2023-08-31-accounts

-, Leeds Civic ITr4St . Annual.Review 2023

Sponsorship & Support 2023

The Trust gratefully acknowledges the support its work has received from our corporate membership as follows:

Gold Corporate Members

www.ceg.co.uk

www.hammerson.com

www.cjctstudios.com

www.landsec.com

www.dobsonconstruction.co.uk

www.marshallcdp.com

www.marshallsmill.co.uk

www.evanspropertygroup.com

Corporate Members of Leeds Civic Trust Acanthus WSM Architects Adair Paxton LLP Addleshaw Goddard LLP Andrews Gwynne LLP Arup

Kinrise

Knight Frank LLP Leeds Beckett University LeedsBID Leeds Commercial Leeds Conservatoire Leeds Library Leeds Rugby Ltd Manning Stainton MEPC Ltd

Benjn R. Vickers & Sons Ltd Bracken Limited Brewster Bye Architects Caddick Developments Ltd Corstorphine + Wright Ltd Connect Yorkshire Cunniff Design Ltd Dacres Commercial DLA Design Group Ltd DLG Architects

Mood Developments Mott MacDonald Ltd Oakgate Group PLC Opera North Pullans Potterspace Royal Armouries RSM Seven Architecture Ltd Sound Leisure Ltd Sous Le Nez Ltd

Fore Consulting Limited Gordons LLP Hallam Land Management Ltd James Hambro & Partners

Front cover

Hibiscus Rising, Yinka Shonibare – the city’s latest sculpture has been installed in the Meadow Lane greenspace

www.rba-online.co.uk

www.rushbond.co.uk

www.tcs-plc.com

www.wiltondevelopments.co.uk

Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP Sterling Capitol plc Studio Tom Dick & Harry STUDIOURBAN Sunny Bank Mills The Harris Partnership Ltd The Parklane Group Tetra Tech Group Ltd University of Leeds Walton & Co Wates Construction Ltd West & North Yorkshire Chamber Westward Care Limited Whitelocks Womble Bond Dickinson LLP Wrigleys Solicitors LLP WYG Group Ltd Yorkshire Design Group

Chair’s Introduction

We continue to focus on better

Finally, celebration. On November 1st, we celebrated a wonderful sell-out evening of great architecture in Leeds and then days later the ‘unveiling’ of Hibiscus Rising. This public statue was commissioned to remember David Oluwale and to provide a place of reflection in the city.

rail and bus services. The future of bus reform remains uncertain but the Review welcomes some movement on the subject this year.

We brought the three strands of campaigning, celebration and the cultural history of our citizens together with the unveiling of a Blue Plaque for June Hancock. Her campaign to obtain compensation for fellow sufferers of mesothelioma culminated in a landmark judgement in her favour that went far beyond the boundaries of the city. This plaque had particular resonance for our Director Martin Hamilton, whose father died of the illness in 2022.

It has been another exceptionally busy year for the team led by Martin and I should like to take this opportunity to welcome Anna, Amy and Umi to Wharf Street. We are blessed with great staff and great volunteers, who with supportive trustees, patrons, members both individual and corporate, mean that we can continue to be relevant, authentic and authoritative.

The work of the Trust during 2023, seen through the Annual Review, can be categorised under three ‘C’s’: Celebration, Culture and Campaigning.

We play the long game at the Trust. We are not easily put off and so the work on reimagining Eastside away from an area dominated by cars goes on into 2024. We have been engaging with key organisations since 2019 so this campaign is still in its infancy!

The Review shows that the Trust has played its part in the cultural programme of Leeds2023. Heritage Open Days, with 150 free events, included plaque unveilings at Bramley Baths and for the circus owner, Pablo Fanque, all aiming to reflect the cultural diversity of the city.

Jane Taylor Chair

Office Team

To promote and organise participation and cooperation with stakeholders and partners, including other civic organisations, locally regionally and nationally to further these objects

The objects of the Trust are:

Martin Hamilton (Director) Umi Mistry Anna Shindler Jodie Stott Amy Sutcliffe

To stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and unique heritage of the city and metropolitan borough of Leeds including the identification and prioritisation of actions to preserve and enhance the historic built environment of Leeds

Gold Patrons

Trustees

Chair: Jane Taylor Vice Chair: Mike Piet Hon. Treasurer: Robert Solyom Hannah Beard Jim Brettell Lucy Moore John Pike Claude St Arroman Clifford Stead Antonia Stowe Jenna Strover Richard Voss

Olav and Liz Arnold

Silver Patrons

Robert Dyson

To encourage high quality sustainable development; promoting high standards of sustainable urban design, architecture and landscape in development across the whole of Leeds To encourage the judicious preservation development and improvement of features of general public amenity within Leeds so as to ensure Leeds is a happy, healthy and sustainable place to live and work To advance in the appreciation of a people-friendly environment, considering climate change and the need to reduce environmental impacts; and to promote ways of improving the environment within Leeds including high quality green and public spaces, waterways and sustainable transport

Patrons

Richard F. Adkinson Margot Brunaus-Friedman Ann Clark Hywel Coleman Robert Collins Chris Hindle Mark Jenkinson Dean Johnson Jennifer Jones Mike Hampshire Neville and Elizabeth Rowell Richard A. Smith Martin Staniforth & Gill Eastabrook Anne Travers Doreen Wood

Leeds Civic Trust

17/19 Wharf Street, Leeds, LS2 7EQ Telephone : [phone] Email [e-mail] Website : www.leedscivictrust.org.uk Facebook: @leedscivictrust Twitter: @LeedsCivicTrust Instagram: LeedsCivicTrust Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity No: 1014362

Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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Planning and Development Our approach to develo ment in the cit p y

Planning and development have always been an integral part of the Trust’s work.

We are not preservationists – we know that heritage buildings must have purpose, and this may mean taking difficult decisions about how they can be adapted to give them a new life. Above all, we are pragmatic – as a critical friend we seek to influence improvements in design but are aware of the conflicting pressures faced by developers, architects and planners that may result in schemes which are not as good as we would like. All we can do is to continue to argue for the very best designs in our city and hope that the work we do is ultimately a force for good.

The Annual Review aims to reflect the work of the Trust and to put this in the context of wider developments in the city. We hope that what we do is relevant, authentic, and authoritative. Inevitably, there is always a sense in which we may be “marking our own homework” – the work we do and the views we express are an expression of the expertise and interests of our members and volunteers. Where we can make a difference, this is a validation of the positions we take.

Our Planning Committee sifts through hundreds of schemes each year, we receive presentations from developers and where appropriate we express a view. We pride ourselves in being forward looking and positive – we are often dubbed a “heritage organisation” but this only tells a small part of our story. We welcome modern and exciting design and are frustrated when the schemes we see do not measure up.

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• 01 A back stage view of the Leeds Architecture Awards taking place in the splendid Howard Assembly Room

• 02 The Sir William Henry Bragg 03 The original staircase inside Building: winner of the award for Draper’s Yard next to Temple new buildings with a construction Works won a commendation in cost of over £10 million the Leeds Architecture Awards. A great reuse of a 20th century building

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Andrew Edwards, journalist and former Leeds Civic Trust trustee expertly presented the awards as he has done for many years, just ahead of his departure from BBC Radio Leeds after a long and successful career. It was perhaps appropriate that the venue was the Howard Assembly Room – part of the “Opera Works” submission that won the overall prize for adapted buildings which was also the location for one of a number of visits organised by our Events Committee during the course of the year.

The Leeds Architecture Awards

It was in this context that we were delighted to be involved in a new partnership that saw the return of the Leeds Architecture Awards in 2023. Working with Leeds City Council, the Leeds Society of Architects and RIBA, we saw the opportunity to re-imagine that competition after a gap of four years. We streamlined that judging process and for the first time ensured that the big decisions were made by experts who were not part of the city’s architectural scene.

Most schemes on the shortlist of 15 were analysed at some point by our planning committee, and the outcome of the awards process was an opportunity to test the views we expressed about schemes that were still on the drawing board against the considered view of expert judges looking at the finished article.

The unavailability of the Town Hall gave us the opportunity to refresh the ceremony itself – adding a degree of informality to proceedings whilst still giving the awards the status they deserve.

For example, when the judges visited the William Henry Bragg Building at the University of Leeds, they were sufficiently impressed to declare it the winner of the “buildings with a construction value above £10 million” category. They said: “This is a very successful combination of new and old, uniting pre-existing post-war structures with a substantial contemporary insertion. There was a confidence, rigour and even muscularity to the development as a whole. Clever design decisions mean that the bulk of the new build is largely disguised.” Leeds Civic Trust first looked at the proposals in May 2017. Our comments show general support with some concerns about the design detail. We said: “The Leeds Civic Trust Planning Committee has considered the above planning applications and wishes to support the scheme. The use of projecting columns on the roof extension to the original building with glazing set behind suits the existing style of the building and will complement it and give it a better scale in relation to its setting.”

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Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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• 01 The famous “Countdown” clock in the Channel 4 HQ in the Majestic – one of the shortlisted schemes in the adapted buildings category

• 02 The judging panel in conversation (l-r Andrew Edwards, Robert Evans, Natalia Maximova and Charles Campion)

We did however have some concerns about the detailed design of the rooftop extension and in particular were unconvinced that the rooftop plant would be concealed, in spite of assurances. In the event, our concerns are borne out. The building is undoubtedly a successful conversion, but the very visible plant and equipment detracts from the design. Another scheme that was considered by the judges was Draper’s Yard. This post-war building next to Temple Works used to be the warehouse for Kay’s catalogue. This was promoted from the long list to the shortlist by the judges who were impressed with the conversion, resulting it being awarded a commendation. They said:

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There are clearly differences in what the Trust and the judges were looking at. We were looking at a planning application (which may have been subject to further modifications before approval), whereas the judges were looking at a building which had to be completed by the closing date for entries. Nonetheless, the awards process offers an interesting test of the quality and validity of what we say when an application is presented to us for consideration.

“The owners, architects and occupiers deserve credit for having the imagination to reuse this mid-century warehouse building. A very sensitive restoration of the façade and retention of remaining original features (most notably the grand staircase on entry) were particular positives. The extensive rooftop gardens take advantage of the significant space available.” We expressed similarly supportive views in our comments on the scheme in October 2020:

“The Trust wishes to support this development, promising as it does to bring an empty building back into active use while respecting its nature and character and the environs. We particularly welcome the highquality landscaping at ground and roof levels.”

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03 Maggie’s Yorkshire: winner
in the buildings with a
construction value of below
£10 million and overall winner
of project of the year
04 Overall Leeds Architecture
Award winners Maggie’s
Yorkshire are awarded a
cheque for £1000
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Leeds Architecture Awards 2023: Overall winners

Adapted Buildings:

New Buildings more than £10 million in value: Sir William Henry Bragg Building, University of Leeds (ADP Architecture)

New Buildings up to £10 million in value and project of the year: Maggie’s Yorkshire St James University Hospital (Heatherwick Studio)

• Opera North Music Works (Enjoy Design)

Sustainability:

Public Realm and Landscape:

Cultural Projects:

• 11 & 12 Wellington Place (TP Bennett)

Moortown Park (re-form Landscape Architecture with the Friends of Moortown Park)

Leeds Playhouse (Page\Park)

Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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01 The late Elain Harwood outside the listed Bank House, recently purchased by Trust corporate member Rushbond PLC

Brutalist Britain

Elain was for many years responsible for listing some of the most iconic 20th century buildings in the United Kingdom, and she offered the view that the Magistrates’ Court might one day be a candidate for listing.

Whatever your views about this style of architecture, Elain’s engaging presentational style never failed to leave the audience enthralled.

If Draper’s Yard represents traditional mid-20th century design, our event in the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery at the University of Leeds focused on later architecture in the brutalist tradition. Renowned architectural historian Elain Harwood gave a fascinating talk about brutalist architecture as featured in her book “Brutalist Britain”.

We were fortunate that the talk coincided with an exhibition of brutalist architecture in the university context. Using images and drawings from the Arup archive, the exhibition, curated by photographer Simon Phipps (who addressed the Trust on the subject a couple of years ago), provided the perfect backdrop for Elain’s talk.

The report is tinged with sadness, since a few short months later Elain sadly passed away. It was an honour for the Trust to hear from such a passionate advocate for 20th century architecture.

Before the event, Elain Harwood accompanied Leeds Civic Trust Trustee Clifford Stead on a tour of some of the more interesting 20th century buildings in the city centre.

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Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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Holbeck grows apace

Less successful is the Tower Works scheme. We objected to the scheme at the time – which has now been completed - on the grounds that it completely dominated the listed Italianate towers, particularly when viewed from the canal. Sadly, our concerns were justified.

There have been some sensitive restorations over the years – the Round Foundry being a notable example of blending old with new, but significant development has been slow to take hold. This has changed significantly, with the last 12 months seeing a raft of completions.

The Trust has long advocated sustainable development in Holbeck. This vast swathe of post-industrial land to the south of the railway station stretching into the traditional residential settlement of Holbeck and Beeston Hill has long been the subject of discussion and planning but relatively little development on the ground.

The Iron Works and Mustard Wharf, the latter a well-regarded entry to the architecture awards, are both examples of sensitive new build schemes which fit well in their surroundings. Globe Point – another Leeds Architecture Awards shortlisted scheme – provides high quality office space on the junction of Water Lane and Globe Road and sets the tone for further development by CEG on their significant land-holding in the area.

A much more positive scheme is what is known as “The Junction” – five residential towers which address the disused Monkbridge Viaduct. The architects for the scheme, Leeds Civic Trust Corporate members CJCT, took a group of Trust members on a walk around the scheme which is now nearing completion.

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• 01 An aerial shot of Holbeck, with 03 A Leeds Civic Trust visit to “The Leeds Architecture Award entry Junction” led by CJCT Partner Mustard Wharf in the foreground Antony Hall, whose company

• 02 A fantastic mural by Zoe Power was responsible for the scheme. The planted viaduct in full bloom

• 02 A fantastic mural by Zoe Power on the gable end of one of the new residential blocks. Nonetheless, the feeling persists that the historic Italianate towers at tower works are dominated by the new build elements

There were further

The residential blocks themselves There were further are privately rented apartments. enhancements to greenspace They cater for a clientele that along the waterfront with the wish to have facilities “on tap.” creation of Whitehall Pocket park There are private dining rooms – this sliver of land sandwiched available to book, communal between the canal and river has areas, and even “podcast” been converted into a walkable booths. These developments route with benches and planting, come at a price, but one which turning an inaccessible space people are clearly willing to pay! into something that provides What sets this development much needed amenity space for apart from many others is the dog walkers, joggers, pedestrians creation of a new public park on and cyclists. top of the viaduct. This linear The elephant in the room of walkway – taking its cue from course is Temple Works. We the High Line in New York and have written extensively about the Promenade Plantée in Paris, this Grade 1 listed monument to is effectively a new park for the industrial success over the years. city. This well-designed space The developers CEG are to be features an atrium, lifts and congratulated in taking on this stairs, and proposes new uses for building. the disused railway arches below. It provides an important focal point and magnet for visitors and residents alike.

There were further As the British Library celebrated enhancements to greenspace its 50th anniversary (and the along the waterfront with the completion of some important creation of Whitehall Pocket park buildings at its Boston Spa site) – this sliver of land sandwiched we remain hopeful that their plan between the canal and river has to use this building to host the been converted into a walkable “British Library North” will finally route with benches and planting, be given the green light. turning an inaccessible space into something that provides much needed amenity space for dog walkers, joggers, pedestrians and cyclists.

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Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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• 01 The stolen blue plaque for David Oluwale is re-installed on Leeds Bridge

David Oluwale’s legacy at Brid e End g

• 02 Hibiscus Rising by Yinka Shonibare takes pride of place in the middle of the Meadow Lane greenspace

Our last annual review covered the tragic story of David Oluwale, the Trust’s installation of a plaque to remember his legacy, followed by its theft. The David Oluwale Memorial Association are to be congratulated in keeping his memory and legacy alive. Leeds Civic Trust was delighted to provide cash support towards the creation of a maquette for a new sculpture called “Hibiscus Rising.” This floral structure, created by renowned BritishNigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, was formally unveiled in November 2023 taking pride of place in the middle of the Meadow Lane green space at the entrance to the emerging Aire Park. This ten-metre structure, taking inspiration from the African hibiscus flower, provides a powerful but positive entrance to the city just south of Leeds Bridge.

We anticipate the completion of the “Ribbons” sculpture that will be unveiled on Quarry Hill in 2024, which seeks to rectify the dearth of sculpture and statues representing women in our city. Many people lament the failure of the city to follow through on proposals from Anthony Gormley for the “Brick Man” sculpture some 30 years ago, which would have provided a significant landmark in Holbeck, but it might be argued that these two new works are more reflective of the diversity of a city where the male form is hardly under-represented.

Along the Aire, the David Oluwale Bridge was formally opened. This footbridge opens up a route from Sovereign Square through Bridge End and a newly created green space at Meadow Lane and into the new Aire Park.

It was gratifying to see that this long-standing ambition of the Trust was finally realised. It was timely that this year’s Kevin Grady lecture series included a talk on the history of this much neglected but now revitalised part of the city centre.

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Bringing Leeds heritage to life.

A new mini museum is set to open on the ground fl oor of Wellington Place’s Grade II listed wagon lifting hoist – one of the last remaining parts of the original Leeds Central Station.

MEPC are calling for people to share their cherished memories of Leeds Central Station and Wellington Place is calling for people to share their any related memorabilia to be displayed in a new mini museum cherished memories of Leeds soon to be opening at Wellington Central Station and any related memorabilia to be displayed Place. People can get in in a new mini museum soon touch by emailing: to be opening at Wellington Place. People can get in touch [e-mail]

The museum will celebrate Leeds’ rich industrial history and will include special artefacts spanning the station’s more than a century long history including photos and memories of the working station.

by emailing [e-mail].

The wagon lifting hoist was made a Grade II listed building and received a Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque in July 2011.

Scheduled to open its doors in early 2024 the museum will be free to access by the public during the day.

Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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Leeds 2023 A Year of Culture!

It is for others to decide whether Leeds 2023 has successfully addressed this critique. Certainly, Leeds 2023 aimed not only to present culture to the city but to construct creative experiences for everyone, including communities that might generally feel excluded, and to unearth hidden cultures and histories in the city. As far as the Trust was concerned, we already had many ongoing projects we knew could be part of the festival; we partnered with Leeds 2023 to develop these projects as part of their calendar of events.

For our panel discussion, we posed the question: “Leeds 2023 – a cultural legacy for our city?” The guest speakers who made up the panel were Kully Thiarai - CEO of Leeds 2023; Georgia Taylor Aguilar, Exhibitions and Artist Development Curator at The Tetley; and Wieke Eringa, Associate Director of the Cultural Institute, University of Leeds. Journalist and presenter Peg Alexander chaired the discussion. Peg Alexander did a fantastic job leading the discussion; many questions were asked, such as how the “culture” of Leeds Year of Culture 2023 squared with Richard Hoggart’s study of mass culture? Hoggart, surely a potential subject for a blue plaque, used his seminal 1957 study “The Uses of Literacy” to criticise the loss of working class popular culture and its replacement by mass culture.

2023 marked a year-long celebration of culture in Leeds, a festival in development since the city’s bid for European Capital of Culture hit the buffers due to Brexit.

The festival promised that culture ‘could make our city the best it can be’. The Trust launched our involvement by inviting guest speakers to our 2022 Annual General Meeting to participate in a panel discussion. The meeting took place at Aspire, the former Yorkshire Penny Bank, on Infirmary Street. It was a joyous occasion; after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, members appreciated the opportunity to attend their AGM in person rather than via Zoom.

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• 01 A panel discussion about what Leeds 2023 has in store. Pictured (l-r) Kully Thiarai, Georgia Taylor Aguilar, Weike Eringe and chair Peg Alexander

• 02 Artist Megan Dobbin at Leeds Left Bank, whose artwork tells the story of the history of this important cultural venue in Leeds 6

Heritage Open Days: Supporting our hidden histories

Support grants provided up to They produced a photography £150 towards equipment for exhibition that showcased areas an event. We also introduced of the building that were not a new grant scheme, offering usually accessible and invited funding of up to £500 towards creative guest speakers from an imaginative or ‘themed’ event the community to speak about that provided financial support how the Left Bank has provided for a creative practitioner, an accessible space and has freelancer, historian or facilitator. produced an innovative cultural It is problematic to expect programme that supports people in the creative/freelance networking within the community industry to support HODs and sustains their careers and without covering their costs. This work. With the grant, they grant, supplemented by funding also funded local artist Megan from Leeds 2023, allowed us to Dobbyn to produce an artwork support these creative freelancers that celebrated the Left Bank’s in producing an event and history. The finished illustration working with communities to tell was printed on vinyl and their stories as part of Heritage wrapped around the telecom Open Days 2023, whilst ensuring box outside the Left Bank to that the events themselves tell its history and celebrate its remain free for participants. Our heritage. The telecom box is still HODs committee headed out to on display today, creating these communities and worked a continuing legacy. energetically to engage with Overall, we supported 19 people we had not worked with new events for the HODs before to encourage them to be festival through our funding part of this year’s festival. They programme, 80% of these had supported the grant applications never participated in Heritage and HODs registration processes. Open Days before and all have Supported by our grants, we said they would like to continue saw events from The Assembly to participate in the festival in House Leeds, which produced the future. With such amazing an interactive art project to feedback, we hope to continue celebrate their local community. to offer these grants for future Artists based at the local studio Heritage Open Days festivals. Assembly House created a large mural-style artwork – Leeds must now surely be the mural capital of the UK - to celebrate our most 02 beloved local landmarks and community champions; it was showcased at this year’s Armley Festival, which took place during Heritage Open Days. Left Bank Leeds opened its doors and allowed the audience a window into the history of its fascinating building.

They produced a photography exhibition that showcased areas of the building that were not usually accessible and invited creative guest speakers from the community to speak about how the Left Bank has provided an accessible space and has produced an innovative cultural programme that supports networking within the community and sustains their careers and work. With the grant, they also funded local artist Megan Dobbyn to produce an artwork that celebrated the Left Bank’s history. The finished illustration was printed on vinyl and wrapped around the telecom box outside the Left Bank to tell its history and celebrate its heritage. The telecom box is still on display today, creating a continuing legacy.

Heritage Open Days (HODs) is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Every September, our dedicated HODs committee comes together to organise and coordinate HODs events throughout the Leeds Metropolitan District.

Each year the HODs team in London generates a theme for the festival, and for 2023 the stars must have been aligned as the theme was ‘Creativity Unwrapped’ which was perfect to tie in with the city’s year of culture. This year’s festival was one of our busiest, with over 150 events. When our HODs committee met with Leeds 2023 Heritage Producer, Harry Jelley, we discovered a common cause: how do we reach communities that had not previously participated in HODs and how do we celebrate and highlight their heritage and culture? We discovered that some districts were unaware of the festival and did not have the funds to produce events whilst still remaining free to the participants. We decided for HODs 2023 to reform our popular micro-grants scheme by introducing two new grants.

Leeds Civic Trust

Annual Review 2023

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Heritage Open Days: Supporting our hidden histories

Early in the festival, we held a panel discussion on ‘Heritage high streets, retail and conservation’ – this provided a launch pad for two new guides produced by our Heritage Watch Group. These guides, covering conservation areas and heritage shop fronts, provide property owners with advice on how to renovate their properties in sympathy with their historical context. They are available in hard copy or digitally from the Trust.

The show brought disabled people’s voices together, past and present, took a closer look at the hidden histories of disabled textile workers, and featured eight artworks by contemporary disabled artists.

Our industrial heritage – launching Heritage Open Days

For the launch of Heritage Open Days, we headed to Leeds Industrial Museum, reviving an event postponed from 2022 due to the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth. After so much hard work from our HODs committee, especially from launch leader Jane Collins and the tremendous support from Leeds Industrial Museum, we thought it only fitting to return in 2023.

In the evening, we were joined by Kully Thiarai - CEO of Leeds 2023, Lord Mayor Al Garthwaite, music from Archipelago, and a talk from Rachael Unsworth, Director of Leeds City Walking Tours.

Leeds Corn Exchange: A hub for heritage

The event was chaired by Leeds Civic Trust Trustee Jenna Strover and featured Steven Mason - Head of Markets at Leeds City Council; Jane Williams - Member at the Headingley Development Trust responsible for their retail activities; Liam Riley - Regeneration Officer (Morley Heritage Investment Fund); and Martin Hughes, Chair of Horsforth Civic Society.

For the launch we joined forces with Leeds 2023 to learn more about their Hidden Stories project, a fresh perspective on the stories of Leeds that have previously been overlooked and under-celebrated. We also saw the launch of Gill Crawshaw’s curated exhibition ‘Any Work That Wanted Doing’, which was on display at Leeds Industrial Museum during Heritage Open Days.

Thanks to the financial and logistical support of Leeds 2023, the Corn Exchange was transformed into a heritage hub for the duration of HODs 2023. The hub, staffed by Leeds 2023 staff and volunteers, highlighted events and was a space for pop-up workshops, exhibitions, and talks.

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01 We were treated to music from Archipelago, who told the story of Betty Beecroft who ran the Kirkstall Forge

02 The winners of our Art Competition pictured in front of their entries at the Leeds 2023 shop in Leeds Trinity

Celebrating the city through art

The Heritage Hub was also home for the week for our art exhibition, ‘Pride in Place’. Thirteen artworks had previously been displayed in June as part of our Civic Day celebrations at the Leeds 2023 shop in The Trinity where it was launched on Civic Day. The show was the result of our city-wide art competition where we invited people of any age, using any medium, to create a piece of artwork that encapsulated ‘Pride in Place’ in Leeds.

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We were amazed by the talent and the number of entries we received; it was fantastic to see what the artists appreciated about Leeds through their favourite places and spaces. Our judges had a hard time reducing the 50 entries down to the 13 winners, each of whom received a cash prize funded via our Leeds 2023 grant. The winning entries are now immortalised in our Leeds Civic Trust 2024 calendar.

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Blue Plaques for Heritage Open Days

Bramley Baths

The plaque was jointly unveiled by Deputy Lieutenant Kevin Sharp and one of the Bath’s young swimmers, Marley Parker – representing the generations of children who have learned to swim there. On the day of the unveiling, we were joined by local MP Rachel Reeves and former MP Sir John Battle, who were both instrumental in ensuring that the baths had a future as a community enterprise. After the unveiling, guests could join a guided tour of Bramley Baths funded by the Heritage Open Day Events Grant. They also offered heritage workshops for local schools. The workbook they created included a heritage trail looking for clues around the Baths as a fun learning experience.

With nearly 200 blue plaques unveiled since the scheme’s inception 35 years ago, our attention increasingly turns to the 20th century and to telling stories about buildings, events, people and places that reflect the diverse history of our city today.

During Heritage Open Days, we unveiled two blue plaques, one for Bramley Baths and another for Pablo Fanque. On the first Saturday of the festival, we celebrated Bramley Baths, the last remaining Edwardian bath house in Leeds. Since its opening in 1904 generations have washed, learned to swim, danced, and used the Russian steam baths within this vital community building. The blue plaque highlights the cultural value of the building and the continuing role of Bramley Baths within the community. 2023 was also the tenth anniversary of its conversion from a Council run facility into a community enterprise.

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Pablo Fanque

Our second plaque was one of the highlights of the Heritage Open Days festival. It was unveiled on the second Saturday in the festival for Pablo Fanque who was the first black circus owner in Britain. Fanque began his circus in 1842 and frequently visited Leeds. The plaque celebrates Pablo Fanque’s popularity and underlines the city’s long association with the circus, stretching back to 1773.

For the unveiling, with financial support from Leeds 2023 HODs event grants, we produced a host of events that celebrated the life of Pablo Fanque and the history of the circus in Leeds. The events started on the Friday of the festival with Dr Steve Ward. Gathered on the Grand Theatre steps Steve took attendees on an informative guided circus walk, visiting all twelve sites in the centre of Leeds that were used for circus during the nineteenth century. For the unveiling, we were joined by Leeds Circus, a registered charity passionate about the circus, creating workshops that bring people together to have fun. Our participants certainly did have fun, having a go at plate spinning, diablo and hula hooping. It was a great setting to begin our afternoon of celebrations. Later in the afternoon, the plaque was unveiled by the circus ringmaster and actor Chris Barltrop.

02 Chris Barltrop as “Mr Astley” performing at City Varieties

01 A sunny September day for our 02 Chris Barltrop as “Mr Astley” unveiling of a blue plaque for performing at City Varieties Bramley Baths. Pictured (l-r) 03 June Hancock’s daughter Leeds Civic Trust Chair Jane Kimberley and son Russell at the Taylor, Marley Parker, Leeds Blue Plaque unveiling in Armley West MP Rachel Reeves, Deputy Lieutenant Kevin Sharp, Leader of the Council James Lewis and Trust Director Martin Hamilton

June and other children would play with it as a child. This innocent activity would cause June and many others in later life to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. After losing her mother to the same disease, June could not let her devastating diagnosis go unchallenged.

Following the unveiling, the audience was invited to join us at Leeds City Varieties for an act from Chris about the ‘father of the modern circus’, Philip Astley. After the performance, there was a talk and Q&A session on the history of this famous music hall. Although the plaque was a celebration of Pablo Fanque, the story of Pablo Fanque is tainted with heartbreak. In March 1848, his circus located at King Charles’ Croft in Leeds collapsed, and Pablo Fanque’s wife was killed in the accident. She was buried a few days later in Woodhouse Cemetery (now known as St George’s Fields), and thousands of people lined the streets of Leeds to witness the procession. When Fanque later died in 1871, he left instructions that his body be returned to Leeds to lie alongside his wife.

In October 1993, June started her journey to bring justice for the countless Armley residents and workers who died from exposure to asbestos from the former JW Roberts Factory and for those living with asbestosrelated disease. June’s case was the first asbestos case to be brought to court by someone who had not worked with asbestos. After a long battle, Irwin Mitchell successfully argued the factory owner should be held accountable for the exposure of the Armley residents to asbestos. In 1995, June won her court case, bringing about a landmark judgement that helped bring justice for many other people, including many hundreds in Armley, who were environmentally exposed to asbestos.

June Hancock

Earlier in the year, we unveiled

another plaque for a Leeds pioneer whose life was also marked by tragedy. On June 9th 2023, we gathered at Salisbury View, Armley, for an emotional morning unveiling a blue plaque for June Hancock. Joined by June’s family, friends, Councillors and current and previous MP (Rachel Reeves and Sir John Battle who supported June when she was his constituent) and the solicitors who acted for her - Irwin Mitchell, we reflected on the important contribution this Leeds resident made to our city.

Sadly, June lost her battle with cancer aged 61 on July 19 1997. Her memory lives on through the Mesothelioma Research Fund (JHMRF) which was established in her memory in November 1997. Her battle for justice for countless victims of asbestos exposure is a vital part of the city’s history and is a story that deserves to be told.

June Hancock was born in Leeds and grew up near Armley’s JW Roberts asbestos factory. The factory produced harmful dust which resembled snow.

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The Community Heritage Fund: Reaching out to the communit y

In 2021 we created the Leeds Civic Trust Community Heritage Fund. Working in partnership with the Leeds Community Foundation, we hoped to reach out to communities and groups we had not previously worked with.

Out of Many Festival:

Sadly, we do not have space to do all eight projects justice, but two examples include:

The Community Heritage Fund was a two-year grant for between £10K and £20k to help support communities explore, share, and celebrate their stories. We wanted the grants to support histories and heritage that might be considered ‘hidden’ or not widely known.

Our funding provided support to parts of this major festival celebrating the city’s Jamaican diaspora, marking the 60th anniversary of Jamaican independence. In particular, we supported two exhibitions. King Country and Home told the stories of the ex-service men and women who served in the armed forces, whereas the Rebellion to Romance exhibition focused on the cultural and social life of second-generation West Indians in Leeds.

Advonet, Little London &

Woodhouse:

‘Leeds, Learning Disabilities

• and Autism: From Yesterday to Tomorrow’ seeks to amplify the voices and stories of people with learning and neuro-differences. They worked with a historian and established access to local archives, photos and other resources relating to Meanwood Hospital. From this they created an animated short film written by a reference group member from their research. The animation featured a “time traveller” highlighting positive experiences and celebration, giving people with learning disabilities and/or neuro-diversities a platform to speak for themselves and share their stories.

Eight projects were selected to receive funding throughout the two years.

During 2023 Leeds Civic Trust staff and Trustees visited the projects.

• Ahlulbayt Cultural Centre

We are looking forward to commissioning a raft of new projects which will cover the theme “a celebration of place” and will start in 2024.

• Advonet

• Balbir Singh Dance Company

• Leeds Music Trust

• Jamaica Society Leeds

• St Lukes Cares

• South Asian Arts-UK

• Little London Arts

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• 01 Dancers from the Balbir Singh Dance Company – one of the grant recipients, entertain the audience at the celebration event in Holy Trinity, Boar Lane

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CEG have had
a busy year in
Temple...
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CEG have concluded crucial repairs to the Counting Work is also underway on repairing and reinstating House, part of the Grade I Listed Temple Works site in the Grade II* Gatelodge thanks to partnership Leeds City Centre with support from Historic England. funding from Historic England. As well as being a In January 24, CEG will launch its new Forging Futures prototype for the masonry repairs needed at the Innovation Campus from the Counting House, Mill’s east elevation, it is hoped the repairs will welcoming future cohorts of the Forging Futures see the Gate Lodge as the first part of the Temple employability and skills course as well as undertaking Works site to be removed from the Heritage At Risk programmes in sustainability, coding and heritage Register in 2024. skills. Forging Futures is CEG’s flagship social value programme, building on the success of its Kirkstall Forge construction campus which provides training opportunities for the city’s future construction professionals.

Restoration work has recently completed to the historically significant 1849 Grade II Listed Holbeck pedestrian bridge. The bridge was originally built to transport people and materials between mill buildings either side of the beck. Works to the bridge comprised careful stripping back of the existing materials and paintwork, structural repairs to bring the bridge up to modern adoptable standards, replacement Globe Point, the first of CEG’s office developments of degraded and unsafe railings and paintwork to complete within the Temple District of Leeds, has refinishing in one of the original paint schemes. proven to be a huge success with 80% of the space now occupied by a diverse mix of occupiers. Well Temple’s fantastic resident theatre company, located less than a 5 minute walk to the southern Slung Low have hosted several successful outdoor entrance of Leeds Train Station, it has fast become events and workshops for the local community since a thriving business community with a ground floor they launched in Temple at the start of 2023. They café/restaurant open to all, adding to the vibrancy have welcomed incredible partnerships ranging from of the area. We look forward to bringing One Globe The British Library to local primary schools and we Square forward in 2024. look forward to their programme for 2024.

~~www.ceg.co.uk We’re still investing. Still developing. And still growing~~

Transport and placemaking

A collective vision for Leeds Eastside

Building on the ideas and principles set out in 2021’s ‘Liveable Leeds’ public competition and the Trust’s ‘Draft Supplementary Planning Document’ in 2022, the document puts forward a vision for Leeds Eastside “to become an attractive, lively and inclusive space within the heart of the city centre”.

The Trust’s longstanding interest in enhancing public amenities across the city means we have continued to lobby for a better transport system and the transformative opportunities it provides for improving the public realm.

Since 2019, the Leeds Civic Trust has worked alongside the public and key organisations to re-imagine the ‘Eastside’ of Leeds City Centre – an area highly dominated by traffic and largely considered to have a disconnected sense of place. A plethora of opportunities for the Eastside to be a more liveable part of the city has emerged through the Trust’s attempts to engage with its communities, particularly important given the growing climate emergency.

Community participation was at the core of the vision’s development. In January 2023, Urban Wilderness’ Hannah Beard and sound artist Alex De Little took a 3D model of the site to key organisations representing different users of the space – the Leeds Minster, the Palace Pub, Mecca Bingo, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds City College and East Street Arts – to facilitate conversations that could actively inform the design process.

The Trust has supported exciting community engagement work on the eastern fringes of Leeds City Centre known as ‘Leeds Eastside’. What’s more, our Transport and Liveable Leeds Group has continued to lobby for better public transport – focusing on better bus and rail services, the future possibilities for mass transit and a shift to more sustainable modes, whist offering our views on proposals for an array of local transport and highways schemes.

This year, we commissioned landscape architects Urban Wilderness to capture the learning from the Eastside project so far to create a Vision document for reimagining the space.

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01 Alex de Little, Ishita Antony and Leeds Civic Trustee Hannah Beard talk to a local resident about our Eastside proposals in the Palace Pub

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• 01 An axonometric drawing of how Eastside could develop in future years

• 02 Eastside before and after – the current view looking over the expanse of roadspace, and a glimpse of how it might look in the future

What transpired was a collective The proposals also include the vision illustrating the multiredirection of the A61 to free faceted possibilities for change up highway land, a sustainable in Eastside including the transport corridor, and the daylighting of the Sheepscar provision of affordable housing Beck that currently runs and community space. underneath the A61 and creating Moving into 2024, we are a new public park which we looking to further collaborate called ‘Livett Park’ (inspired by with Eastside’s residents and the Quarry Hill architect and communities to bring the vision visionary pre-and post war to life, starting with a public Director of Housing at Leeds City launch event in Spring 2024 and Council R.A.H Livett who received the co-creation of temporary a blue plaque a few years ago) installations in the area. centred around the beck.

Find out more at www.liveable-leeds.org.uk.

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Public Transport

• 01 A bus seems to emerge from the midst of excavations as work on the New Station Street entrance to the city station continues. We have criticised the lack of signage to direct people to bus services from inside Leeds City Station

• 02 We held a webinar to add our voice to the debate about bus franchising in West Yorkshire

Two years on from ‘Imagine’, there have been several positive developments in Leeds’ bus strategy including the move towards franchising, increased funding for the Bus Service Improvement Plan, the £2 “Mayor’s fares” and integrated ticketing schemes like ‘MCard’, commitment to net-zero goals and some plans for increasing bus frequency. However, several challenges remain. For instance, many services have seen reduced frequencies, routes withdrawn and high levels of cancellations while real-time information remains inaccurate, and integration with other transport modes and routes between neighbourhoods is lacking.

Taking the Imagine Project Forward

The Trust has long been a supporter of bus franchising, seeing greater public control as a means to improve passenger experience by simplifying the system and increasing accountability. In 2021, when publishing our ‘Imagine an Excellent Bus Service in Leeds’ report, we highlighted several principles to underpin an improved bus service, including accessibility, connectivity, safety, reliability, speed and frequency, eco-friendliness, affordability, accountability and an all-round pleasant experience and urged WYCA to move towards a franchised bus system as quickly as possible.

The future of bus reform in West Yorkshire remained uncertain as 2023 drew to a close. Back in May following a comprehensive bus service review, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) declared franchising as their ‘preferred option’ and launched a public consultation to this end. The consultation asked the public for their views on two options for future bus reform across the region – continuing the status quo through an ‘Enhanced Partnership +’ between private providers or greater public control via franchising.

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As such, bus patronage in Leeds and across West Yorkshire has failed to return to pre-pandemic levels which were already lower than many comparable regions. Buses need to become a more accessible and attractive option if we are to encourage people to use them.

Partnerships are essential to strengthening the lobby for change which is why the Trust has begun reaching out to the public and key stakeholders. We ran a webinar ‘Towards Franchising in West Yorkshire?’ in November, including speakers such as Rod Fawcett (former Head of Policy, Transport for Greater Manchester), Paul Swinney (Centre for Cities) and Matthew Topham (We Own It), as a means of kickstarting a broad coalition to take forward bus improvements.

A Mass Transit future?

Despite sustained efforts to develop a mass transit system over the last three decades, Leeds remains one of the largest cities in Europe that does not benefit from such a network. In launching their ‘Mass Transit 2040 Vision’, WYCA alongside its district partners intends to accelerate the development of mass transit, should it receive the required support from Westminster. When the government announced the scrapping of HS2 north of Birmingham, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also pledged to prioritise investment in West Yorkshire’s mass transit.

The group has successfully built trusted relationships with WYCA’s leadership on mass transit development, meeting at regular intervals to exchange ideas and provide local input at a corridor level. At the heart of the Trust’s proposals is an emphasis on the transformative opportunities for placemaking and connectivity presented by mass transit development. We will continue to illustrate these possibilities through our positive relationship with WYCA officials. Whilst the challenges of political uncertainty and public opinion may still affect the investment and prioritisation of mass transit in the long-term, the future of mass transit in West Yorkshire remains hopeful as WYCA’s vision process is rolled out and the Trust will continue to advocate for its development.

The Trust has been a longterm supporter of mass transit for Leeds including various schemes that never came to fruition like the ‘Supertram’ and ‘Trolleybus’ of the 1990s and 2000s respectively. In keeping with its vision, WYCA launched a formal consultation on mass transit in the region, providing opportunities for the Trust to deploy the expertise of our members and galvanise public support.

A sub-group of the Trust’s Transport and Liveable Leeds Group has been working hard to develop specific proposals about what a tram system could look like in Leeds – along city centre, west, east, north, and south corridors.

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• 01 A fleet of electric bikes for hire were rolled out across the city centre and Headingley. Appropriately they are named after our city’s own Beryl Burton – champion cyclist whose life is celebrated through our Blue Plaques Scheme

Coming and going

One clear success was the recent unveiling of a permanent outdoor exhibition of artwork on Neville Street, comprising ten unique works showcasing communities within the south of the city and created by local artists.

Leeds City Bikes

Coming and going in the city

Launched in September 2023, the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ scheme provided around 300 e-bikes for hire across the city centre. The scheme is intended to enable people to travel short distances in a quick, easy and eco-friendly way. Accessible via the ‘Beryl bikes’ app, the scheme provides a network of docking stations at various intervals across the city where users can unlock and return the bike at different locations. The scheme forms part of Leeds City Council’s wider strategy to help make Leeds a “city where you don’t need a car” (Connecting Leeds, 2021). By the end of 2023, around 8,000 journeys had been made using the bikes covering over 12,000 miles. The fleet will expand to 515 bikes by Spring 2024.

Providing our input on local proposals for transport and placemaking is an integral part of our work at the Trust. This year brought about a multitude of opportunities to cast a constructive and sometimes critical eye on proposals that impact how people can come and go easily to the city. For example, we saw £3.6 million invested in transforming Leeds Bus Station to include a new shop, refurbished travel centre and improved entrance along Dyer Street.

With the pedestrianisation of City Square now complete and the city centre ‘loop’ severed, we have continued to share our thoughts on city-wide schemes that promote active travel like walking, wheeling and cycling including the ‘Leeds City Links’ scheme covering north and south of the city centre.

The Trust has also been

working closely with a group of practitioners interested in making improvements to the

‘city integration’ of Leeds Train

Station as a gateway for people who live, work, and visit the city – an increasing challenge while improvement works are ongoing at the station.

• 02 “Making a Stand” the temporary Leeds 2023 installation surrounds the Black Prince. The expanded Christmas Market took advantage of its closure to through traffic implemented during 2023

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A national context of uncertainty

Such lack of cohesion hinders the UK’s response to urgent societal challenges like climate change, rising social and health inequalities and building back better in a post-pandemic world. In our case for a national transport strategy, we argued for:

1. Decentralisation in investment powers – devolution of funding to local transport authorities can be undermined by central decisions to earmark funding for specific purposes or modes.

With the cancellation of HS2 to the north, cabinet reshuffles galore and a general election looming, transport investment has been in a state of flux.

1. A clear governance framework – to support effective decisionmaking, prioritisation and accountability.

This uncoordinated national transport and investment strategy has a significant impact on our city. This is why, when the Transport Select Committee made a call for evidence inquiring into how the Government sets its strategic transport objectives in August 2023, the Leeds Civic Trust jumped at the opportunity to present its views on a national transport strategy in England. Funding for transport infrastructure is dispersed among several government departments and modal transport bodies, which can hamper local governance and decision-making and create siloed working.

1. An overarching vision to connect transport and planning - a vision and principles to align with the government’s broader social, economic and environmental objectives, where transport and planning are considered together.

Moving towards a coherent national strategy could provide Leeds with a supporting structure to better prioritise, plan and deliver transport systems that realise its ambitions to reach net zero and tackle health inequalities together. As such, we will continue to keep our ears and eyes open as the national conversation unfolds.

1. Fairness in local investments and services – cities such as Leeds feel the impact of regional investment gaps. The average public transport spending per head in the UK was £430 per capita, rising to £864 in London but down to £328 in Yorkshire between 2009-2020.

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• 03 A part of the new Neville Street Mural under the railway. As governmental priorities change, the needs for continuing investment in and expansion of Leeds City Station is as urgent as ever

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Committees and Groups

Community Groups affiliated to Leeds Civic Trust

House Committee

Events Committee

Richard Voss (Chair), Graham Castle

Jane Taylor (Chair), Meryll Wilford, Roderic Parker, Joan Hick, Mark Parry, Garance Rawinsky

Aireborough Civic Society Alwoodley Community Association Far Headingley Village Society Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery Friends of Middleton Park Friends of Roundhay Park Friends of Temple Newsam Gledhow Valley Conservation Group Horsforth Civic Society Little Woodhouse Community Association Newlay Conservation Society Pudsey & District Civic Society Thackray Museum The Oulton Society The Thoresby Society Weetwood Residents’ Association Wetherby Civic Society

Planning Committee

Mike Piet (Chair), Peter Baker, David Barraclough, Jim Brettell, Ronan Carnally, Robert Collins, Howard Dews, Paul Exley, Ruth Gelletlie, Jeff Gleisner, Adrian Jones, Tony Ray, Sarah Rushton, Claude Saint-Arroman, Lesley Slaney, Ash Soni, Clifford Stead, Jane Taylor, Jeremy Thompson, Clive Woods, Colin Woodward

Finance Committee

John Pike (Chair), Catherine Black, Jeremy Burton, Robert Solyom, Jane Taylor

Heritage Watch Group

Jenna Strover (Chair), Rick Amos, Peter Baker, Carol Page, Clare Chapman, Christine Osborne, Garance Rawinsky, Tony Ray, Helen Sanders, Clive Woods, Meryll Wilford

Transport and

Liveable Leeds Group

Heritage Open Days Group

Ruth Gelletlie (Chair), Howard Dews, Jeff Gleisner, Adrian Jones, Mark Parry, Mike Piet, James Riley, David Smith, Jeff Turner, Clive Woods

Meryll Wilford (Chair), Roderic Parker, Garance Rawinsky, Joan Hick, John Harris

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INVESTING[in] LEEDS

PROUD TO SUPPORT LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

0113 201 8899[|] RUSHBOND.CO.UK

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1014362

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

FOR

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

	Page
Report of the Trustees	1 to 4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Balance Sheet	7 to 8
Cash Flow Statement	9
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement	10
Notes to the Financial Statements	11 to 20
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	21 to 22

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objectives and aims of the charity are as follows:

a) to stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and heritage of the City of Leeds and locality, b) to encourage high quality sustainable development and promote standards of sustainable urban design, architecture, and town planning,

c) to encourage the judicious preservation, development, and improvement of features of general public amenity, d) to advance appreciation of a people friendly environment, and promote ways of improving the environment within Leeds, including green and public spaces, waterways, and sustainable transport,

e) to promote and organise co-operation in the achievement of these objectives.

Public Benefit

We have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit – including ‘Public Benefit: the public benefit requirement (PB1)’ and ‘Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’ – when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our current and future activities. The achievements and activities outlined in this report demonstrate the public benefit arising from the charity’s activities.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

The Trust has had a busy year undertaking numerous activities in support of its charitable objectives.

Planning and Transport

Our interests in the built environment are a key component of the Trust’s work. This year saw us consider many schemes throughout the City of Leeds, receiving presentations from developers and offering our advice and feedback. The city has seen a record amount of development in the last year, and we were able to point to several schemes where the Trust’s feedback has led to improvements when they were first considered at application stage.

Leeds Civic Trust was a key partner in the revived Leeds Architecture Awards 2023. Much of 2023 was dedicated to organising the competition, overseeing the judging process culminating in an awards ceremony later in 2023.

Our interest in heritage buildings continues to be an important part of what we do. Aside from our work highlighting buildings at risk and encouraging the maintenance of these buildings, we also took the opportunity to highlight and champion good practice. This took the form of visits to key schemes (for example Calverley Old Hall) and talks about refurbishments (Leeds Town Hall and the new organ). We continue to develop proposals and structures which will ultimately allow the Trust to invest in heritage at risk buildings focusing initially on small schemes.

Our interest in transport and placemaking takes several forms. We provide feedback on schemes proposed by Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – for example proposals for an active travel corridor along the A660 and repurposing the city centre loop. The Combined Authority is the authority responsible for our bus service. We continued to champion the findings of our “Imagine” report, lobbying for a more reliable and comprehensive bus service for the city, and remain a strong supporter of proposals for the introduction of bus franchising in West Yorkshire.

We were disappointed that HS2 to the North of England has now effectively been cancelled together with other proposals to improve connectivity and capacity north to south and we made our views known through consultation undertaken at a national level. As long-standing supporter of proposals for mass transit in Leeds, we have been engaging with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at Director level to influence their emerging plans which will be consulted upon in 2024. This work has included the development of potential routes for a new mass transit system.

Our long-term project which we call Eastside – a proposal to enhance an area of the city that is currently a mass of highways – has progressed further. A vision document was completed during the year, and this will form the basis of a consultation phase for the project commencing in 2024.

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LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Heritage and Culture

The period covered by this report includes the city’s year of culture (2023). We supported this initiative in a number of ways using a small grant issued by the organisation for this purpose. This included holding an art competition to celebrate Civic Day. The shortlisted entries were displayed at the Leeds 2023 shop and then within the Leeds Corn Exchange and have been made into a calendar for Leeds 2024 which was made available for purchase. Working with Leeds 2023, the Corn Exchange became a hub during the course of Heritage Open Days 2023 focusing on hidden stories. We used this venue to launch our new guides to conservation areas and heritage shopfronts, with a discussion event focusing on the future of the high street.

Our Blue Plaques scheme continued to be used to tell stories about people, places and events that might not be familiar to the wider public. Our successful Heritage Open Days programme which included well over 100 events, was bookended with an unveiling of a Blue Plaque for Pablo Fanque (the first black circus owner) and Bramley Baths – the last functioning Edwardian Bath House in the city. We are now trying to use our plaques scheme to highlight untold stories but also as a means of supporting our other activities. Bramley Baths is an example of how listed buildings can continue to have a viable use.

Events

We underpin our general activities through events and discussions. Whilst primarily aimed at our membership (both corporate and individual) they are always open to members of the public and we always aim to ensure that they are relevant to our broader objectives. This year’s February lecture series (for example) addressed the city’s more recent history telling the story behind some of the city’s most prominent streets and squares. Visits included a look at the new Junction development incorporating the conversion of a disused railway viaduct into a linear park and a walks programme which included a focus on recent city centre developments, linking back to the work of the Trust’s Planning Committee.

Supporting communities

In the last report we reported on a significant six figure investment in a grants scheme to help the city’s communities reveal and share their stories more widely. Working with Leeds Community Foundation, these projects were reaching their end point by the end of this financial year and have been very successful. For example, we worked with the Jamaican Society to tell the stories of servicemen and women from the Windrush Generation who fought for their country in wars and conflicts. This was one of several projects which will finish at the end of 2024.

Volunteers

The Trust continues to rely on the support of our many volunteers who deliver work, and we thank them for this. We continue to look at new ways of engaging members of the public in the work of the Trust to ensure that this crucial part of our ethos grows and strengthens.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

During the year, the income totalled £739,393 (2022: £395,268) and expenditure totalled £345,411 (2022: £400,949). The overall surplus for the year was £317,305 (2022: deficit £1,986). The significant increase in surplus this year arose due to the early receipt of a royalty payment which was not budgeted for within the financial year.

Principal funding sources and Financial Risks and Uncertainties

The charity's principal funding comes from member subscriptions, investment income generated on its reserves and royalty income.

In the current and recent years, the charity has benefitted from substantial income from previously bequeathed royalty rights, as a result of which it has reported significant surpluses. The Trustees are mindful of the uncertain future continuity of this level of income and monitor expenditure and capital commitments accordingly and are examining options for securing income levels for when this source of funds reduces.

Our investment strategy and performance

The investment managers have taken a cautious stance over the last few years, taking into consideration the trustee’s objectives and an overall balanced appetite for risk over the long-term, constructing the portfolio with an independent view on asset allocation, providing better diversification for uncertain times. The portfolio contains a

Page 2

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

mix of traditional UK and overseas equities, some with a more ethical/sustainable focus. Since inception the portfolio has contained a strong allocation on infrastructure/renewable equities, suited to the trust profile, but there has also been some modest exposure to traditional energy equities which have contributed very positively over the last few years. Diversification is also achieved through holdings in various multi-asset managers, Physical Gold, Commodities, and some trading strategies. This year, allocation to UK Gilts and strategic bonds was increased due to their poor performance in 2022. As interest rate expectations have softened very recently this has been a tailwind for these investments.

This reporting period in question straddles two calendar years, including the last quarter of 2022 which contained lingering uncertainty due to the tough geopolitical shock of the Ukraine war, escalating energy prices, inflation spiking and a growing tightening monetary backdrop. However, for some context, the trust’s portfolio held up very well on a relative basis over the full calendar year down only -2.48%, meaningfully outperforming the ARC Balanced Asset Charity Index which lost -9.35%.

Into 2023, with recession calls loudening and interest rates being ratcheted up by the Bank of England, the portfolio continued to suffer a pullback through Spring and into Summer, with the trust’s focus on infrastructure, renewable energy, and some fixed interest investments being impacted further as cash has become more attractive to investors. From January to the end of August the portfolio fell 5.5%. However, the overall loss since the start of 2022 is still ahead of peer group and there has been a useful pick-up in performance in Q4, post the end of the reporting period.

Reserves policy

During the year, the Trustees reviewed the reserves policy and reaffirmed the policy to maintain free reserves, which are unrestricted general funds excluding tangible fixed assets, at a level sufficient to cover charitable and support costs for a minimum of three years, this being a level to enable continuance of the Charity's current activities in the event of a significant decline in income, and whilst alternate income sources were sought.

In addition, the principle has been adopted that free reserves in excess of this level will be spent over the lifetime of its current operational strategy - The Trust Vision 2020-2025 - in support of the Charity's objectives.

The Trustees are satisfied that current free reserves of £1,286,088 are sufficient and will continue to review the policy having regard to financial circumstances and opportunities to further the Charity's objectives.

Future plans

In the last two financial years, our income has increased substantially, and we believe that this situation will pertain in the immediate future. We plan to increase our investment in activities in support of Trust objectives whilst retaining a reserves policy that continues to reflect a degree of uncertainty about future income.

• We will be launching a new grants programme in partnership with the Leeds Community Foundation which has as its overarching objective “a celebration of place.” Projects will commence at the beginning of 2024, will run for two years and all will have a tangible and lasting output.

• We are looking at opportunities for partnership working with Leeds City Council or any other organisation to support the restoration of heritage buildings.

• We currently employ three full time and two part time members of staff. This will be kept under review and we may seek to invest further in particular to support our heritage work and to underpin the recruitment of more volunteers to support the Trust’s activity.

• We will be updating our current strategy (which runs up to 2025) to sense-check our achievements against these high-level objectives with a view to identifying whether there are areas for further investment.

• Our Blue Plaques programme has been running for 35 years and many of the original plaques are in a state of disrepair. Our plaques refurbishment programme will accelerate during the course of 2024.

• We continue to review our current HQ, weighing the investment requirements of this 19th century building in the years to come with the benefits that an alternative location for the Trust might offer.

Page 3

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Organisational structure

The Board of Trustees is known as the Council. The Council is the governing body of the charity. The Council meets regularly and there are sub committees which meet regularly. The Director manages day to day operations of the charity and reports to the Council.

Induction and training of new council members (Trustees)

New members of Council are subject to an induction procedure by the Director, to brief them on their legal responsibilities under Charities law and the organisational structure and decision-making process of the charity.

Policy for remuneration of key management personnel

The Charity maintains a Pay Awards Policy, which outlines the process through which pay rates are set and amended. Pay awards are decided through a recommendation of the Charity’s Finance and General Purposes Committee to the Council and are usually decided by vote of council at an annual meeting.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

1014362

Registered office

17/19 Wharf Street Leeds LS2 7EQ

Trustees

J E Taylor (Chair) M A Piet Vice (Chair) R M Solyom (Treasurer) J Brettell J D Pike C Stead J Strover R J Voss L Moore H E Beard A Stowe C M C St Arroman

Independent Examiner

Sedulo Leeds Limited St Paul's House 23 Park Square Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 2ND

Honorary Solicitors

Addleshaw Goddard Sovereign House Sovereign Street Leeds LS1 1HQ

Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:

........................................................................ J E Taylor - Trustee

Page 4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Leeds Civic Trust

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Leeds Civic Trust (the trust) for the year ended 31 August 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the act”).

I report in respect of my examination of your Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales which is one of the listed bodies.

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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Gavin Bell Sedulo Leeds Limited St Paul's House 23 Park Square Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 2ND

Date: .............................................

Page 5

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 5 Activities directly supporting the Charity’s objectives Other trading activities 3 Investment income 4 Total EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 6 Charitable activities 7 Activities directly supporting the Charity’s objectives Total Net gains/(losses) on investments NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	31.8.23 Unrestricted funds £ 728,239 3,245 7,851 58 739,393 13,216 332,195 345,411 (76,677) 317,305 1,107,495 1,424,800	31.8.22 Total funds £ 380,305 1,111 13,847 5 395,268 8,225 392,724 400,949 3,695 (1,986) 1,109,481 1,107,495

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 6

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

BALANCE SHEET 31 AUGUST 2023

Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 12 Investments 13 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 14 Debtors 15 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 16 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 18 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS	31.8.23 Unrestricted funds £ 138,712 812,250 950,962 3,558 13,996 471,142 488,696 (14,858) 473,838 1,424,800 1,424,800 1,424,800 1,424,800	31.8.22 Total funds £ 143,795 888,927 1,032,722 7,436 22,938 55,825 86,199 (11,426) 74,773 1,107,495 1,107,495 1,107,495 1,107,495

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 August 2023.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

• (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

• (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

The notes form part of these financial statements

continued...

Page 7

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

BALANCE SHEET - continued 31 AUGUST 2023

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:

.............................................

J E Taylor - Trustee

............................................. R M Solyom - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 8

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Notes Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 1 Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Interest received Net cash used in investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period	31.8.23 £ 416,583 416,583 (1,324) 58 (1,266) 415,317 55,825 471,142	31.8.22 £ (8,617) (8,617) (3,221) 5 (3,216) (11,833) 67,658 55,825

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1.	RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TO NET CASH	FLOW FROM	OPERATING ACTIVITIES	OPERATING ACTIVITIES
			31.8.23	31.8.22
			£	£
	Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the
	Statement of Financial Activities)		317,305	(1,986)
	Adjustments for:
	Depreciation charges		6,407	6,044
	Losses/(gain) on investments		76,677	(3,695)
	Interest received		(58)	(5)
	Decrease in stocks		3,878	2,226
	Decrease/(increase) in debtors		8,942	(15,120)
	Increase in creditors		3,432	3,919
	Net cash provided by/(used in) operations		416,583	(8,617)
2.	ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS
		At 1.9.22	Cash flow	At 31.8.23
		£	£	£
	Net cash
	Cash at bank and in hand	55,825	415,317	471,142
		55,825	415,317	471,142
	Total	55,825	415,317	471,142

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 10

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.

The financial statements are prepared in pound sterling £, which is the functional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Operating leases

Rentals under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

life.
Improvements to property	-	10% on cost
Furniture	-	20% on cost
Equipment	-	50% on cost

No depreciation is provided on freehold buildings as the council consider any charge for the year and any accumulated depreciation, after taking account of the estimated residual value, to be immaterial. Recent improvements to property are being depreciated with effect from 1 September 2015 over a period of 20 years.

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

continued...

Page 11

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Council for particular purposes.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Investments

All quoted investments are shown in the Balance Sheet at market value.

Gifted investments are introduced into the Balance Sheet at their market value at the time of donation.

Realised gains and losses comprise the surplus or deficit arising from the disposal proceeds (less costs) of investments sold during the year over the market value at the end of the previous year or, if purchased during the year, over their cost.

Unrealised gains and losses represents:

(a) for investments held throughout the year the difference between their market values at the start and end of the year, or

(b) for investments purchased during the year and held at the end of the year the difference between the purchase cost and market value at the end of the year.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the charities balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which includes debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method net of any impairment losses, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction where the transaction is measured at present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets are reviewed annually for signs of impairment. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments, are initially measured at fair value, with subsequent changes in fair value recognised in the SOFA, except that investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

continued...

Page 12

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Financial instruments

Basic financial liabilities, which includes creditors and accruals, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Bequests Donations Subscriptions Royalties 3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES Blue plaque scheme Annual report advertising Publications and shop sales Other income 4. INVESTMENT INCOME Investment income 5. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Event income 6. RAISING FUNDS Other trading activities Blue plaque scheme Publications and shop costs Annual report costs	31.8.23 £ 38,000 4,804 31,102 654,333 728,239 31.8.23 £ 780 6,250 551 270 7,851 31.8.23 £ 58 31.8.23 £ 3,245 31.8.23 £ 6,387 3,927 2,902 13,216	31.8.22 £ - 27,028 48,781 304,496 380,305 31.8.22 £ 4,338 7,100 2,409 - 13,847 31.8.22 £ 5 31.8.22 £ 1,111 31.8.22 £ 2,855 2,430 2,940 8,225

continued...

Page 13

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

7. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Grant funding of Direct activities Support Costs (see note 8) costs £ £ £ Activities directly supporting the Charity’s objectives 251,673 61,430 19,092 Charitable activities costs are analysed as follows: 2023 £ Direct Costs Event Costs 17,197 Display and exhibition costs - Subscriptions and internet 1,880 Salaries 173,717 Postage, stationery and other office expenses 28,286 Planning lists and journals 298 Improvements to property 6,407 Bear Pit repairs 2,532 Conference costs (1,000) Art competition costs 1,773 Leeds Project Fund - Take a Seat project 1,370 Leeds Project Fund - Mabgate Conservation project - Leeds Project Fund - Story of Hunslet project - Leeds Project Fund - Waterfront 5,000 Leeds Project Fund - Canal Gardens 3,540 Leeds Project Fund - Clean Air Day 1,200 Liveable Leeds project 9,473 Grant funding of activities Grants awarded 61,430 Support costs Wharf Street establishment costs 15,924 Bank charges 420 Governance costs - Independent Examiners fee 2,748 332,195

Totals £ 332,195 2022 £ 7,021 2,336 1,165 182,093 37,104 - 6,044 2,882 1,000 - 5,201 10,328 10,456 - - - 4,525 110,490 9,511 - 2,568 392,724

continued...

Page 14

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

8. GRANTS PAYABLE

Grants are awarded to organisations and individuals following approval of formal application, from reserve funds created for these purposes, where the proposed use is in keeping with the charity's aims and objectives. Monitoring of the grants process is by a committee delegated by the Trustees and all awards are agreed by Council. No support costs have been allocated against the amounts so awarded.

Significant grants awarded during the year included £58,824 awarded to the Leeds Community Foundation.

9. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Independent Examiners fee	2,748	2,568
Depreciation - owned assets	6,407	6,044

10. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

continued...

Page 15

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

11. STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: Administration staff	31.8.23 £ 154,276 14,208 5,233 173,717 31.8.23 4	31.8.22 £ 162,436 12,328 7,329
		182,093
		31.8.22 5

The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer’s national insurance and pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:

		31.8.23	31.8.22
£60,001	- £70,000	1	1

Key Management Personnel

The Key Management Personnel in the year ended 31 August 2023 were the Director and Board of Trustees. The total amount of employee benefits (including employer's national insurance and pensions contributions) received by Key Management Personnel was £78,465 (2022: £74,868).

12. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST At 1 September 2022 Additions At 31 August 2023 DEPRECIATION At 1 September 2022 Charge for year At 31 August 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 August 2023 At 31 August 2022	Freehold Improvements property to property £ £ 99,409 54,520 - - 99,409 54,520 - 18,114 - 2,726 - 20,840 99,409 33,680 99,409 36,406	Furniture £ 13,500 - 13,500 12,415 729 13,144 356 1,085	Equipment £ 46,412 1,324 47,736 39,517 2,952 42,469 5,267 6,895	Totals £ 213,841 1,324
				215,165
				70,046 6,407
				76,453
				138,712
				143,795

The Council have sought the advice of Trust members that act in the Leeds property market, and on the basis of this are of the opinion that the open market value, for existing use, of the freehold property including improvements at the year end, is in the order of £250,000.

The Council do not consider it appropriate to incur the costs of a formal professional valuation which would be required for this value to be incorporated into the accounts, therefore this valuation is provided for information only and the freehold property continues to be carried in the accounts at its historic cost.

continued...

Page 16

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

13. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
	Listed
	investments
	£
MARKET VALUE
At 1 September 2022	888,927
Change in market value	(76,677)
At 31 August 2023	812,250
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 August 2023	812,250
At 31 August 2022	888,927

Included within the Trust's investment portfolio are some investment funds that hold some assets outside the UK. It is not possible to separately identify the value of these.

The historic cost of investment assets is £827,000 (2022: £827,000).

Material investments: quoted investments include the following funds which each amount to greater than 5% of the total portfolio as follows:

Holding: Troy Trojan Ethical Veritas Global Real Return Total 14. STOCKS Publications and shop stock 15. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Subscription debtors Other debtors Prepayments	31.8.23 £ 44,954 46,494 91,448 31.8.23 £ 3,558 31.8.23 £ 4,709 7,292 1,995 13,996	31.8.22 £ 45,003 46,459 91,462 31.8.22 £ 7,436 31.8.22 £ 16,069 4,372 2,497 22,938

continued...

Page 17

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

16. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Social security and other taxes	4,253	5,582
Other creditors	2,478	299
Accrued expenses	8,127	5,545
	14,858	11,426

17. LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Within one year	1,184	-
Between one and five years	1,480	-
	2,664	-

18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Blue Plaque Fund Leeds Project Fund Snaith Award TOTAL FUNDS	At 1.9.22 £ 1,049,172 29,116 6,725 21,482 1,000 1,107,495 1,107,495	Net movement in funds £ 333,139 (2,232) (3,493) (10,109) - 317,305 317,305	Transfers between funds £ (220,884) 220,884 - - - - -	At 31.8.23 £ 1,161,427 247,768 3,232 11,373 1,000
				1,424,800
				1,424,800

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Blue Plaque Fund Leeds Project Fund TOTAL FUNDS	Incoming resources £ 739,393 - - - 739,393 739,393	Resources expended £ (329,577) (2,232) (3,493) (10,109) (345,411) (345,411)	Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ (76,677) 333,139 - (2,232) - (3,493) - (10,109) (76,677) 317,305 (76,677) 317,305

continued...

Page 18

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Blue Plaque Fund Leeds Project Fund Snaith Award TOTAL FUNDS	At 1.9.21 £ 1,058,044 30,196 6,725 13,516 1,000 1,109,481 1,109,481	Net movement in funds £ 29,128 (1,080) - (30,034) - (1,986) (1,986)	Transfers between funds £ (38,000) - - 38,000 - - -	At 31.8.22 £ 1,049,172 29,116 6,725 21,482 1,000
				1,107,495
				1,107,495

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Leeds Project Fund TOTAL FUNDS	Incoming resources £ 395,268 - - 395,268 395,268	Resources expended £ (369,835) (1,080) (30,034) (400,949) (400,949)	Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ 3,695 29,128 - (1,080) - (30,034) 3,695 (1,986) 3,695 (1,986)

The General fund is used for the achievement of the charitable objectives of the Charity.

The Wharf Street Fund was created following Councils approval of plans to improve wheelchair access to the premises and meeting rooms and install wheelchair accessible toilet facilities.

The Bear Pit Fund is to be used for its maintenance and improvement. The fund has been increased following Councils approval of plans to repair and renovate the Bear Pit, and to improve safety and access thereto to enable it to be opened up as a Civic landmark. Following discussions with building contractors this fund will increase in the next financial period.

The Blue Plaques Maintenance Fund is to be used to meet future maintenance costs of the Blue Plaques Scheme.

The Leeds Project Fund is to be used to support projects by external organisations that further the objectives of the Charity and benefit Leeds as a whole.

The Landmark Grant Fund is to be used to support community projects that will leave lasting landmarks celebrating Leeds character and environment. During the year the Landmark Fund was consolidated with the Leeds Project Fund.

continued...

Page 19

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

The Snaith Award fund is to be used to support projects initiated or carried out locally by affiliated societies which enhance the built or natural environment.

19. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Page 20

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Bequests	38,000	-
Donations	4,804	27,028
Subscriptions	31,102	48,781
Royalties	654,333	304,496
	728,239	380,305
Other trading activities
Blue plaque scheme	780	4,338
Annual report advertising	6,250	7,100
Publications and shop sales	551	2,409
Other income	270	-
	7,851	13,847
Investment income
Investment income	58	5
Charitable activities
Event income	3,245	1,111
Total incoming resources	739,393	395,268
EXPENDITURE
Other trading activities
Blue plaque scheme	6,387	2,855
Publications and shop costs	3,927	122
Stock write-off	-	2,308
Annual report costs	2,902	2,940
	13,216	8,225
Charitable activities
Wages	154,276	162,436
Social security	14,208	12,328
Pensions	5,233	7,329
Postage, stationery and other	28,286	37,104
Planning lists and journals	298	-
Subscriptions and internet	1,880	1,165
Event costs	17,197	7,021
Carried forward	221,378	227,383

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 21

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Charitable activities
Brought forward	221,378	227,383
Display and exhibition costs	-	2,336
Bear Pit repairs	2,532	2,882
Conference costs	(1,000)	1,000
Leeds Project Fund - Take a Seat project	1,370	5,201
Leeds Project Fund - Mabgate	-	10,328
Leeds Project Fund - Story of Hunslet	-	10,456
Liveable Leeds project	9,473	4,525
Art Competition costs	1,773	-
Leeds Project Fund - Waterfront	5,000	-
Leeds Project Fund - Canal Gardens	3,540	-
Leeds Project Fund - Clean Air Day	1,200	-
Improvements to property	6,407	6,044
Grants awarded	61,430	110,490
	313,103	380,645
Support costs
Finance
Bank charges	420	-
Other
Wharf St establishment costs	15,924	9,511
Governance costs
Independent examiner’s fees	2,748	2,568
Total resources expended	345,411	400,949

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 22

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1014362

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

FOR

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

	Page
Report of the Trustees	1 to 4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Balance Sheet	7 to 8
Cash Flow Statement	9
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement	10
Notes to the Financial Statements	11 to 20
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	21 to 22

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objectives and aims of the charity are as follows:

a) to stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and heritage of the City of Leeds and locality, b) to encourage high quality sustainable development and promote standards of sustainable urban design, architecture, and town planning,

c) to encourage the judicious preservation, development, and improvement of features of general public amenity, d) to advance appreciation of a people friendly environment, and promote ways of improving the environment within Leeds, including green and public spaces, waterways, and sustainable transport,

e) to promote and organise co-operation in the achievement of these objectives.

Public Benefit

We have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit – including ‘Public Benefit: the public benefit requirement (PB1)’ and ‘Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’ – when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our current and future activities. The achievements and activities outlined in this report demonstrate the public benefit arising from the charity’s activities.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

The Trust has had a busy year undertaking numerous activities in support of its charitable objectives.

Planning and Transport

Our interests in the built environment are a key component of the Trust’s work. This year saw us consider many schemes throughout the City of Leeds, receiving presentations from developers and offering our advice and feedback. The city has seen a record amount of development in the last year, and we were able to point to several schemes where the Trust’s feedback has led to improvements when they were first considered at application stage.

Leeds Civic Trust was a key partner in the revived Leeds Architecture Awards 2023. Much of 2023 was dedicated to organising the competition, overseeing the judging process culminating in an awards ceremony later in 2023.

Our interest in heritage buildings continues to be an important part of what we do. Aside from our work highlighting buildings at risk and encouraging the maintenance of these buildings, we also took the opportunity to highlight and champion good practice. This took the form of visits to key schemes (for example Calverley Old Hall) and talks about refurbishments (Leeds Town Hall and the new organ). We continue to develop proposals and structures which will ultimately allow the Trust to invest in heritage at risk buildings focusing initially on small schemes.

Our interest in transport and placemaking takes several forms. We provide feedback on schemes proposed by Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – for example proposals for an active travel corridor along the A660 and repurposing the city centre loop. The Combined Authority is the authority responsible for our bus service. We continued to champion the findings of our “Imagine” report, lobbying for a more reliable and comprehensive bus service for the city, and remain a strong supporter of proposals for the introduction of bus franchising in West Yorkshire.

We were disappointed that HS2 to the North of England has now effectively been cancelled together with other proposals to improve connectivity and capacity north to south and we made our views known through consultation undertaken at a national level. As long-standing supporter of proposals for mass transit in Leeds, we have been engaging with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at Director level to influence their emerging plans which will be consulted upon in 2024. This work has included the development of potential routes for a new mass transit system.

Our long-term project which we call Eastside – a proposal to enhance an area of the city that is currently a mass of highways – has progressed further. A vision document was completed during the year, and this will form the basis of a consultation phase for the project commencing in 2024.

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LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Heritage and Culture

The period covered by this report includes the city’s year of culture (2023). We supported this initiative in a number of ways using a small grant issued by the organisation for this purpose. This included holding an art competition to celebrate Civic Day. The shortlisted entries were displayed at the Leeds 2023 shop and then within the Leeds Corn Exchange and have been made into a calendar for Leeds 2024 which was made available for purchase. Working with Leeds 2023, the Corn Exchange became a hub during the course of Heritage Open Days 2023 focusing on hidden stories. We used this venue to launch our new guides to conservation areas and heritage shopfronts, with a discussion event focusing on the future of the high street.

Our Blue Plaques scheme continued to be used to tell stories about people, places and events that might not be familiar to the wider public. Our successful Heritage Open Days programme which included well over 100 events, was bookended with an unveiling of a Blue Plaque for Pablo Fanque (the first black circus owner) and Bramley Baths – the last functioning Edwardian Bath House in the city. We are now trying to use our plaques scheme to highlight untold stories but also as a means of supporting our other activities. Bramley Baths is an example of how listed buildings can continue to have a viable use.

Events

We underpin our general activities through events and discussions. Whilst primarily aimed at our membership (both corporate and individual) they are always open to members of the public and we always aim to ensure that they are relevant to our broader objectives. This year’s February lecture series (for example) addressed the city’s more recent history telling the story behind some of the city’s most prominent streets and squares. Visits included a look at the new Junction development incorporating the conversion of a disused railway viaduct into a linear park and a walks programme which included a focus on recent city centre developments, linking back to the work of the Trust’s Planning Committee.

Supporting communities

In the last report we reported on a significant six figure investment in a grants scheme to help the city’s communities reveal and share their stories more widely. Working with Leeds Community Foundation, these projects were reaching their end point by the end of this financial year and have been very successful. For example, we worked with the Jamaican Society to tell the stories of servicemen and women from the Windrush Generation who fought for their country in wars and conflicts. This was one of several projects which will finish at the end of 2024.

Volunteers

The Trust continues to rely on the support of our many volunteers who deliver work, and we thank them for this. We continue to look at new ways of engaging members of the public in the work of the Trust to ensure that this crucial part of our ethos grows and strengthens.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

During the year, the income totalled £739,393 (2022: £395,268) and expenditure totalled £345,411 (2022: £400,949). The overall surplus for the year was £317,305 (2022: deficit £1,986). The significant increase in surplus this year arose due to the early receipt of a royalty payment which was not budgeted for within the financial year.

Principal funding sources and Financial Risks and Uncertainties

The charity's principal funding comes from member subscriptions, investment income generated on its reserves and royalty income.

In the current and recent years, the charity has benefitted from substantial income from previously bequeathed royalty rights, as a result of which it has reported significant surpluses. The Trustees are mindful of the uncertain future continuity of this level of income and monitor expenditure and capital commitments accordingly and are examining options for securing income levels for when this source of funds reduces.

Our investment strategy and performance

The investment managers have taken a cautious stance over the last few years, taking into consideration the trustee’s objectives and an overall balanced appetite for risk over the long-term, constructing the portfolio with an independent view on asset allocation, providing better diversification for uncertain times. The portfolio contains a

Page 2

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

mix of traditional UK and overseas equities, some with a more ethical/sustainable focus. Since inception the portfolio has contained a strong allocation on infrastructure/renewable equities, suited to the trust profile, but there has also been some modest exposure to traditional energy equities which have contributed very positively over the last few years. Diversification is also achieved through holdings in various multi-asset managers, Physical Gold, Commodities, and some trading strategies. This year, allocation to UK Gilts and strategic bonds was increased due to their poor performance in 2022. As interest rate expectations have softened very recently this has been a tailwind for these investments.

This reporting period in question straddles two calendar years, including the last quarter of 2022 which contained lingering uncertainty due to the tough geopolitical shock of the Ukraine war, escalating energy prices, inflation spiking and a growing tightening monetary backdrop. However, for some context, the trust’s portfolio held up very well on a relative basis over the full calendar year down only -2.48%, meaningfully outperforming the ARC Balanced Asset Charity Index which lost -9.35%.

Into 2023, with recession calls loudening and interest rates being ratcheted up by the Bank of England, the portfolio continued to suffer a pullback through Spring and into Summer, with the trust’s focus on infrastructure, renewable energy, and some fixed interest investments being impacted further as cash has become more attractive to investors. From January to the end of August the portfolio fell 5.5%. However, the overall loss since the start of 2022 is still ahead of peer group and there has been a useful pick-up in performance in Q4, post the end of the reporting period.

Reserves policy

During the year, the Trustees reviewed the reserves policy and reaffirmed the policy to maintain free reserves, which are unrestricted general funds excluding tangible fixed assets, at a level sufficient to cover charitable and support costs for a minimum of three years, this being a level to enable continuance of the Charity's current activities in the event of a significant decline in income, and whilst alternate income sources were sought.

In addition, the principle has been adopted that free reserves in excess of this level will be spent over the lifetime of its current operational strategy - The Trust Vision 2020-2025 - in support of the Charity's objectives.

The Trustees are satisfied that current free reserves of £1,286,088 are sufficient and will continue to review the policy having regard to financial circumstances and opportunities to further the Charity's objectives.

Future plans

In the last two financial years, our income has increased substantially, and we believe that this situation will pertain in the immediate future. We plan to increase our investment in activities in support of Trust objectives whilst retaining a reserves policy that continues to reflect a degree of uncertainty about future income.

• We will be launching a new grants programme in partnership with the Leeds Community Foundation which has as its overarching objective “a celebration of place.” Projects will commence at the beginning of 2024, will run for two years and all will have a tangible and lasting output.

• We are looking at opportunities for partnership working with Leeds City Council or any other organisation to support the restoration of heritage buildings.

• We currently employ three full time and two part time members of staff. This will be kept under review and we may seek to invest further in particular to support our heritage work and to underpin the recruitment of more volunteers to support the Trust’s activity.

• We will be updating our current strategy (which runs up to 2025) to sense-check our achievements against these high-level objectives with a view to identifying whether there are areas for further investment.

• Our Blue Plaques programme has been running for 35 years and many of the original plaques are in a state of disrepair. Our plaques refurbishment programme will accelerate during the course of 2024.

• We continue to review our current HQ, weighing the investment requirements of this 19th century building in the years to come with the benefits that an alternative location for the Trust might offer.

Page 3

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Organisational structure

The Board of Trustees is known as the Council. The Council is the governing body of the charity. The Council meets regularly and there are sub committees which meet regularly. The Director manages day to day operations of the charity and reports to the Council.

Induction and training of new council members (Trustees)

New members of Council are subject to an induction procedure by the Director, to brief them on their legal responsibilities under Charities law and the organisational structure and decision-making process of the charity.

Policy for remuneration of key management personnel

The Charity maintains a Pay Awards Policy, which outlines the process through which pay rates are set and amended. Pay awards are decided through a recommendation of the Charity’s Finance and General Purposes Committee to the Council and are usually decided by vote of council at an annual meeting.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

1014362

Registered office

17/19 Wharf Street Leeds LS2 7EQ

Trustees

J E Taylor (Chair) M A Piet Vice (Chair) R M Solyom (Treasurer) J Brettell J D Pike C Stead J Strover R J Voss L Moore H E Beard A Stowe C M C St Arroman

Independent Examiner

Sedulo Leeds Limited St Paul's House 23 Park Square Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 2ND

Honorary Solicitors

Addleshaw Goddard Sovereign House Sovereign Street Leeds LS1 1HQ

Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:

........................................................................ J E Taylor - Trustee

Page 4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Leeds Civic Trust

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Leeds Civic Trust (the trust) for the year ended 31 August 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the act”).

I report in respect of my examination of your Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales which is one of the listed bodies.

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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Gavin Bell Sedulo Leeds Limited St Paul's House 23 Park Square Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 2ND

Date: .............................................

Page 5

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 5 Activities directly supporting the Charity’s objectives Other trading activities 3 Investment income 4 Total EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 6 Charitable activities 7 Activities directly supporting the Charity’s objectives Total Net gains/(losses) on investments NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	31.8.23 Unrestricted funds £ 728,239 3,245 7,851 58 739,393 13,216 332,195 345,411 (76,677) 317,305 1,107,495 1,424,800	31.8.22 Total funds £ 380,305 1,111 13,847 5 395,268 8,225 392,724 400,949 3,695 (1,986) 1,109,481 1,107,495

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 6

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

BALANCE SHEET 31 AUGUST 2023

Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 12 Investments 13 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 14 Debtors 15 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 16 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 18 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS	31.8.23 Unrestricted funds £ 138,712 812,250 950,962 3,558 13,996 471,142 488,696 (14,858) 473,838 1,424,800 1,424,800 1,424,800 1,424,800	31.8.22 Total funds £ 143,795 888,927 1,032,722 7,436 22,938 55,825 86,199 (11,426) 74,773 1,107,495 1,107,495 1,107,495 1,107,495

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 August 2023.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

• (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

• (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

The notes form part of these financial statements

continued...

Page 7

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

BALANCE SHEET - continued 31 AUGUST 2023

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:

.............................................

J E Taylor - Trustee

............................................. R M Solyom - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 8

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Notes Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 1 Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Interest received Net cash used in investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period	31.8.23 £ 416,583 416,583 (1,324) 58 (1,266) 415,317 55,825 471,142	31.8.22 £ (8,617) (8,617) (3,221) 5 (3,216) (11,833) 67,658 55,825

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1.	RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TO NET CASH	FLOW FROM	OPERATING ACTIVITIES	OPERATING ACTIVITIES
			31.8.23	31.8.22
			£	£
	Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the
	Statement of Financial Activities)		317,305	(1,986)
	Adjustments for:
	Depreciation charges		6,407	6,044
	Losses/(gain) on investments		76,677	(3,695)
	Interest received		(58)	(5)
	Decrease in stocks		3,878	2,226
	Decrease/(increase) in debtors		8,942	(15,120)
	Increase in creditors		3,432	3,919
	Net cash provided by/(used in) operations		416,583	(8,617)
2.	ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS
		At 1.9.22	Cash flow	At 31.8.23
		£	£	£
	Net cash
	Cash at bank and in hand	55,825	415,317	471,142
		55,825	415,317	471,142
	Total	55,825	415,317	471,142

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 10

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.

The financial statements are prepared in pound sterling £, which is the functional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Operating leases

Rentals under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

life.
Improvements to property	-	10% on cost
Furniture	-	20% on cost
Equipment	-	50% on cost

No depreciation is provided on freehold buildings as the council consider any charge for the year and any accumulated depreciation, after taking account of the estimated residual value, to be immaterial. Recent improvements to property are being depreciated with effect from 1 September 2015 over a period of 20 years.

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

continued...

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LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Council for particular purposes.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Investments

All quoted investments are shown in the Balance Sheet at market value.

Gifted investments are introduced into the Balance Sheet at their market value at the time of donation.

Realised gains and losses comprise the surplus or deficit arising from the disposal proceeds (less costs) of investments sold during the year over the market value at the end of the previous year or, if purchased during the year, over their cost.

Unrealised gains and losses represents:

(a) for investments held throughout the year the difference between their market values at the start and end of the year, or

(b) for investments purchased during the year and held at the end of the year the difference between the purchase cost and market value at the end of the year.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the charities balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which includes debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method net of any impairment losses, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction where the transaction is measured at present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets are reviewed annually for signs of impairment. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments, are initially measured at fair value, with subsequent changes in fair value recognised in the SOFA, except that investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

continued...

Page 12

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Financial instruments

Basic financial liabilities, which includes creditors and accruals, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Bequests Donations Subscriptions Royalties 3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES Blue plaque scheme Annual report advertising Publications and shop sales Other income 4. INVESTMENT INCOME Investment income 5. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Event income 6. RAISING FUNDS Other trading activities Blue plaque scheme Publications and shop costs Annual report costs	31.8.23 £ 38,000 4,804 31,102 654,333 728,239 31.8.23 £ 780 6,250 551 270 7,851 31.8.23 £ 58 31.8.23 £ 3,245 31.8.23 £ 6,387 3,927 2,902 13,216	31.8.22 £ - 27,028 48,781 304,496 380,305 31.8.22 £ 4,338 7,100 2,409 - 13,847 31.8.22 £ 5 31.8.22 £ 1,111 31.8.22 £ 2,855 2,430 2,940 8,225

continued...

Page 13

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

7. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Grant funding of Direct activities Support Costs (see note 8) costs £ £ £ Activities directly supporting the Charity’s objectives 251,673 61,430 19,092 Charitable activities costs are analysed as follows: 2023 £ Direct Costs Event Costs 17,197 Display and exhibition costs - Subscriptions and internet 1,880 Salaries 173,717 Postage, stationery and other office expenses 28,286 Planning lists and journals 298 Improvements to property 6,407 Bear Pit repairs 2,532 Conference costs (1,000) Art competition costs 1,773 Leeds Project Fund - Take a Seat project 1,370 Leeds Project Fund - Mabgate Conservation project - Leeds Project Fund - Story of Hunslet project - Leeds Project Fund - Waterfront 5,000 Leeds Project Fund - Canal Gardens 3,540 Leeds Project Fund - Clean Air Day 1,200 Liveable Leeds project 9,473 Grant funding of activities Grants awarded 61,430 Support costs Wharf Street establishment costs 15,924 Bank charges 420 Governance costs - Independent Examiners fee 2,748 332,195

Totals £ 332,195 2022 £ 7,021 2,336 1,165 182,093 37,104 - 6,044 2,882 1,000 - 5,201 10,328 10,456 - - - 4,525 110,490 9,511 - 2,568 392,724

continued...

Page 14

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

8. GRANTS PAYABLE

Grants are awarded to organisations and individuals following approval of formal application, from reserve funds created for these purposes, where the proposed use is in keeping with the charity's aims and objectives. Monitoring of the grants process is by a committee delegated by the Trustees and all awards are agreed by Council. No support costs have been allocated against the amounts so awarded.

Significant grants awarded during the year included £58,824 awarded to the Leeds Community Foundation.

9. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Independent Examiners fee	2,748	2,568
Depreciation - owned assets	6,407	6,044

10. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

continued...

Page 15

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

11. STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: Administration staff	31.8.23 £ 154,276 14,208 5,233 173,717 31.8.23 4	31.8.22 £ 162,436 12,328 7,329
		182,093
		31.8.22 5

The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer’s national insurance and pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:

		31.8.23	31.8.22
£60,001	- £70,000	1	1

Key Management Personnel

The Key Management Personnel in the year ended 31 August 2023 were the Director and Board of Trustees. The total amount of employee benefits (including employer's national insurance and pensions contributions) received by Key Management Personnel was £78,465 (2022: £74,868).

12. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST At 1 September 2022 Additions At 31 August 2023 DEPRECIATION At 1 September 2022 Charge for year At 31 August 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 August 2023 At 31 August 2022	Freehold Improvements property to property £ £ 99,409 54,520 - - 99,409 54,520 - 18,114 - 2,726 - 20,840 99,409 33,680 99,409 36,406	Furniture £ 13,500 - 13,500 12,415 729 13,144 356 1,085	Equipment £ 46,412 1,324 47,736 39,517 2,952 42,469 5,267 6,895	Totals £ 213,841 1,324
				215,165
				70,046 6,407
				76,453
				138,712
				143,795

The Council have sought the advice of Trust members that act in the Leeds property market, and on the basis of this are of the opinion that the open market value, for existing use, of the freehold property including improvements at the year end, is in the order of £250,000.

The Council do not consider it appropriate to incur the costs of a formal professional valuation which would be required for this value to be incorporated into the accounts, therefore this valuation is provided for information only and the freehold property continues to be carried in the accounts at its historic cost.

continued...

Page 16

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

13. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
	Listed
	investments
	£
MARKET VALUE
At 1 September 2022	888,927
Change in market value	(76,677)
At 31 August 2023	812,250
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 August 2023	812,250
At 31 August 2022	888,927

Included within the Trust's investment portfolio are some investment funds that hold some assets outside the UK. It is not possible to separately identify the value of these.

The historic cost of investment assets is £827,000 (2022: £827,000).

Material investments: quoted investments include the following funds which each amount to greater than 5% of the total portfolio as follows:

Holding: Troy Trojan Ethical Veritas Global Real Return Total 14. STOCKS Publications and shop stock 15. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Subscription debtors Other debtors Prepayments	31.8.23 £ 44,954 46,494 91,448 31.8.23 £ 3,558 31.8.23 £ 4,709 7,292 1,995 13,996	31.8.22 £ 45,003 46,459 91,462 31.8.22 £ 7,436 31.8.22 £ 16,069 4,372 2,497 22,938

continued...

Page 17

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

16. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Social security and other taxes	4,253	5,582
Other creditors	2,478	299
Accrued expenses	8,127	5,545
	14,858	11,426

17. LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Within one year	1,184	-
Between one and five years	1,480	-
	2,664	-

18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Blue Plaque Fund Leeds Project Fund Snaith Award TOTAL FUNDS	At 1.9.22 £ 1,049,172 29,116 6,725 21,482 1,000 1,107,495 1,107,495	Net movement in funds £ 333,139 (2,232) (3,493) (10,109) - 317,305 317,305	Transfers between funds £ (220,884) 220,884 - - - - -	At 31.8.23 £ 1,161,427 247,768 3,232 11,373 1,000
				1,424,800
				1,424,800

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Blue Plaque Fund Leeds Project Fund TOTAL FUNDS	Incoming resources £ 739,393 - - - 739,393 739,393	Resources expended £ (329,577) (2,232) (3,493) (10,109) (345,411) (345,411)	Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ (76,677) 333,139 - (2,232) - (3,493) - (10,109) (76,677) 317,305 (76,677) 317,305

continued...

Page 18

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Blue Plaque Fund Leeds Project Fund Snaith Award TOTAL FUNDS	At 1.9.21 £ 1,058,044 30,196 6,725 13,516 1,000 1,109,481 1,109,481	Net movement in funds £ 29,128 (1,080) - (30,034) - (1,986) (1,986)	Transfers between funds £ (38,000) - - 38,000 - - -	At 31.8.22 £ 1,049,172 29,116 6,725 21,482 1,000
				1,107,495
				1,107,495

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds General fund Bear Pit Fund Leeds Project Fund TOTAL FUNDS	Incoming resources £ 395,268 - - 395,268 395,268	Resources expended £ (369,835) (1,080) (30,034) (400,949) (400,949)	Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ 3,695 29,128 - (1,080) - (30,034) 3,695 (1,986) 3,695 (1,986)

The General fund is used for the achievement of the charitable objectives of the Charity.

The Wharf Street Fund was created following Councils approval of plans to improve wheelchair access to the premises and meeting rooms and install wheelchair accessible toilet facilities.

The Bear Pit Fund is to be used for its maintenance and improvement. The fund has been increased following Councils approval of plans to repair and renovate the Bear Pit, and to improve safety and access thereto to enable it to be opened up as a Civic landmark. Following discussions with building contractors this fund will increase in the next financial period.

The Blue Plaques Maintenance Fund is to be used to meet future maintenance costs of the Blue Plaques Scheme.

The Leeds Project Fund is to be used to support projects by external organisations that further the objectives of the Charity and benefit Leeds as a whole.

The Landmark Grant Fund is to be used to support community projects that will leave lasting landmarks celebrating Leeds character and environment. During the year the Landmark Fund was consolidated with the Leeds Project Fund.

continued...

Page 19

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

The Snaith Award fund is to be used to support projects initiated or carried out locally by affiliated societies which enhance the built or natural environment.

19. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Page 20

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Bequests	38,000	-
Donations	4,804	27,028
Subscriptions	31,102	48,781
Royalties	654,333	304,496
	728,239	380,305
Other trading activities
Blue plaque scheme	780	4,338
Annual report advertising	6,250	7,100
Publications and shop sales	551	2,409
Other income	270	-
	7,851	13,847
Investment income
Investment income	58	5
Charitable activities
Event income	3,245	1,111
Total incoming resources	739,393	395,268
EXPENDITURE
Other trading activities
Blue plaque scheme	6,387	2,855
Publications and shop costs	3,927	122
Stock write-off	-	2,308
Annual report costs	2,902	2,940
	13,216	8,225
Charitable activities
Wages	154,276	162,436
Social security	14,208	12,328
Pensions	5,233	7,329
Postage, stationery and other	28,286	37,104
Planning lists and journals	298	-
Subscriptions and internet	1,880	1,165
Event costs	17,197	7,021
Carried forward	221,378	227,383

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 21

LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

	31.8.23	31.8.22
	£	£
Charitable activities
Brought forward	221,378	227,383
Display and exhibition costs	-	2,336
Bear Pit repairs	2,532	2,882
Conference costs	(1,000)	1,000
Leeds Project Fund - Take a Seat project	1,370	5,201
Leeds Project Fund - Mabgate	-	10,328
Leeds Project Fund - Story of Hunslet	-	10,456
Liveable Leeds project	9,473	4,525
Art Competition costs	1,773	-
Leeds Project Fund - Waterfront	5,000	-
Leeds Project Fund - Canal Gardens	3,540	-
Leeds Project Fund - Clean Air Day	1,200	-
Improvements to property	6,407	6,044
Grants awarded	61,430	110,490
	313,103	380,645
Support costs
Finance
Bank charges	420	-
Other
Wharf St establishment costs	15,924	9,511
Governance costs
Independent examiner’s fees	2,748	2,568
Total resources expended	345,411	400,949

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 22