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2024-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04750979 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1110163

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 FOR

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

IBC Accountants

Suite 1, Unit C3, Knights Park Industrial Estate Knight Road Rochester Kent ME2 2LS

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Page
Report of the Trustees 1-4
Independent Examiner’s Report 5-6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8-9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10-16
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 17-18

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in 2011.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number 04750979 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number 1110163

Registered office

Brogdale Farm Office Brogdale Farm Brogdale Road Faversham Kent ME13 8XZ

Trustees

Ms T L Redfern (Nee Bennett) Dr L Davies Mr G K Robinson Mr I Tittley Ms C Edwards Mr R Moyse

Company Secretary

Dr L Davies

Independent examiner

A F Keeves IBC Accountants Suite 1, Unit C3, Knights Park Industrial Estate Knight Road Rochester Kent ME2 2LS

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charitable company is governed by its memorandum and articles of association.

Page 1

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Potential new trustees are sought by the chairman and other trustees. Selections are made with a view to ensuring that a broad spread of professional skills are available within the trustee team and that public, private and charitable institutions and recording bodies’ interests in the work of the records centre are represented.

The trustees retire by rotation based on who have been longest in the office since their last appointment or reappointment, but as between persons who became or were last reappointed trustees on the same day those to retire shall (unless they agree otherwise among themselves) be determined by lot.

If the charitable company at the meeting at which a trustee retires by rotation does not fill the vacancy the retiring trustee shall, if willing to act, be deemed to have been reappointed unless at the meeting it is resolved not to fill the vacancy or unless a resolution for the reappointment of the trustee is put to the meeting and lost.

Organisational structure

The Chief Executive, Hannah Cook, controls the day-to-day administration under the direction of the trustees.

Risk management

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate its exposure to risks.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The Company’s objects are

(1) through the collection and dissemination of records, data or information on the biology, ecology, geology or other aspects of the natural history of the county of Kent, to

(a) advance public education in the biology, ecology, geology and other aspects of the natural history of the county of Kent,

(b) advance public participation in, and public understanding and enjoyment of, the conservation of the natural environment and wildlife, and

(2) to promote, encourage, organise and carry on study and research for the advancement of knowledge in the natural sciences in Kent.

The mission of the charitable company is to encourage and support recording whilst at the same time making those records collected as widely available as possible.

In accordance with section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, the trustees have had due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission on the operation of the requirement that our charitable purpose is for the public benefit.

Page 2

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Review of activities and future developments

The figures for Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre have, in this financial year, continued to be positive. The income generated through our data request service increased on last year at £146,768 compared to £130,066 in 22/23 whilst income from grants and service level agreements increased from £25,028 in 2022/23 to £48,913 although this is more a factor of when the SLA payments arrive with us than any real drop in SLA provision. We have once again ended the financial year on a surplus of £46,420 meaning that our free funds currently stand at £344,161, up from £297,741 in 2022/23.

Our data holdings have continued to increase with the current total having this year reached more than 10 million individual entries, up from 9 million this time last year. Due in no small part to a large bird data update from Kent Ornithological Society combined with data provision from several ecological consultancies. We have taken on a new member of staff, part time, who, as part of her role, is assisting with the digitisation of paper data from members of the public. The Centre Staff collectively sit on several key management and working groups, to help steer delivery of both local and national schemes including the evolving Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the County and the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain Strategy (BNG).

Our local recording groups including Kent Bat Group, Kent Mammal Group, Kent Botanical Recording Group, Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group and Kent Ornithological Society continue to provide regular updates under data exchange agreements which involve us also sharing any relevant data with them. This, to us, is a vital process as we strongly believe that to provide a coordinated approach to species protection and conservation in the County, both we and the specialist groups must be working from the same datasets.

Our projects officer and Recording officer both, continue to work remotely and this has proven to be a very effective way of working and we expect that to continue in the future. The Chief Executive and the administrative assistant (the latter on a 2 day per week contract) still work primarily from the office, but it is now possible for all staff to work remotely at any time.

In the new financial year, we intend to create a new Recorder Forum to enable members of the local recording groups to come together in an informal environment, to chat and discuss their various projects and work plans. There has been very little opportunity for the groups to meet in recent years due to the demise of the Kent Biodiversity Forum, the Recording Group Advisory Committee and the lack of field meetings during Covid restrictions.

Data Services to Partner Organisations

KMBRC benefits from working with several partners, including the Environment Agency, Kent Wildlife Trust, Kent County Council, Southern Water, Dover District Council, Forestry England and Network Rail. These service level agreements, together with the income generated from our Data Search Service, enable us to continually improve our services, develop new reporting outputs to cope with the ever-changing needs of our end users and to ensure that we can continue to provide a free of charge service for education and research purposes.

Volunteering

We have continued to receive enquiries about volunteering opportunities over the past year and expect to be seeking volunteer support for future projects.

Page 3

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Press and Publicity

We continue to receive numerous requests from the media for help and advice on a variety of news topics and stories. A renewed interest in home grown produce is leading to more enquiries about natural pest repellants, composting and making gardens more friendly for wildlife. This year, the Asian Hornet has become a hot topic again, Kent tending to be one of the first ports of call for invasive species from the continent.

Website

The website continues to be a valuable source of information for our end users and we make the effort to ensure that the information held on both is up to date and relevant. The website has undergone a revamp in this past financial year too, with pages updated, enhanced and in places made less wordy to ensure that it provides a positive end user experience. Updates have also been made to reflect recent changes including a re-launch of the small grants scheme and links to some of our partnership working projects.

Reserves Policy and Risk Management

The trustees have reviewed the reserves of the charitable company and have established a policy under which the free reserves held should be between three and four months of resources expended, that is between £33,000 and £44,000. This provides working capital and would enable the charitable company to continue operations in the event of a significant drop in funding long enough to reduce or cease its activities in an orderly manner. On the 31st March 2024 the free funds amounted to £344,161 as compared to £297,741 on the same date in 2023. Trustees have resolved to determine the best uses of an appropriate proportion of these reserves to further our mission during 2024-25.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed and continue to monitor the steps KMBRC takes, to satisfy themselves that systems are in place to mitigate its exposure to risks. There have been no incidents relating to security of our property or systems in the financial year. This report has been prepared in accordance with the statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities (revised 2005) and in accordance with the special provisions contained in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

For and on behalf of the trustees Teresa Redfern (Nee Bennett)

Chairman Date

Page 4

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

Independent examiner's report For the year ended 31 March 2024

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre

I report on the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 18.

This report is made solely to the company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the company's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees, who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the company is not subject to audit under charity or company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Act;

.

state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the company and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Page 5

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

. To prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or

(2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached

Signed

Dated:

A.F. Keeves, IBC Accountants, Suite 1, Unit C3, Knights Park Industrial Estate, Knight Road, Rochester, Kent, ME2 2LS.

Page 6

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming resources from
Generated funds
Voluntary income
2
48913
-
Investment income
3
1660
-
Incoming resources from
Charitable activities
4
Records
146768
-
Other incoming resources
-
-
Total incoming resources
197341
-

RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable activities
5
Records
148921
-

Governance costs
7
2000
-
Total resources expended

150921
-

NET INCOMING
RESOURCES
46420
-

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
297741
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED
FORWARD
344161

2024 2023
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
48913 25028
1660
212
146768 130066
-
-
197341 155306
148921 145097
2000
1865
150921
146962
46420 8364
297741
289397
344161
297741

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 7

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2024

2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
11
1188
-
1188
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
12
72017
-
72017
Cash at bank
284226
-
284226
_
_
356243
-
356243
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due
within one year
13
13270
-
13270

_
NET CURRENT ASSETS
342973
-
342973
_

TOTAL ASSETS LESS
CURRENT LIABILITIES
344161
-
344161
__

__
NET ASSETS
344161
-
344161
FUNDS
15
Unrestricted funds
344161
-
344161

___
TOTAL FUNDS
344161
-
344161
2023
Total
funds
£
2
47138
259120
306258
8519
297739
297741
297741
297741
297741

Page 8

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

BALANCE SHEET – CONTINUED AT 31 MARCH 2024

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on and were signed on its behalf by:

Mrs T L Redfern - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act, the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (revised 2005), the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), and in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

Comparative figures are for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention.

Incoming resources

Investment income

Interest on bank deposits is taken into account on an accruals basis.

Donations

Donations are credited in the period in which they are received.

` Donated goods

Gifts of new goods are valued for purposes of the accounts at the cost to the donor, where this is known. Gifts of other goods are valued at the estimated current purchase price.

Grants

Grants are recognised when the conditions for receipt have been complied with.

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Governance costs

Governance costs are those associated with the governing of the charitable company not relating to fundraising, charitable activities or day to day management.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its estimated useful life.

Computer equipment

25% on cost

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Fixed assets costing less than £250 are not capitalised.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Page 10

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company contributes to various defined contribution pension schemes covering all of its employees. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the charitable company in independently administered funds. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charitable company to the funds.

2. VOLUNTARY INCOME

Donations
Kent County Council
UK HABS
Environment Agency
Kent Wildlife Trust
Natural England
DLA
SLA & Ins Project
3.
INVESTMENT INCOME
Deposit account interest
4.
INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Activity
Sales survey
Records
2024
£
2000
10000
9884
-
-
-
5000
22029
48913
2024
£
1660
2024
£
146768
2023
£
2044
10000
-
12647
(2107)
2444
-
-. 5
25028
2023
£
212
2023
£
130066

Page 11

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

Records - Year ended 31 March 2024
6.
SUPPORT COSTS
Staff
Property
£
£
Records
125584
12416
Support costs, included in the above are as follows:
Staff
Salaries
Social Security
Pensions
Miscellaneous expenses
Other staff costs
Travel and subsistence
Staff training
Property
Light and heat
Rent and service charges
Maintenance
Cleaning
Computer
£
7140
Other
£
3781
2024
£
113398
6812
4527
-
-
497
350
125584
2024
£
392
11865
159
-
12416
Support costs
(See note 6)
£
148921
Totals
£
148921
2023
£
103401
5990
4728
-
-
1323
20
115462
2023
£
952
17932
842
504
20230

Page 12

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6. SUPPORT COSTS – continued

Computer

Computer


Software licences

Other computer costs

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets


Other


Insurance

Telephone

Postage and stationery

General expenses (Book-keeping & Payroll)

Bank charges

Professional fees

Subscriptions

Miscellaneous


7.
GOVERNANCE COSTS


Accountancy

8.
NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES
Net resources are stated after charging:


Depreciation – owned assets
2024

£

6441

303

396

7140
2024
£

159

449

458

818

146

35

1011

705
3781

2024

£

2000

46420

2024

£

396
2023
£
3664
1550
318
5532
2023
£
229
1249
151
1031
182
35
996
-
3873
2023
£
1865
8344
2023
£
318

Page 13

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

9. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Trustees’ expenses

There were no trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.

10. STAFF COSTS


Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
2024
£
113398
6812
4527
124737
2023
£
103401
5990
4728
114119

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2024
Administration
3
There were no employees who received emoluments of £60,000 or more.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Office
Computer
Furniture
equipment
£
£
COST
At 1 April 2023 319
4912
Additions - 1582
Scrapped - -
Cost at 31 March 2024
319
6494
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2023
318
4911
Charge for year
-
396
Scrapped
-
-
Depreciation At 31 March 2024 318 5307
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2024
1
1187
At 31 March 2023
319
1
2024
3


Totals
£
5231
1582
-
6813
5229
396
-

5625
1188
320
2023
3


11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Page 14

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

12.
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024
£
Trade debtors
67927
Other debtors
4090
_
72017
13.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024
£
Trade creditors
337
VAT
10415
Pension scheme
433
Accrued expenses
2085
Sundry Creditors
-

13270
14.
OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
The following operating lease payments are committed to be paid within one year:
2024
£
Within one year
10300
___
10300
2023
£
40216
6922
47138
2023
£
349
5684
536
1950
-
8519
2023
£
11865
11865

Page 15

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net Transfers
movement between
At 1/4/23 in funds funds At 31/3/24
£ £
£ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 287241 46420 - 333611
Redundancy reserve 9500 -
-
9500
Fixed asset reserve fund 1000
-

-
1000
TOTAL FUNDS 297741 46420
-
344161
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 197341 150921
46420

TOTAL FUNDS

The redundancy reserve fund has been set up to identify those funds which would be required to meet the charitable company’s statutory redundancy obligations in the event of it ceasing operation.

The fixed asset reserve has been set up to assist in identifying those funds which are not free funds and represents the net book value of tangible fixed assets less the related loan finance.

16. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

None.

Page 16

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2024
£
INCOME RESOURCES
Voluntary income
Donations
2000
Kent County Council
10000
UK HABS
9884
Environment Agency
-
Kent Wildlife Trust
-
Natural England
-
DLA
5000
SLA & Ins Project
22029
48913
Investment income
Deposit account interest
1660
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Sales surveys
146768
Other incoming resources
Other
-
Total incoming resources
197341
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Governance costs
Accountancy
2000
Support costs
Staff
Salaries
113398
Social Security
6812
Pensions
4527
Miscellaneous expenses
-
Other staff costs
-
Travel and subsistence
497
Staff training
350
125584
2023
£
2044
10000
-
12647
(2107)
2444
-
-
25028
212
130066
-
155306
1865
103401
5990
4728
-
-
1323
20
115462

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 17

KENT & MEDWAY BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Property
Light and heat
Rent and service charges
Maintenance
Cleaning
Computer
Software licences
Other computer costs
Computer equipment
Computer equipment depreciation
Other
Insurance
Telephone
Postage and stationery
General expenses (Book Keeping & Payroll)
Bank charges
Professional fees
Subscriptions
Miscellaneous
Total resources expended

Net Income
20242023
£
£
392
952
11865 17932
159 842
-
504
12416 20230
6441 3664
303
1550
-
-
396 318
7140 5532
159 229
449 1249
458 151
818 1031
146 182
35 35
1011 996
705 -
3781
3873
150921 146962
46420 8344
20242023
£
£
392
952
11865 17932
159 842
-
504
12416 20230
6441 3664
303
1550
-
-
396 318
7140 5532
159 229
449 1249
458 151
818 1031
146 182
35 35
1011 996
705 -
3781
3873
150921 146962
46420 8344
8344

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 18