Actionfr" in rural Sussex Sussex Rurnl Cornmunlty Councll (Umlted by Guardntee) Company number 02907172 Charity number 1035401 Report and Flnanclal Statements lor the year ended 31 March 2024 Knlll James LLP, Chartered Accountants One Bell Lane, Lewe5 East Sussex 8N7 IJU Sussex Rural Communlty Coundl (Llmlted by Guarantee) Contents Tru5tees' rpport Audltors, Report 9-12 Statement of Flnandal Actlvitles 13-15 8alance Sheet 16-17 Cash Flow Statement 18 Notes to Flnancial Statement5 19-29 Sussex Rural Cornfflunity Councll Iumlted by Guarantee) Trustees, Report for year to 31 March 2024 L Introdurtlon The Irustees. who are also directors of ihe chaflty lor tho purposes of the Companies Act 2C(>6. present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have 8dopted the provisions ot Accountin8 and Reportin8 by Charitles: Statement of Retommended Practice applicable to charities preparin8 their accounts in èccordance with the Financial Reportin8 Standard applicable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 102). 2. Charltable objects The chariiy's obJe(ts are to prornote any charltablo purposes for rhe beneflt of the communlty of the countie5 ol East and West Sussex.. In partlcular to promote and orBan15e partnershig working to achieve the advancement ol education, the protection of health. relief ol poverty. d15tre55 and slckness, by brin8in8 together representallves of the statutory authoflties. voluntary organisations and other bodie5 and any Interested persons. We set out our strate8k alms and activitles in more deiail later In this repofL 3. StnKlure. itr•ernan¢e and rnan4ement Lry•l and admlnlstratlve detalls Sussex Rural Communily Council ISIICCI15 J company Ilmlted by guarantee and regtstered In England and Wales, company nurnber 02907172, incorporated under Ihe Companies Act& SRCC 15 a re8lSie￿d chartty number 1035401. The RovernI￿8 body Is the 8oard of Trusiees. The gO￿lDIng document Is the Articles ol Association. Operat1￿ Name Sussex Rural Communlty Couficll has operated for minv veafs under the operatlng narne "Actlon In rural Sussex" (knfs), which wlll used In thls Trustee5' Report as the identjty by whith the charity Is most cafflmonty known, Dlrertors and Tntstees The directors of SRCC are also Its Trustees for the purpose of chlrity law and throL¥hout this report are collectwely referred 10 as the Tru5tee$. The Trusttts who served dur1￿ the year knid the year end have been: Wllllam Ander50n Ch31r Colon Brown Rob Dlllin&ham Alex InBham C5ark Owèn Ingram John Moore-Blck Kristin &'ovorr RE￿8n￿d l June 2023 Re5i8ned 19 January 2024 Chlel Executfve Offocef: day to day manalement Steven Haa52, Intefim Chlef Execut5ve Officer 10 30 September 2023; Tom Warder. Interim Chiet Executive Officer from l October 2023 Audltors Knill James LLP. One Bell Lane, Lewes East Sussex, BN7 IJU Sussex Rural Cornmunity Councll (Umlted by Guarnntee) Bankers CAF Bank Limited. 25 Kings Hill Avenue, King5 Hlll, West Mallin& Kent ME19 4J(L' Barclays 8ank plc. The Old 8ank, Hi8h Strect, Lewes, East Sussex 8N7 2JP,. Nationwide Bullding Sociely, Kln8s Park Road, Moulton Pafk, Northarnpton NNJ 6NW: Sh3wbrook aank Lid, Lutea House. Warley Hlll BusirFess Park, Breniwood, Essex CM13 38E. The Charity Bank Ltd, Fosse House. 182 Hl8h Street. Tonbrid8o TN9 18E. Rryhtered office and operatlonal address 16 Market Street, Lewe& East Sussex 8N7 2N8.. 4. Appolntm•nt and Recrullment ol T￿￿te¢S The trustee5 are elected bv thy member5 uf ihe charity at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Any remainlng vacanocs not filled at Ihc AGM may be lilled by co-option on the Initiative oflhe tru5tee& New trustees are briefed on their le8al obligations under charity and cornpany law. the committee and decl$lon-makln& proces￿, the buslness plan and recent finanoal performance ol the charlty. S. Tntstees and thelf resPon￿bIlItIeS The trusiees are fesponsible for preparing the Trustee< report and the financlal statements In Kcordance wlth applicable law and United Kln£dom Accounlir48 St3ndard5. Company law requlres the trustees to PfevTr finandal statements lor each financlal year whlch glve a true nd falr vlew ol the state ol affalr5 of the charitable company arKI of the incomln6 resources and appllcatlon of resowces. Includln8 the income and expendlture. ol the chafitable company for thai perlod. lfi preparlng those flnanclJl 5tJtements, the tfuttEe5 are requlred to: select sultablo occounting pollcies and tt￿n apply them con515tentlv. - ob5orve the methods and principles in the Chaftiy 5taternent ol Recommended Pfactio. - make ludgements and estimates that are reasonable and Pfudent, - State whethef appllcable accountsno standard5 have been followed, sublect io •ny material departures dL%closed and explalned In the financial 5tJtement5: arffl - prepare the Ananclal statements on the 8oln8 concern basis unless it Is inapproprlate to presume that the charltable cornpany wlll contlnue In buslnoA%. The trustees are rpsponsible lor keeping proper accounting records which dlscl¢)se with reasonable xcurary at any time the financial position ol the charitable company arKI to Ènable them io ensure that the financ￿1 stsiernents comply wlth the Companles kn 2￿6. They are 4150 re5pon51ble for saleguafdln8 the assets of the charitable company and hence lor takin8 reasonable steps lor the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other Ifre8ularitles. The 3ccounts comply with Cufrerrt statutory requlfements and wfth the reqLtrirements ol the governlng documenL Flnanclal r•vlew Fundl Airs draw5 Its fundlng frorn a variety ol SOUfce5, but Continues to be largely depefidÈnt on 5taiutory settof lundln8. We afe vefv graieful to all ol our lunders bul particularly: Sussex Ilural Cornmunlty Councll (Urnlted by Guarnntee) Those Oistrict Coun(Ils in West and East Sussex that provide fundin8 Ipr our houslng servkes- East Sussex County Councll lor thetr support of the Making It Happen project where Alrs works as a partner wlth Sussex Community Lkvelopment Association, Hastin85 Voluntary Actlon. Aother Voluntary Actlon and 3VA. The National Lottery lor their sUp￿rt ot Lost Woods consortium where Alrs works a5 partner with The Woodl3nd Trust. Sussex Wlldlile Trust and The Small Woodland Associatlon; DEFRA tor thetr ongoin8 annual 8rant In supwrt at Alrs thfough our nat￿￿1 body, ACRE IActlon wlth Communities In Rufal En8land). The past lew years have been challengin8 due to the ettects ol Inflation, rlsing costs of ener8y. food and bulldin8 materials. The consequence has been dlstinci and considerable pressufe on our Pfojects and on the ommunltie5 we serve. Alrs wlll need to work ever more closely wlth local authoflties. fvnder5 and coordinating bodles to ensufe thai we ￿MaIn responslve to the envlronrnental, 50clal, economlc and polltkal landscapes Wfve￿ we work. Rtstrlrted Fund5 The delail ol the festrlcted fund 8Ctlvlty Is set out In Ilote 16 of the financial statements. Where IfKllv￿￿aI projects Show a dellcji on completlon or tormlnation. this has been made good from unre5Lriaed fund RestrKted lunds at the year end amounted to £76.532. Ilnrnstrkted Funds The total unrestricted fund5 are set out in Note 15 of the fi'nancial statements amounted to £1.519,983. Of thls total the TfU5tees have deslgnated that £ 1,208,IXXY Is held tof specific purposes. Reserves polky The Board of Trustees has developed Its reserves pDIICy to Cover the on8oln8 emgloyee c¥)mmiiments. ensure buy'ness coniinuity and allow lor Its investment in developin8 Sustainable Income streams, contin8ent liabllltles, workln8 upltal requlrements and to take 8ccount ol its annual risk review, The free reserye Is rnalntalned prlmarlly in case Acilon In rufal Sussex suffer5 a sudden and unforeseen contractlon ol attivlties. Th151s mitl8ated thmugh lull cost fecovery bud8etin& accurate forecastln8. th8nta8eous Contrart ne8Otiatlon where posslble and carelul treasury management. Any remaining free reserves not required undef the reserves pollcy are avallab￿ io develop the work of the charity. to meet its charitable objectives and to lulfil any latent contrartual obllgations Qntefed by the charity as part of its prlrnary purpose trading. The Board of Trustees conh'rms thal each reslricted lund has Sufficient assels to meet its obli8atlons. or arran8ements exist wlth the lunders that these obligallons wlll be rnet at the point at whlch ihe requirement ar15es. Trustees annually review ihe reseryes poliry In the118ht of a continuln8 shtft In fundlng profllc. and the Ilnked investmeni th 5trate8K and bu￿ne$S dcvelopmcnL Revlew of the results for th• Year to 31 March 2024 The financial staternents for the year to 31 March 2024 show a surplus of £9.47312023 deficlency £30.701) on Income of £479.13S12023 £413J77), The tall twelve months have been a period ot stablltty and focu5. Followln8 year5 of financlal turnafound aclions under the leadershlp of Steven Haasz, Tom Warder was appoinled as interirn CEO Sn Ortober 2023. Tom'5 Iiew fole (oincided with Wllliam Anderson takin8 over from Alei Ingharn Clark a5 Chalr Sussex Cornmunlty Councll Iumited by Guarantee) ol the board In January 2024. Together they have led a sirate8ic revlew of Our operations In order to recruil long-term CEO from a confideni baseline wlth well-articulaied d1￿clI0n, The review prospecius papers and reCT￿tment document were compiled throu8h the 5prin8 of 2024 lor adverts5ement in the summer. Concurrent to thls revlew activlty has been successful with new lunded project5 Startin& ihe accompllshment of our investment Intentlons. and the commencement of work to bulld a new webslte with a Bood user Interfxe and rn0￿ way5 to share our projects and vlslon wldely. Two new projects have been designed and confirmed during the period thi5 paper covers: Flrst. bulldlng on the successe5 01 two comrnunlty development projerts. Makln8 it Happen and Lost Woods Idetalled bek)wl we have agreed a new five year prolect wlth ihe Hope Xelth Tru51. recrultin8 a ieam io furthei develop our asset based community development seryices In the conlext of supportin8 - pnrnarlly- older people In 4 ¢lus¢er ol vtlla8es wilhin the Hofsharn di5lrict ol West Sussom: Second, our national representative IACRE) have realised the continuin8 need for small scale rural affordable hou5ini to be dellvered by houslry associations. This requlre5 rn￿h coordination on Ihe ground to find areas of dlstlnct housln8 l￿d. with local 'bLry In. and avallable, affordable land. ACRE have administered the lundln8 for a two year natlon wlde projert io provlde rural housing enablers as the local 48ent to brln8 housin8 proierts together for fundin8 and plannln8. We recruited to fill this poSit￿n and work has Started and Is complementary to our well e5tabllshed community led housing attlvity as overseen by the team which fofrns the Sussex Communlty Hou51n8 Hub. Meanwhlle our communsty led plannln¥ servsw are developin6 wlth a focus on supportin8 communities through a rnore communlty.led and complete approach to plannlng lor thelr futures. Th1$15 3 move awav Irom development4ed and highly technical Nei8hbourhood Oevelopment Plans whlch are often ignored bv developers. Instead. we have undertaken our lirst Parish Priority 51aiements which ofler a more 5traightlorward and S￿(ln(t method lor rural communities to sei out their core vision, oblectives and aciion plans relatin8 to a full range of community Issue5 and concerns. Other streams ol hlrd Wofk continue io tund and gr¢)w exlstln8 serylce$ 4nd projects to ensure we rnalntaln Support fof communlty.led change. demonstrate the potential for local actlon to meet ￿1 needs and celebrate the beneflls of (ommunlty Partfrcfrpatlon and decislon rnakln8. All the many 5m311 step5 token to achleve pro8re55 over the last year are the result (rf havlng an ambrtlous ttam of staff. Leadershlp at all levels has been Impressive. The level ol commitmeni and faith in our charitable mlssion dlsplayed bv all Is not ￿lefi lor 8fanied, Times are tOU8h In ihe communltles we 5eThe and we reco8n15e the res11￿￿(e and 8ood hurnour ol the team. 7. Operatloml Revlew for year ended 31 March 2024 Rural and Communlty Led Houslnz The Sussex Communilv Housing Hub has continued to prvvlde technkal advke and support to some 30 ujmmunlty led hous1￿ 8roups and projeas durln8 th15 tlme. Rlnamer Area Cornmunlty Land Trust (CLTI became the second In East Sussex to complete a schenie; slx homes (four affordable to rent) buill to è very hlEh standard. Mar5ham CLT. representlns the three parishes of Pett, Guestllng and Falriight came Irth? belrva durln8 thls Per￿ and hoplng to provlde local needs housln8 on a rural exceptlon site locallv. Sussex Rural Community Councll (Llmlted by Guarantee) In Wesi Sussex, Arundel CLT are lorging ahead wlth thelr pioject to provide 20 social Rented homes on a mixed development on Ford Rd. In parmershlp with ihe Norfolk Estale and Aster Housing A5XKlatlon. This 90 home scheme127 aflordablel has now started on 51te in Januaty 2024. Another multi parish CLT has a150 emerged In Storrington and Thakeham which h35 taken the narne Chancionbury CLT. They are explorln8 both housing and other soctal enterprise assei development locallv. Hi8h Inte￿t rates and Ixdld costs have refflalned a thallen8e to scheme vlablllty durin8 this year whlch ha5 meant a retraction In housebulldln8 acros5 the Industry and to which Nral and communlty led hou51n815 not Immune. Desplte thls. 8roups and woRcts supported by the Sussex Hub have continued to make steady proofess. We a150 look f(Mvard to re*nefgisinE our rural houslrfj enablln8 offer vt4 the fund5 secured frorn DEFRA and via ACRE to help dellvef rural affoidable housin8 schemes alongside huu5in£ a550Uatlon partners.. A new Rufal Houslng Enabler (RHE} p05t wlll take th15 work lorward In 202412025. Vll4e Hall Servke Our Villa8e Halls Service Is valued across both East and West Su55eM wlih subscrlbers to tho scheme growl to IE41 dufing this period. Tralnlng has been provlded on a ol subjects fel¢vant to all village halls. from Incorporation to 80vernance and rlsk assessments. We are lookin8 10 expand the trainin8 opportunilles In luture year5. Alrs marked natlonal Vlllase Halls Week thls year wlth a Go Green event In March whlch champloned some of the pioneering wor* undertaken to Improve the su5talnabtiity of Vlllage Halls such as that undertaken bv the Adastra trlall In Ha$S￿kS who have Instslled 501ar panels and Implemented other enefly savln8 measu ol￿r aspects ol the seryKe have been the support pro¥lded to numerous halls to make successful •pplications for funds Includlng the Platinum Jubllee Fund. ongolng advlce and support vla the very artlve onllne forum on Basecamp ènd the advice and141son provtded to local authoritles. We have also mainrained our dosef w0￿1n8 partnership wlth Mid Sussex Voluntary Act￿n, deliverins tailored support to Halls In Mid Sussex. Wofk that15 5UPPOrted by Mld Sussex District Councll. Sussex Rural Community Coundl (Umlted by Guaranteel Communlty Based Servkes Makln8 It Happen Durin8 the year under review. Airs continued Its Asset Based Communlty Developrnent IA8CD) approath in the four hub towns In Wealden (Crowborough. Hailsharn, Polegate and Uckfieldl through its Makin8 IL Happen collaboration with East Sussex County Council. Wof k on the 8round has seen 8rouPS Supported and 8rantS 8lven In all four afeas, Indudin8 a partlal Grow Irant lor Green Transition Crowborough, and a nexi step5 grant for Hallsham Boxmg Club. In addttion ro the maln proiect grassroots work, the proierts. three staff have been helping with the c¢> ordlnation of the evaluation strand, working on analyws of reportlng data and bulletins lor communicatlon4 supportin8 the co4mdin0i￿n of the le•rnin8 pro8ramme. plannin8 and lacililatin8 Vafiow workshops and developrnent days. In additlon. Ihe tearn ha$ 5UPPOrted Alfs In house tralnln8 on ABCD for its Staff and h workln8 wlth Weald Dlstrld Councu on developing a broader ABCD approath In plannlns lof thelf future. The MaklnB It Happen proiect Is now In Its final year. and Airs Is Involved in succeSs￿n plannin8 at county level and In legacy plannlng foi the ¢ommuniile5. The￿ Is a wssibilrty lof continuation ol A8CD work funded bv ESCC. bul Airs 15 also looklnR at other wa¥$ of 8rowlng our comrnunliv development work to 'versify our service lor more cornmunit*s to access IL Supported by more vailed and sustainable fundln& Lost Woods We aro now in the second year of thls five year wolec¢ lunded prlnclpally by the Lottery Heritage Fund. Al leads on 9 of 19 proktts whlch make up the Losi Wood5 proqramme and employs six people. equlvalent ta 3.5 full time staff. We have made an excellent io the dellvery sta8e and our work Is well re8arded by projecz partners and funders. In the year under review we en8aged with 1.042 people thfou8h the Lost Woods project. Those with whom we have engaged now know more about wpodland wlldllle, Iw and where to enjoy It, teel less Isolated thfOU8h joining wixjdland wellbeing 8roups Of taking part In woodland play artlvltles. Thev leel more supported by developln8 networks and collaboratlons to achleve Joint alms around protectSn8 woodlands Of developlrw actlvllles. Skllls and knowledge have been developed throuKh attendin8 talks and fralnln8 or t3klft& part In practlal conservatlon aai¥itie5, bulldin8 excellent workin8 relalK>n5hips wiihin the Airs team and the wlder partnershlp. Woodland sustalnab51ity, conservatlon and wildllle and underserved commun111￿ are recelvln8 support from the Alrs team io Sustsin thernselves and Introduce new woodland artivltles as well as creating 90sltlve ollaborations with conservatM)n 8roups and woodland ownefs. Volunteers are en8agln8 with nature. contributin8 to plotectiw rt and shann8 it wrth others. The breadth and depth ol these operations Show how woll we are embedded into the rurnl communlties of East and West Sussex. We continue to seek 501utions lor those rural communities. Small Company Exefflption5 Th15 feport Is p￿pared In accordance wlth the provlsions of the Companies Act 2006 relatin8 to srnall Companies. 9. DIK105ure of Inlormatlon to Audltors Each ol Ihe Iru51ee5 has cunlirmed t￿1 there15 no Infofmatlon ol whlch they are awafe whlch Is relevanl to the audii but of whlth the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken Sussex Rural Communlty Councll (Umlted by Guarantee) approprlate step5 to Identlfy such relevant Infomiation and to establlsh that the audltor Is aware of such Information. Approved by the Pthrd ol Tfustees on 10 September 2024 at)0 $18ned on thefrr behalf by: WIINam Ander50n, Chalr Sussex Rural Community Councll (Urnlted by Guaranteel Independent Audltorf Report to the Member5 Oplnlon We have audlted tho flnancial statements ol &tssex Rural Community cou￿4 lthe 'charitable comparf) tor the yeaf ended 31 March 2024 whith comprtse the statement ol finaficial activlties, the balance sheet. t 5taternent ol cash flow5 and note5 to the financlal statemenis, Includlng signllkant accounting Fdicies. The financ*1 reportini tramew(yk that has been appl￿ In thelr preparatson Is applicable law and Unlted Kingdom Accountin8 Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Finonclal Reportino Stondard oppllcoble In the UK ond Republk ol Irelcnd iuniied Xlngdom Generally Accepted Aecounti Practs(e). In Our oplnknn, the fin•ndal statements: g5ve a true and fall vlew of the state ol the charitsble COM￿nY.5 affair5 as al 31 March 2024 and of Its Incomln8 resources and appllcatlon ol resour￿. for the year then ended: have been Pfoperly prepared In •c￿rdanCe with Uniied KlnKdom Generally Accepted Accounttr Practlce; and have been prepared in Kcordance ￿th the requlrernenis of the Companies Act 21X)6. Oa515 lor oplnlon We conducted Lmff audit In accofdance wllh International Standards on Audltlng (UKI Its￿ IUK)) and lppllcable law. Our responslbllltles under those standard5 are further described In the Auditor5 responslbllltles for the audlf of the accounts sectlon ol our report. We are Independenl ol the charitable company In accordance wlth the ethlcal requlrement5 that are relevant to our audit of the accounts In the UK. including the FRC'S Ethlcal Standard, and we have tulfllled our other ethlcal responslbllitks In accofdance wlth ihese requlrement5. We belleve that the audlt evidence w* have obtained Is sufflclent and appropriate to provlde a basls for our op5nlon, Concluslons rnl•tln8 to 8oln£ corKern In audltln8 the Ilnancial ststements, we have concluded that ihe trustees use ol the Koing concern ba51s of accounlln8 In the prePar*￿n ol the financlal Statements 15 appfopfiate. Based on the Work we have performed, we have not Identffied any material uncertaintles relating to events or conditlons Ihat. Indivlduallv or collectively. may cast Significant doubt on the charStable company s abllity to continue as a goln8 concern for a period ol at leasl twelve months from when the financial statements aro authorlsed for Issue. Our re5ponsibllities and the resw>nstbillties of the mtstees wlth re5pett to aoin8 concern are described In the relevant sertions of thls report. Other Informatlon The trustees are responslble for the other Information. The other Irrforniatloft comprises the InlomatSon Included in tho annual report. olhef than the Ilnancial ststernents and our auditor's report thereon. Our oplnion on financial statements does r￿t cover the other Infonnatlon and. except to the extent *xherw15e e¥pllcitlv 5tJted in our report, we do not exwess any form of assuran￿ conduslon thereon, In connettion wlth otsr audit ot the Ilnancial statements. our responsibllltV15 to read the other inlorrnation and, In doln8 $0, consider whether the other Information 15 materially Incon5i5tent wlth the financial Statements or our krK>wIL•d8e obtained in the audlt or otherwise appears to be materlally mi55tated. If tentify such mater￿1 Inconwtenoes or apparent mater￿1 M￿stateMents. we are required to determlne Sussex Rural Communlty Councll (Umlted by Guarantee) whether the￿ Is a material m155tatement In the financial starements or 3 rnatefial misstatement of the other Information. If. based on the work we have perfomied. we COfKlude that there is a material m155tatement of this other Informallon. we are reqw.red io report thai facL We havé nolhln8 to report In th1$ regard. Oplnlons on other matters wescrlbed by the Cofflpanles Act 2C In our opinlon. based on the work undertaken in the course of Ouf audit: Ihe Information given In the tru5tees' feport lor the flnafKlal year for which the flnandal -. statements are prepared. whlch Incltsde5 rhe dlrettors, report prepared for the purposes ol companv law. is consistent with the fi'nancial slalement5' and the dlrectors, ￿port included wiihln the trustees, report has been prepared In accordan￿ with appllcable le8al requirements. Mattefs on whlch we we fequlred lo report by exceptlon In the118ht of the knowledge anfl under5tafMain8 of the charlty and its environment obEained In the course of the audii. we have not Identsfled Material misstatements In the th"rectors' fepon kncluded withln the tiustees, ieport. We have Th)thln8 to ferA7rt In respect of the foll¢)wlng matters In relatlon to whlch Ihe Companies Act 2006 requtres us to report lo youll. In our oplnlon: adequate accountin8 record5 have nol been kept, or retums adequate IOT our audit have not been recer¥ed from branches not v*sited by us. or the financial %tatrments are not In 4reemenl with ihe accounting records and return5; or certain disclosures of trustees, rernUner￿￿n specified by law are not made; Of we have not fecelved all the Information arKI explanations we require tor our audit: or the trustees were noi entltled to prepare the financlal stalements In accordance wlth the small companles re8lme and take advAnta6è of the small companles, exemptson5 In preparin8 the trustees. report and Irom the requirement 10 Prepare a strate8ic report. Responslbllllles of trustees As explalned moro lully in the statement of trustee5 responsiblllties, the trustees, who are also the diiectofs ol ihe charity forthe Purpose of company law, are rtsponsible forthe preparaiion of the financial statement5 and lor belng 53ti5fied that they 81ve a true and Falr vlew. and for such Internal control as the trustees determine Is necessary to enable the preparauon of flnancial staiements fhat are free from material mlsststement, whether due to fraud or efrof. In pfeparin8 the financl•l statements, rhe tn15tee5 are responslble for a55essln8 the charitable companrfs abllity to contlnue as a golw concern, d1x10y￿ a5 applicable. matter5 related to £oln8 concern and using the gryn8 concem ba515 of accountin8 unless the Iru5tee5 either Iniend io Ilquidate the charitable company or to cease operattons. or have no reali5tlc alternative l>uf to do so. Audlto*5 responslbllltles fof the audlt ol the ftn•nd•l statements Our obJectlVCs are to obtain reasonable assurance alxjul whether the financial statements as a whole are free from matefh71 misstatement. whether due to Iraud or error, and lo issue an auditor's report that Includes our oplnion. Reasonable assurance Is J hi8h level of assurance but Is not a guarantee that an audll conducted sn KCOTdance wlth ISA5 IUK) wlll alway5 detect a materlal misSt3temetit when It ex15t5. Misstatements can afise frorn fraud or error and afe con51dered rnaterial If. Indlvldually or In the a88regate. they could reasonably be expected to inftuence the ecommlc decislon5 of u5er5 taken on the basis ol these finaTrdJl statement5. 10 Sussex Rurnl Communlty Coundl (timlted by Guarantee) In Identlfying and assessing the risk ol matertal misSt3ternent In fespect ol lrre8ularities, Indudln8 fraud, we: obtalned an under5tandln8 of the nature of the sector. Includin8 the legal and re8ulaiory framework that the compary operaies in and how the charltsble cornpany complles wrth the legal and regulatory framework: Inquired of management, and those th&rBed with governance, about thelr own identificatlon and assessment of the [￿kS of Irre8ularitie5. Includi￿ any known actual. su5pe£ted Qf alle8ed Instances of dlscussed matters about non-compllance wlth law5 and regulatlons and how Iraud mi8ht occur indudin8 Ssessn￿nI ol and where the financlal statements may be Suscept1b￿ to fraud. A5 a result of these procedures we con5iderthe most signrficant laws and fe8ulalions thai have a direct Impact on the financial statements are FRS 102. Charities SORP IFAS 102). Companies Act 2006. Charitie5 Art 2011, the charitable company's 8overnin8 document, tax legislation and Charities (Protection and Social Inve5tmentl Act 2016. We performed Judlt Pfocedure5 to detect non Charitable actiwltie5: Operaiional programmes Ifwestments Totsi Page 14 48,749 48,749 62.498 Page 14 232.710 45 152.338 385,048 45 338 326,018 Expendlture on tharitsble artiVit￿5. Operaiional programm 47 18 Net Incoffle I expenditure) before other recosn15ed ièlfisl (Iosms) 17,321 17.848) 9.473 {30,7011 Oth•r recrynlsed galrfj and105se5: Actuarial valuation 8ains/ Ilosse51 19 203 Net mo¥•ment In funds LL84 Reconclllatlon of lunds.. Toial funds brought forward Total funds carfied lorwafd The note5 on pa8es 20 to 30 fomi an inte8fal part of these financlal statements. The statement of h'nanclal activities include5 all gains and losses reco8n15ed in the year, All Income and expenditure def ives from conttnuln8 activitie5. 13 Su55ex Rural Community Councll (Umlted by Guaranteel Year ended 31 ma￿ h 2024 2024 2023 Income Irorn dol￿tIOnS and legacies Grants Action with Communlties In Rural En8land (ACRE) 47,395 47,395 Donatlons Donatson5 Income frorn Charltable Activlties Income from operatlonal programmes Hou5in8 Hub Fees Vlllage Hall consultancy/Subscriptlon Sussex Communlty Development As%K. Nel8hbourhood Plannln8 124,840 27.892 77.635 113.314 29,750 97.729 Projert speclfic lundln8 Grants/Donatlons Local & Regional Government Aural Housin8 Enabling Lost W¢)ods Grant5 7.176 35.670 7.175 Total Incorne from operatlonal programm Totsl Income from donat5on5 and le8aaes 14 Su55ex Rural Communlty Councll Iurnlted by Guarantee) Year ended 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Expendlture on chafltsble xtlvltles Operatlonal programmes Inlormatton tochnology Event costs Prlrt post stationery Con5ultan(y Marketln8 and publlclty Small equiprnent CommunicaDon5 Travel, motoi. meetln8S oiher cos Salafies, 50clal 5ecurlty, penslons Staff reuulm*nt, tftlnln8 8nd 5UPPOrt Share of Support Costs 1,233 2,388 1,745 11.136 3.440 17 172 6,862 1,346 26 1,817 2,858 59 110.969 2,269 29.563 Support Costs Rent Power and l*ht Cornrnunicatlon$ Insurnr Inforrnatton iechnologv Repairs and malntenance Depreciatton Salaiies, Social securfity, penslons Other pension costs Staff recruitment, rrainiryd and support Inlomiatton technolo8V Advertlslrw and marketln8 Membefshlp fees Travel. motor. rneetsn85 Bank Charge5 Le831 and Prolesslonal Prlnt post Starionery SurKlries Irrecoverable VAT Less: Expnditure on operattonal pro8fammes 7.936 761 5.545 2,033 16,517 4.434 1,815 4,620 527 217 317,557 5,317 6,296 1,034 928 6,911 814 72 5.831 1.840 217 269.317 3,232 6,776 7,449 6,913 65 21,935 833 1656) 1.762 Fees 15 Su55ex Rural Community Councll Iumlted by Guarantee) Balance Sheet a5 at 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Notes Flxed Assets Tangible a55ets Investment 203 420 10 203 422 Current assets DebtOf5 Cash balances 11 50.796 72,209 1,705,774 1,757.956 UJbllltfe5 Creditors: amounts fallin8 Due In under one year 10 914 740 Net current assets Total assets les5 current Ilablli￿e5 1,6L¥).063 L594,638 Provlslons 19 Net assets The funds of the charlty Unrestricted funds General funds Desl8nated fvnds Pension Reserve 353,665 1,208,000 548 1.558,117 340.392 L208,OCWJ L9 I,S40,796 Restricted fund5 16 46 Total charlty fvnds L6 Sussex RuTrl Communlty Councll (Urnlted by Guarantee) These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 10 September 2024 and sl8ned on its behalf by.. Wllllam Anderson Chalf John MoorfrBlck Trustee 17 Sussex Rurnl Communlty Councll (Urnlted by Guaranteel Cash Flow Ststement For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes 2024 2023 Cash Ilows from operatlng athvities 21 (76.1071 1138,241) Cash flows from InvestSn8 actlvlties: Dlvldends and Interest from Investment5 Net (ash provlded by Investment actlvltles 24 Chan8e In Cash balances In the reportln8 pefkKI 130.769) 1113.380) Cash balances at the be￿nnIng of the reportln8 perlod 74 C•sh balances at the end ol the reportlna perlod 18 Sussex Rural Cornmunlty Council (Umlted by Guarantee) Notes to the Flnanclal Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 l. Accounting polide5 Basis of preparln8 the flnanclal statements The hnancial statements have been prepared In accordance wlth the charlty's 8overnln8 document, the Companies Aci 2CI)6. FRS 102 "The Flnancial Reporting Standard appllcable In the UK and Republic ol Ireland- f-FR5 102") and the Charittes SORP "Accountin8 and Repofttn8 by Charlties: Statement of Recommended Practsce appllcable to charitres preparing their accounts In accofdance with the Financial Reporting Standard appllc3ble in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102)" (effettlve l January 2019). The charlty15 a PublK Benefit Entity as delined by FRS 102. The linanclal 5tstements are prepared in sterlin& which Is the functfonal currency ol the charity. Monetsry amounts In these financial statements are rounded to the nearesi £. Grpup financial ststements The Company Is exempt from the requ1￿Ment to prepare consolidated financlal Statements by vlrtue of serti'on 398 of ihe Companies Act 2006 as the 8roup it heads quallfies as a small 8roup. These ftnancial statements therefore present Information about the company as an Indlvldual undertaklng and noi at￿ul It5 group. Preparatfon of the accounts on a 8oln8 concern basls The company ￿ dependent on the continued support of grant aldlng bodles. The trustees belleve that the company wlll continue to recelve this 5UPPOrt and. takinE Into accounts I cash reserves, consider that it Is appn)priate io prepare the financ￿1 statements on the 8oln8 concern basts. L4 comln8 resources All Incomin8 resoufces are Included In the Statemeni ol Financlal Activitles when: the charity Is legally entstled to the fund5; - any performance conditrons attached to the income have been met or are fully wlthin the control of the charlty; there Is Sufficlent certainty that recelpl at the income Is considered probable; - the amount can be reliably measured. l)onatlons •nd lepcl•s Grants and donations are recognised a5 Incomin8 resources In the yeaf In whlth they are recelvable, except as follow5: When donr the year ts stated after charyln8: 2024 2023 Oepreciatlon of tangible asset5 Audit Costs 217 318 Trustee< effloluments and relmbursed expenses The trustees recelved no remuneration during the year12023- £Nil) The a88re8ated am¢)unt relmbur5ed to trustees during the year was £Nil (2023 - £283) Staff costs and numbef5 2024 2023 Staff costs Saldrie5, soclal securlty and pensk>n costs Other penyon costs 380.286 347,120 No employee earned more than £60,C<)O durin8 the year (2023 - nll). 22 Sussex ftural Communlty Counul (Umlted by Gu3fantse Notes to the Flnanclal Statements For the year ended 31 Marth 2024 The key management personnel of the charity comprlse the Trustees and the Mana8ement Team. The total employee costs of the key management personnel of the charity were £123,27412023 - £107,(llJ). Staff Numbers The average number of employee5 (Includln8 casual and part time Stsff ) durlng the year was made up as follows: 2024 Number 2023 Numbec Support loperatK)nal pro8rammes Peftslon costs The company operates a defined contrlbutlon ptnslon scheme In respect ol Its employee5. The scheme and its assets are held by Independent mana8eT5. The penslon charge represents contr5butions due Ifom the compary and amounted io £NII12023 - £1,353). Corporatlon taxation The company Is exempt from tax on Income and 8aln5 fallin8 Within sectlon 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxatlon of Chargeable Gains Att 1992 to the extent that these are applled to its charitable objects. 9. Flxed Assets -tsnglble assets Furnlture Fixtures Equlpment Cost l Aprll 2023 Additions 31 March 2024 8,341 8.341 Depreclatlon l Aprll 2023 Char8e for year 31 March 2024 Net book values 31 March 2024 7,921 217 7.921 31 March 2023 23 Sussex Rurnl Communlty Councll Iumlted by Guarantee) Notes to the Flnanclal Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 10. Fixed Asset Investments Subsidlarv Undertakin8S Total Shares Cost l April 2023 Less written off in year 31 March 2024 Nll ' Net book values 31 March 2024 31 March 2023 The compary owned all of the Issued Sha￿ capltal of SRCC (Trading) Llmlted, a companv re8lstered In En8land and Wales, number 03101724. whlch was dlssolved on 26 September 2023. Druv Homes Limited. registered on 26 May 2023, is a Re8isiefed Society under the Co operative and Communlty 8eneht Socletses Act 2014, Re8i5tration number 9082. Th15 or8ani53tion is deemed a subsidiary ol Sussex Rural Community Councll. Druv Homes Umlted has not iraded since bein8 registered and has not yet Issued any share5. 11. Debtors 2024 2023 Trade debtors Other debtors Prepayments Accrued Income 10,785 309 1,202 59.716 1,017 1,062 24 Su55ex Rurnl CommunSty Councll (Llrnited by Guarantee) Notss to the Flnanclal Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 11 Creditors: arnounts fallln8 due wlthln one year 2024 2023 Trade credltor5 Other taxatron and social securtty Other credilors Accruals Delerred Income INote13) 363 10.722 6,866 16.130 71 8.532 7,870 5.043 18,795 13. Delerred Income 8alance at l April 2023 123,5(YJ Amount released to incoming fesources Amount deferred In the yeaf Balance at 31 March 2024 (93,667) Deferred Income relates to 8rants and other income received In advance. 14. Umlted by iuardfttee Sussex Rural Comrnunlty Councll Is a prlvate company, limlted by guarantee, reg1ste￿￿ In England and Wale5 Wlthout a share capital. Each member guarantee5 to contribute £1 to the company in the evcnt of Its windln8 up. At 31 March 2024 there were 71 membets. 25 Sussex Rural Community Counul (Umlted by Guarantee) Notes to the Flnanclal Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 Unrestrlcted fvnds Brought Incomln8 Outgolns Penslon lorward resources resources Carrled Iofward Deslgnated funds: Development Fund 5311,984 Relocation Fund 500.(K)O Sussex Community Housing Hub 92,016 rT Rolling Replacement Fund 18,C*XI Reuultrneni Fund 534,984 500,IXK) 92,016 18.(XX) Total desl8nated fund 1,208.IXIO 1,208,LX General fund 340.392 326,797 (309,476) 14,048) 353.665 Pension scheme deficlt 48 16. Restrirted fvnds 8rou8ht Incomln8 Out8oln8 Carrled lorward iesources resources forward Lost Woods Rural Housln8 Enablln8 Vlllage Ha115 44.246 109,492 (118,120) 35,618 35.670 (34.890) 76 The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported our Lost Woo(Is pro8ramme to Introduce communlhes to woodland wildllfe and con5ervatlon projert& DEFRA have fundecl our Rural Housln8 Enablin8 pro8ramme to help deliver rural affordable hou51ng schemes. Mld Sussex Voluntary Action have conrinued to support our Vlllage Ha115 Service 26 Sussex Rurnl Community Coundl (Umlted by Guarantee) Notes to the Flnanclal Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 17. Analysls of net assets between funds General DeslgnatÈd Re5trlcted Funds funds funds Tot•1 Fund balances at 31 Marth 2024 are represented by: Tan8lble fixed a55ets Net current asse Penslon Reserve 203 353.462 1,208,000 48 203 38,398 1,599.860 Flnanclal commltrnents At 31 March 2024 the company had total future commitments under non*cancellable operatlng leases as follows: 2024 2023 Due: Wlthln one year Over one year The non cancellable opefatin8 lease Is In relation to rental of the offices occupled by the company 27 sussex Rural Community Councll (Urnlted by Guarantee) Note5 to the Flnancial Ststements For the year ended 31 March 2024 Penslon stheme The company Is a particlpatin8 employer In the Growth Plan operated by the Penslons Trust to provide pension beneh'15 for members of staff. The company participates In the scheme, a multi- employer scheme which provides benefit5 lo sorne 638 noft-associated participanng employers. The scheme is a deh'ned benefit scheme In the UK. It is not powble fof the company to obtain sufficlerrt Infomiatson io enable It to account Ipr the scheme a5 0 deftned benefit scheme, Therefore rt accounts for the 5theme as a defined contributson scheme. The scheme ts Subjert to the lurHlin8 le815lat￿n outlined In the Pensions Act 2004 whlch came into forre on 30 December 2CK)5. Th15, together with documents issued by the Penslons Regulator and Technical Actuarial Stsndards Issued by the Financlal Reportlng Council. set out the framÉwofk for fundln8 detined benefit occupatK)nal pension Khemes In the UK. The stheme Is ck55ified a5 a last.min standing arran8emeni'. Theretore the company Is potentlallv Ilable for other partldpatln8 employers, obli8Jdons11 those ernployers are Ur￿ble to rneei their share of the scherne deficlt following wrthdrawal from the scheme. Parncipat5n8 employer5 are le8alty requlred to meet thelr share ol the Scheme deficit on an annuity purchase basis on wlthdrawal Irorn the 5cherne. A fvll acluarlal valuollon for the scheme wa5 carried out at 30 Sepiernber 2020. Thls valuatknn showed assets of £800,3m, Ilabllitle5 01 E831.9m and a deficit of £31.6rn. To ellmlnate this fundlng shortfall, rhe Trustee has asked rhe partlcipatin8 employers to pay addittonal contrlbutlon5 to the scheme as follows.. Unless a concesslon has beert a8reed wlth Ihe Trustee the term to 31 January 2025 applles. Note that the scheme's prevlous v3luatlon was carrled out wlth an effectlve date of 30 Septernbef 2017, Thls valuation showed assets of £794.9rn. Ilabilllie5 of £926.4m and a deficit ol £L31.Sm, To ellminate this fundir6 shortlall, the Trustee asked the partlcipating employers to pay addltlonal contributlons to the xheme as follows.. The rLxovery plan contrlbuttons are allocated to each partlcipattng employer in Ilne with thelr e5tlmated share of the Series l arKI Series 2 stheme liablllt6es. Where the scheme ts In deflclt and whefe the compaty has agreed to a deficlt fundln8 arrnngement the cornpany recognises a liability for this obll8atlon. The amount recognised is the nei prosent value ol the Ilelicit reducti'on contriburions payable under the a8reement that relates to the deficlt. The pr￿ent value Is calculated usln8 the d15count rate detalled In these di5clo$ures. The unwlndlng ol the discount rate Is reco8nised as a ftnance cost 28 Sussex Rural Community Council Iumlted by Guarantee) Notes to the Flnancial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 PRESENT VALUES OF PROVISION RECONCILIATION OF OPENING ANO CLOSING PROVISIONS Perlod Endln8 31 Maich 2021 Pefl¢d Endl JI March 2013 It start ol pefknd 7.5% IL915 iknwlndirf Ot thé dlKount f•rt4y •MP•ffj•l 225 14.3411 14J411 ftern••sweffWnts. 4WCt ol Any In A59umplkn• (2031 Pro4iihyJ at ead ol pernd 7596 20. Related party tran￿ctIonS During the yeaf the charity pald £8,118 on pre Incorporatlon expenditure relatrn8 to Druv Home5 Ltd (2023 - £10,380), These amounts are not reimbursable. 2L Reconclllat5on ol net Incorne lexpendlture) to net cashflow from operatlng acti￿￿e$ 2024 2023 Net Income (expendlture) for the ￿portIn8 period (as per the statement of Ilnanclal actlvrtles) Depreciation Olvldends and Interest (Inuease) decrease In debtors (Decrease) increase In provasioTrs (Decrease) Increase In credltOf5 Net cash oufflow from operatsng artlvttte5 9,473 {30,498) 217 145,338) 21,415 (4.0481 218 {24,861) 4.429 14,319) 29