## **2021 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLLETT PARK CHARITY, SHEPTON MALLET**
## **HISTORY AND AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY**
The beautiful park was gifted to the people of Shepton Mallet, by a local resident, John Kyte Collett in 1906. It is believed that as a boy, playing locally, he was told off for playing in the fields that were in private ownership. It is understood that he vowed to ensure that there would be public space in which people could play and enjoy. Over time he purchased several lots of land, and gifted them to the town, and they became what is now known as Collett Park. A charity was established to ensure that the park is protected and maintained for the future of the residents on the town.
The charitable objective that binds Shepton Mallet Town Council, as the sole trustee of the charity, specifically requires that the Council provides and maintains a recreation ground for the benefit of the local inhabitants of Shepton Mallet without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, with the object of improving the condition of life for the said inhabitants. The Trust relies heavily on Shepton Mallet Town Council for an annual grant to allow the park to undergo repair and maintenance. An income is now being received in rent from the lease to the Collett Park Café.
In celebration of his life and his gift to the town, an annual Festival is held on the second weekend of June. The Festival is an event managed and supported by the Town Council.
Collett Park continues to be a great source of pride and enjoyment to the community.
## **MAINTENANCE TO THE PARK INFRASTRUCTURE**
The day to day management of the park by the Town Council office is significant. Improvements to the park are hampered to some extent by low level anti-social behaviour and acts of vandalism, but this is not unique to Shepton Mallet and the long, medium and short term plans continue to progress. During the height of the pandemic there were a number of issues involving anti-vax messages being chalked onto paths and stickers being placed on notices around the park.
Owing to adverse weather conditions, the pond didn’t undergo its annual clearance of the detritus that unavoidably collects and builds up in the water. This has been scheduled in for January 2022; the extracted material is left on site to maximise the opportunity of invertibrates to return.
The park toilets continue to be a challenge in terms of their need for ongoing repairs. Minor adjustments have been made to the rails in the disabled toilet to aid users.
Tree surveys continue to be carried out bi-annually and indicate which trees appear healthy and which are in need of remedial works. In 2020, a number of Ash trees were removed owing to them suffering from Ash dieback disease.
The office continues to liaise with Idverde on a daily basis on the condition of the park and the play areas. Bi-monthly meetings with IDV and MDC, as the contract manager, form the basis for current and future maintenance needs.
It has been acknowledged that the play areas have become tired and dated. The Charity has been donated some funds from FReSH (£15,155) and the the former Shepton Mallet Community Recreational Trust (£32,000) to be spent on new play equipment.
The following items have been installed in Collett Park over the last 18 months:
- Four memorial benches;
- Three memorial trees;
- Water dispenser;
- Cycle rack.
## **GREEN FLAG**
Those familiar with the park will know that in 2018 it successfully achieved Green Flag status, part of a worldwide initiative, supported in the UK by the Keep Britain Tidy scheme. It is the only park in Mendip to hold this status. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 it successfully retained its status.
In order to achieve the status, the park and its managing body must achieve a number of objectives that include:
- Health and Safety
- A welcoming place
- Well maintained and clean
- Environmental management
- Biodiversity, landscape and heritage
- Community involvement
- Marketing and communication management
The flag pole underwent an inspection and any necessary minor repairs were made.
Following the commissioning of the recommended ecology report, some areas of grass in Collett Park have been left uncut in order to act as
wildlife corridors. It is also proposed to install some structures to improve wildlife habitats.
## **COLLETT FESTIVAL**
Owing to the pandemic, there was no event in 2020. For 2021, Collett Festival will again be held during the second weekend in June with details to be finalised in the New Year.
## **COMMUNITY USE**
The park continues to be regularly used by a variety of groups, including the Shepton Mallet Lantern Parade, Parkrun, Drifters Model Boat Club and Somerset County Council’s walkers’ group, and Cross Country running clubs.
The Collett Park Cafe continues to be open at weekends and during the school holidays.
The noticeboard at the Park Road entrance has been upgraded and is used for both Council and Community Group notices.
## **EVENTS**
Once lockdown restrictions had been eased in July 2021, the town council donated a sum of money to organisations to hold various free to attend events during the summer, the majority of which were held in Collett Park.
## **FUTURE ACTIVITY**
## **Environmental Improvements**
As part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee initiatives, it has been proposed to plant a copse in the top area of the football field, near to the Somerset Close allotments. There had been a donation of some historic gate posts and it is proposed that these are incorporated into the design of the copse.
**Collett Park Charity Current Year**
## **Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ended 31st March 2021**
31st March 2020 2,500 **2,500** 72 **72** 16,278 2,500 18,778 72 18,706 0 **18,706**
||31st March 2021|
|---|---|
|**Operating Income**||
|Administration|33,794|
|Total Income||
||**33,794**|
|||
|**Running Costs**||
|Administration|72|
|Total Expenditure||
||**72**|
|||
|**General Fund Analysis**
Opening Balance
Plus : Income for Year
Less : Expenditure for Year
Transfers TO / FROM Reserves
**Closing Balance**|18,706
33,794
0
52,500
72
52,428
**52,428**|
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Collett Park Charity
**On accounts for the year** 31[st] March 2021 **ended Set out on pages** 3
**Charity no** 1040673 **(if any)** (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2021.
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Signed: Date:** 21/05/2021 **Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** Auditing Solutions Ltd., Company Number 04357952 Clackerbrook Farm, 46 The Common, Bromham, WILTSHIRE SN15 2JJ www.auditingsolutions.co.uk
**October 2018**
**IER**
1
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
None
**October 2018**
**IER**
2