr Peter Best Chairman Dr Andrew Hardie Company Secretary Dr Tony Whateley Treasurer Dr Tony Whateley CEO Hugh Humphreys, OBE REGISTERED OFFICE: 18 St Georges Close Birmingham B15 3TP REGISTERED NUMBERS: Company: 2721675 Charity: 1013845 BANKERS: HSBC 1 Great Cornbow Halesowen West Midlands B63 3AD LAWYER Gowling WLG (UK) LLP Two Snowhill, Birmingham, B4 6WR, INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Parkes & Co Chartered Accountants Birmingham
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THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2020
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
Each year the Trustees are required to present a formal report. The Charity is constituted as a company registered in England and limited by guarantee.
Charity Commission Registration Number: 1013845 Company Registration Number: 2721675
Registered Office: 18 St Georges Close, Birmingham, B15 3TP
The Directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31[st] December 2020. The Directors during the year under review were:
President - Dr Peter Best Chairman- Dr Andrew Hardie
CEO- Hugh Humphreys, OBE Company Secretary and Treasurer- Dr Tony Whateley
Terry Stanton, Peter Fisher, Denis Pike, David Struckett, Roy Burgess
The company is limited by guarantee and therefore no Director has any interest in the share capital of the company. The liability of the Members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.
The Directors are responsible for financial controls and accounts; for developing and overseeing a reserves policy; for ensuring that all procedures and policies adhere to their legal requirements for reviewing risk management of the organisation; to ensure all aspects of charity and company law are fully and properly adhered to and generally protect the charity’s property.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The main objective as shown in the Memorandum and Articles of Association is: The promotion of the restoration and conservation of the Dudley No. 2 Canal from Halesowen to the Worcester and Birmingham canal at Selly Oak, Birmingham.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
2020 had been a year of steady progress despite difficulties presented by the Covid virus. Using Zoom we had well attended monthly committee meetings and AGM; it was good to see more members attending our AGM with travel distance no longer a barrier. Fundraising proved more difficult with many charities redirecting their efforts to help alleviate Covid issues. Nevertheless in the period we managed to bring our total assets to nearly £400,000 with a further £300,000 required, along with the available 106 monies of about £700,000 to start work on the completion of the Selly Oak Retail Park section. Our plans to start with constructing the ‘winding hole’ attracted £95,000 of specific funding and pledges of £50,000 were released. We now expect to start 1[st] of March 2021, grateful thanks to CRT and Birmingham City Council for approving our plans and to the landowners for giving permission.
Unfortunately, both the Selly Oak and Weoley Castle Festivals were postponed to 2021, our participation helps to maintain the important strong community links. We continue to work closely with the Community Partnership for Selly Oak (CP4SO), Friends of Selly Oak Park and the Friends of Leasowes. We had to postpone our monthly boat trips for SENSE and presentations to local community groups, and we look forward to restarting as soon as it is safe.
4[Our committee now number nineteen and we continue to work closely and receive support from our partner ] societies; the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS) the Worcester Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society (WB&DCS), and the Coombeswood Canal Trust.
A leaflet was published showing the whole route from Selly Oak to Halesowen and we continue to look for support and funds for a path suitable for walkers and cyclist along the route. Good meetings have been held with Dudley Metropolitan District Council on protecting the route. Thanks to Peter Fisher and his volunteers for keeping the route across the Leasowes clear of self-seeded trees, also to Birmingham University Conservation Volunteers for clearing work in Selly Oak.
Two issues of our Newsletter “Lapal Link” were produced (Winter/Spring 2020 & Autumn/Winter 2020). These were distributed electronically to member with printed copies when needed, our 50 largest donors also received copies to keep them informed on progress. All are available for download from the web site www.lapal.org . We published 24 news items on our Facebook page www.Facebook.com/lapalcanaltrust with a total reach of 200,000.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and consider that the work of the Trust is in line with that guidance, given that the reopening of the Dudley No. 2 canal will provide enhanced outdoor leisure activities to the general public.
RESERVES POLICY
In line with guidance issued by the Charity Commission, the Trustees have reviewed the Charity’s need for reserves. At 31[st] December 2020 Unrestricted Reserves amounted to £56,638 The Trustees believe this to be adequate to ensure the effective and efficient of the operation of the Charity.
Restricted Reserves consists of donations and grants given specifically for the Restoration Appeal Fund.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company at the end of the financial year and of the charitable company’s surplus or deficit for the year. In doing so, the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
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Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the Board
Dr Tony Whateley Treasurer and Company Secretary 11 of January, 2021
Dr Andrew Hardie Chairman 11 of January, 2021
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THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
To the Trustees of The Lapal Canal Trust Limited
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Lapal Canal Trust Limited (the company) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which are set out on pages 6 to 9.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees of the Company and also directors for the purpose of company law you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act, or
2 the accounts do not accord with those records, or
3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a “true and fair view” which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination, or
4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with my examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
L E Parkes FCA Chartered Accountant Birmingham
14[th] January 2021
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THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2020
| THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2020 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes Income from: Donations, subscriptions, grants Charitable Activities Investments Gift Aid Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable Activities 4 Total Net Income Reconciliation of funds Funds brought forward Funds carried forward |
2020 Unrestricted £ 4,556 - 147 13,029 17,732 - 950 950 16,782 39,856 56,638 |
2020 Restricted £ 182,788 - - - 182,788 7,500 16,133 23,633 159,155 168,840 327,995 |
2020 Total £ 187,344 - 147 13,029 200,520 7,500 17,083 24,583 175,937 208,696 384,633 |
2019 Total £ 111,886 836 248 31223 |
| 144,193 | ||||
| 10,500 6,857 |
||||
| 17,357 | ||||
| 126,836 81,860 |
||||
| 208,696 |
All income and expenditure derives from continuing operations. The Statement of Financial Activities also complies with the requirement for an Income and Expenditure Account under the Companies Act 2006.
The notes on pages 7-8 form part of these financial statements.
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[THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST]
BALANCE SHEET 31st DECEMBER 2020
| 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Cash at bank | 56,638 | 327,995 | 384,633 | 208,696 | |
| ----------------- | -------------------- ------------------ -------------------- | ||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 56,638 | 327,995 | 384,633 | 208,696 | |
| ----------------- | -------------------- ------------------ --------------------- | ||||
| Financed by: | |||||
| Unrestricted Funds | 56,638 | 56,638 | 39,856 | ||
| Restricted Funds | 5 | - |
327,995 | 327,995 | 168,840 |
| ----------------- | --------------------- | ------------------- ------------------ | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 56,638 | 327,995 | 384,633 | 208,696 | |
| _____ | _______ | __ __ |
For the year ending 31st December 2020 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The Members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
Approved by the directors on 11[th] January 2021 and signed by
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2019
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting: The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out below and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and the SORP (FRS102) Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is a public entity as defined by FRS102.
Going Concern Basis: The trustees have considered the requirements to comment on the going concern basis and confirm that resources are sufficient to continue operations for the foreseeable future.
Fund Accounting: Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general activities of the charity. Restricted funds are held specifically for the Restoration Appeal Fund.
Income: Donations and legacies are accounted for when received by the Trust. Other income is accounted for on an accruals basis as far as it is possible to do so. Income includes income tax recoverable, where applicable.
Gifts in Kind: The charity receives the benefit of work carried out by volunteers and receives the use of the facility and equipment without charge. No value is placed on these items, except where the benefit extends over several periods, in which case they are valued and included in the balance sheet at a reasonable valuation.
Taxation: As a registered charity, the Trust benefits from Rates relief and is generally exempt from Corporation Tax, Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. The Trust is registered for VAT, Registration Number 344343415 Investments. Investment Income has been taken into account on the basis of the due date of payment
.
2. Transactions with Trustees and Other Connected Persons
. No directors received any remuneration during the year.
There were no transactions with other trustees or other connected persons.
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THE LAPAL CANAL TRUST EXPENDITURE
YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2020
| 3 Raising Funds Fundraising fees 4 Charitable activities Feasibility study costs Website fees Feasibility study printing Direct expenditure WB & DCS Membership IWA Indemnity Insurance GBCC Membership Selly Oak Festival IWA Corporate Membership PayPal fees Companies House filing fee Postages Underspent grant repaid Planning permission Professional fees CRT Legal fees Winding hole design fees Canal and River Trust fees Total Charitable Expenditure 5 Funds Analysis Restoration Appeal donations Unrestricted Funds Previous year: Restoration Appeal donations Unrestricted Funds 6 Income 2020 (Major Sources) Ratcliff Feeney Garfield Weston Aurelius Rowlands Cadbury Veolia Unite Students Other donations |
Unrestricted Funds £ - - 141 179 320 27 340 120 10 54 16 13 50 - - - - - - 630 950 |
2020 Restricted Funds £ 7,500 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 356 1,356 6,000 7,965 456 16,133 16,133 01-01-2020 168,840 39,856 208,696 01-01-2019 60,640 21,220 81,860 |
Total Funds £ 7,500 - 141 179 320 27 340 120 10 54 16 13 50 - 356 1,356 6,000 7,965 456 16,763 17,083 Income 182,788 17,732 200,520 Income 108,200 35,993 144,193 Restricted Funds £ 5,000 2,000 40,000 2,000 10,000 15,000 37,500 20,000 51,288 182,788 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 10,500 2,000 141 2,051 4,192 27 340 480 10 54 30 13 - 1,711 - - - - - 2,665 6,857 Expenditure (23,633) (950) (24,583) Expenditure - (17,357) (17,357) |
2019 Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31-12-2020 327,995 56,638 384,633 31-12-2019 168,840 39,856 208,696 |
Total Funds £ 10,500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 141 2,051 |
||||||
| 4,192 | ||||||
| 27 340 480 10 54 30 13 - 1,711 - - - - - |
||||||
| 2,665 | ||||||
| 6,857 | ||||||