## **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** 1. **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 F￿fOX RW ot￿e AcLxyJnknts 51atern￿ for the endBd 31 Jkly 3)rJ 8et ¢x* rm lo three Hrrtl (XmldEr the comwy 1$ex￿lfI￿n an audft. der to ass￿1 you to fuM your stalut￿Y reW￿L￿1￿￿. frtm r￿d$ ar*J Grou￿breakerS Ltd 83 H￿￿ StPÉ8t K￿Ver Sl)urMdge W8St M￿L￿d5 DY7 6HD 6of8 2WllllQ23.