Governing Council Report- 2022/23
Charitable Objectives
Monthly work parties along the Dudley No2 canal continued using our workboats Hawne and Stratford. In addition to the regular work parties, rescue operations for stranded boats took place as the need arose. Approximately 330 hours of work was carried out, by a regular group of volunteers. Much effort was expended on the removal of large quantities of tyres which were found to be regularly dumped in the canal. A great deal of time was also spent upon the removal of logs left by contractors after tree felling operations, which too found their way into the canal; thus impeding navigation. Restoration work on our dredger, Stoat, has made good steady progress, at its monthly work parties, and in the coming year it is envisaged that restoration of the hydraulic systems will be undertaken. Plans are at an advanced stage for our Heritage Boats Atlas and Malus, along with a large contingent of other boats from Coombeswood Canal Trust, to be present at a large rally in August in central Birmingham, supporting the Inland Waterways Association’s (IWA) campaign for more Government funding for the waterways
The Trading Company continued to perform well and has been able to covenant further funds towards our charitable objectives.
Provision of safe moorings and services at Hawne Basin continues to promote boat movements along the Dudley No2 Canal. We have had an increasing number of visiting boats, approximately 170 of whom stayed overnight, many of these return.
Community Outreach
We have been able to restart our Community Outreach programme this year. In June we welcomed 60 students from Olive Hill Primary School over a two day period. On each day the children undertook a wide variety of activities including, as a highlight, a trip on our workboat Hawne. Subsequently a number of the parents expressed an interest in attending our forthcoming Open Weekend.
With regard to the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, discussions are ongoing with a view to attracting a suitably qualified Youth Worker to assist with this endeavour. A meeting at Dormston Secondary School was also held with the aim of developing plans in this regard. In addition we have committed Trust funds to ensure continuity of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme
Discussions have started with representatives of the Coombeswood Green Wedge project to examine the possibility of reinstating the old boat dock of Stewarts and Lloyds Tube Works, and the erection of signage and artwork explaining the history of this area.
We are continuing our partnership with Halesowen in Bloom. The Trust’s two planters featured prominently in the Britain in Bloom competition, and undoubtedly contributed to the success of Halesowen in winning their section of the competition. These two planters in the shape of canal boats continue to be maintained by members of the Trust and the local community.
Heritage Boats
Our partnership with the Birmingham Canal Navigation Society (BCNS) to operate the Heritage boats Atlas and Malus continues. Both Atlas and Malus attended the Black
Country Boating Festival in Sept 2022 and Atlas went on to the Stourbridge Festival in October and then to the BCNS November celebrations. It is planned that Atlas and Malus will be taken to a number of boating festivals during the summer season 2023.
Dudley No 2 Canal restoration
During the course of the year the Trust re-committed itself to adopting the length of canal from Windmill End to Hawne Basin. The certificate to this effect is displayed in the Cabin.
A meeting has taken place between representatives of Coombeswood Canal Trust and a representative of Canal and River Trust examining the possibility of extending the navigation beyond the present closed off section (the Stank). The project would involve significant expenditure of Trust funds, in conjunction with other funding bodies. In the long term it is hoped to be able to promote restoration of the canal into Leasowes Park (a site of Special Scientific Interest and listed as Grade 1 on the English Heritage list of historic parks). In this respect the Trust is also attending meetings of the Leasowes Green Gateway Project, which is supportive of canal restoration through the park. Further discussions are ongoing.
Two years ago the Trust voted to support Halesowen Abbey Trust in its quest to refurbish Coombs Bridge (across the canal near to our Basin). After discussions, the Trust offered to “match fund” the project with Dudley MBC. Dudley MBC have appointed a contractor and permission from Canal and River Trust is awaited.
Volunteering
The volunteer scheme continues to be a success. In addition to the volunteer hours spent on maintaining the Dudley No2 canal (mentioned earlier) approximately 3,200 hours have been contributed during the course of the year. This included community engagement, maintenance and other activities around the Basin, and provision of catering for both members and outside organisations.
A great deal of work, involving many volunteers, took place to prepare for our first Open Weekend in 4 years. This was to take place on 2[nd] and 3[rd] of September 2023, and would be the first time since the lifting of lockdown restrictions that we would be able to admit large numbers of the public to the Basin.
The Cabin continues to be used by outside groups, more such groups having started to use the facility during the year. The pool/ table-tennis, and Northamptonshire Skittles table (as mentioned in Tom Rolt’s book “Narrow Boat”) have proved to be very popular.
The Bar and Kitchen have recovered well following the restrictions of the pandemic, and thanks go to the stalwart volunteers who have made this possible.
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
for
Coombeswood Canal Trust
Coombeswood Canal Trust
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Income Statement | 1 |
| Balance Sheet | 2 |
| Report of the Accountants | 4 |
| Detailed Income and Expenditure Account | 5 |
| Detailed Balance Sheet | 6 |
Coombeswood Canal Trust
Income Statement
for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| TURNOVER Other income Cost of raw materials and consumables Staff costs Other charges Taxation SURPLUS |
31.7.23 £ 91,612 310 (686) (21,380) (58,769) - 11,087 |
31.7.22 £ 93,371 9 (50) (19,752) (43,685) - 29,893 |
|---|---|---|
Page 1
Coombeswood Canal Trust (Registered number: 04181961)
Balance Sheet
31 July 2023
| FIXED ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES RESERVES |
31.7.23 £ £ 384,897 286,981 (9,996) 276,985 661,882 661,882 |
31.7.22 £ £ 384,897 268,325 (2,427) 265,898 650,795 650,795 |
31.7.22 £ £ 384,897 268,325 (2,427) 265,898 650,795 650,795 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 650,795 | |||
| 650,795 |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- STATUTORY INFORMATION
Coombeswood Canal Trust is a private company, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address are as below:
Registered number: 04181961 Registered office: Hawne Basin Hereward Rise Halesowen West Midlands B62 8AW
2. AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
The average number of employees during the year was 2 (2022 - 2).
Page 2
continued...
Coombeswood Canal Trust (Registered number: 04181961)
Balance Sheet - continued
31 July 2023
The company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2023.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:
-
(a) ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which 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 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 company.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 9 December 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:
D C OWEN - Director
Page 3
Coombeswood Canal Trust
Report of the Accountants to the Directors of Coombeswood Canal Trust
As described on the Balance Sheet you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2023 set out on pages one to three and you consider that the company is exempt from an audit.
In accordance with your instructions, we have compiled these unaudited financial statements in order to assist you to fulfil your statutory responsibilities, from the accounting records and information and explanations supplied to us.
Groundbreakers Ltd Shop 1 @ 83 High Street Kinver Stourbridge West Midlands DY7 6HD
9 December 2023
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 4
Coombeswood Canal Trust
Detailed Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
| Turnover Charitable covenants Other donations Hardstanding Mooring fees Membership fees Electricity Cost of sales Open weekend expenditure Youth project expenditure GROSS SURPLUS Other income Deposit account interest Expenditure Rent and rates Licences and insurances Electricity Gas Site services and cleaning Wages and national insurance Pensions Telephone and internet Office running expenses Publicity expenses Other repairs and maintenance Workboat expenses Sundry expenses Accountancy Legal and professional fees Finance costs Bank charges NET SURPLUS |
31.7.23 £ 32,617 499 534 51,719 3,094 3,149 86 600 12,514 2,877 18,309 2,999 5,481 21,191 189 1,130 1,615 546 5,903 880 491 800 4,521 |
£ 91,612 686 90,926 310 91,236 79,446 11,790 703 11,087 |
31.7.22 £ 38,314 979 620 49,814 1,265 2,379 - 50 12,920 2,962 10,702 1,408 5,018 19,531 221 1,109 873 - 2,155 350 208 700 4,700 |
£ 93,371 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93,321 9 |
||||
| 93,330 62,857 |
||||
| 30,473 580 |
||||
| 29,893 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 5
Coombeswood Canal Trust
| Detailed Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31 July 2023 FIXED ASSETS Freehold property Plant and machinery Computer equipment CURRENT ASSETS Trade debtors Amount owed by CCC Ltd Amount owed by HBSC Ltd Shares in group undertakings Listed investments Bank deposit account Bank current account Bank current account CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year Trade creditors Accrued expenses NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS RESERVES Membership reserve Revaluation reserve Income and expenditure account |
31.7.23 £ 176,000 208,000 897 384,897 7,518 87,890 8,901 1 326 59,258 97,660 25,427 286,981 (9,246) (750) (9,996) 276,985 661,882 661,882 278,637 35,706 347,539 661,882 |
31.7.22 £ 176,000 208,000 897 384,897 - 64,501 9,674 1 326 60,265 104,406 29,152 268,325 (1,727) (700) (2,427) 265,898 650,795 650,795 278,637 35,706 336,452 650,795 |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 6
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