GOSS CROFT COMMUNITY HALL Chairman’s Report To AGM Jan 2024
Firstly, a big thanks to all the Trustees for their invaluable voluntary contribution to the managing of the Hall and facilities. This year we welcomed Emma Sorrel as the new Seagry PC representative Emma’s youthful input is already proving very beneficial.
A special thanks again to our team of ground works volunteers who, after some eleven years continue to maintain our facilities almost every Tuesday morning come rain or shine. Their caring work is invaluable to the external maintenance and image of our Hall. This last year we invested in a ‘ride-on’ mower with a heavy wide roller attachment to both make mowing easier and quicker as well as smoothing the lawns to further advance the image of our hall.
The ups and downs of 2023
The year started off still suffering from the effects of covid in terms of low bookings but rallied somewhat particularly from increased wedding events but nevertheless is currently still lower than we need. Consequently, a small operating loss was still experienced despite applying an increase in our general fees for the first time in eleven Years.
During the year we considered the option of installing Solar Panels to mitigate high commercial energy costs but was thwarted by practical difficulties especially in physically installing a necessary smart meter. However, our Treasurer Brian Zehetmayr was subsequently successful in negotiating with Power Company to achieve much lower electricity prices than had been expected somewhat negating the pressure for solar panels although we shall continue to consider those as and if practical.
Brian also organised a very successful event involving the White Horse Operatic Society. Something I am pleased to say will be repeated this coming year as part of our desire to encourage social events.
In October, we were one of three halls invited by Community First to have a free professional review of our Health and Safety procedures and activities to help then formulate a general guidance to all their registered halls. In general, we were praised for much of our activities, but the report has proposed some recommendations to us regarding some control procedures. It has emphasised that we lack a dedicated H&S Officer. We are therefore appealing for someone to join us in this capacity, especially if you have prior experience with this then we would be delighted to hear from you.
Building maintenance and other equipment has seen a significant rise, which was expected around this time after some eleven years of smooth running. This was financially planned for as also expected increasing ongoing maintenance needs as the facilities show more of its age.
A highlight was an unexpected and very generous donation that has allowed us to invest in a new AudioVisual system that is much more suited to the Hall needs than the original. The latter had proved to be very difficult for occasional hirers to use, having proved to not be a suitable installation for such a venue as ours proved much more designed for domestic use.
The new system is designed for purpose in much simpler to use and demonstrate, with better output of sound distribution and brighter projection. It also embodies simple ‘Bluetooth’ connectivity for sound and especially music controlled from personal devises.
Our plans for 2024: a year of uncertainty
Historically, a weakness of the hall has been difficulty in attracting more occupancy despite our facilities always receiving critical acclaim. In the main we have been relaxed about that as annual bookings have been sufficient for financial viability and operational needs within our existing manpower levels. However, post covid bookings have not fully been restored so late last year we started exploring ways and means for better promotion and action on is now a principal for the Trustees priority.
We do believe the hall gives the three villages a wonderful facility for community events yet we see few of them so we will be looking into how they might be encouraged. They are of course a great way to bring communities together.
Unfortunately, there is something of concern hanging over village halls at this time.
The Government have announced that they are seeking to pass a new law popularly referred to as ‘MARTYN’S LAW’ (named after a boy who lost his life in the Manchester Arena bombing) If enacted as it stands, all public access premises and areas, will be required to risk assess how best to cope and produce a plan in the event of a terror attack to protect those present as much as possible.
Particularly affecting us, is that premises having a max capacity of over 100 (such as most village
halls) must have someone competent trained and responsible to implement the plan in the event of
an attack, regardless of numbers present.
It is not about the risk of such an attack or preventing one but how best to manage in the event of it.
The requirement of having someone or persons trained present on site at every event can be arranged by the premises owner or the individual event organiser. If the latter, then their own Liability insurance is likely expected to be required.
Currently there is a lot of concerns, over the possible impact of such a law with many village halls have already raised lobbied their concerns at a high level of the negative impact expected on bookings, and recruitment of volunteers to accept yet more responsibility, unfortunately the response so far is that the Government “are not backing down”.
Such a law will be relatively easy to apply to commercial businesses who have permanent paid staff present, but Village Halls are different as the facility is managed by volunteers and where the events are run by independent individual hirers.
Is this a treat to Goss Croft Hall? I believe it is as we currently have a very low tolerance to a further negative influence on our occupancy levels in particular.
Currently the government are apparently putting the proposal to parliament in the spring followed by 8 weeks of consultation. We shall of course, continue to press forward with our aims and ambitions while we await the outcome.
Ian Blackmore
Chairman, GCVH
Goss Croft Community Village Hall Income and expenditure for the year ended 31st October 2023
Goss Croft Community Hall Balance Sheet 31 October 2023
| Fixed Assets Current Assets Other Debtors Cash at bank Creditors Net Current Assets Total Assets Represented by Balance brought forward Net total deficit for year Balance carried forward |
2023 ₤ 594,619 71,187 4,482 75,669 -1,314 74,355 668,974 669,290 -317 668,973 -1 |
2022 ₤ 587,389 50,861 32,804 |
|---|---|---|
| 83,665 | ||
| -1,763 81,902 |
||
| 669,291 | ||
| 672,791 -3,501 669,290 |
||
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Goss Croft Community Village Hall Income and expenditure for the year ended 31st October 2023
Goss Croft Community Hall Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31 October 2023
| Income Hire of Hall Events Ofgem Interest Donation / grants Other income total Expenditure Utilities Maintenance Furniture Electric & Water Contractors Sundry Depreciation Capital Expenditure Administration & Insurance total Net (Deficit) surplus to reserves |
2023 ₤ 18,567 940 457 678 5,012 439 26,093 2,000 4,417 - 6,138 7,813 2,017 1,635 0 2,390 26,410 -317 |
2022 ₤ 15998 451 545 10 2675 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 19679 | ||
| 926 3,243 - 2,495 8,772 713 1,817 3,000 2,214 |
||
| 23,180 | ||
| -3,501 |
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Goss Croft Community Village Hall Income and expenditure for the year ended 31st October 2023
Tangible Fixed Assets
| Tangible Fixed Assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cost or Valuation Additions 2023 Depreciation At 1st November 2022 Charge for the year At 31st October 2023 Net Book Value At 31st October 2023 At 31st October 2022 At 1stNovember 2022 At 31stOctober 2023 |
Hall ₤ at cost 571,040 571,040 - - |
Furniture Total & Fixtures ₤ ₤ at cost 30,763 601,803 8,866 8,866 |
| 39,629 610,669 |
||
| 14,415 14,415 1,635 1,635 |
||
| 16,050 16,050 |
||
| 23,579 594,619 |
||
| 16,349 587,388 |
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Example 4.2: examiner’s unqualified report (for a non-company charity preparing receipts and payments accounts) with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Goss Croft Community Hall
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Goss Croft Community Hall Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 October 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity 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 the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed:
Name: Michael Barber
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of England and Wales
Address: 4 The Courtyard, Upper Seagry, Wiltshire. SN15 5JZ.
Date: 10 September 2024