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2020-12-31-accounts

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd

(Registered Charity 1120494)

Trustees’ Report and Accounts 31 December 2020

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd 2020 Report and Accounts

Contents

Page

2

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2020

Legal and Administrative Details

Legal Status

Objects

The object of the Company is to provide a community bus and a community transport service, including private hire, for such of the inhabitants of East and West Sussex and the City of Brighton and Hove who are in need of such a service because of age, sickness or disability (mental or physical), or poverty, or because of a lack of availability of adequate and safe public passenger services.

Trustees/Directors Philip Montague Ayers Susan Olave de Angeli John Howard Bunce Stewart Colin Fuller Andrew John Cottingham Beryl Anne Smith

Principal Address

The Old Rectory Litlington Polegate East Sussex BN26 5RB

Bankers

Barclays Bank plc Co-operative Bank plc CCLA Fund Managers

Independent Examiner

Nigel Butten FCA

3

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd Annual Review for year ended 31 December 2020

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 December 2020.

Review of Activities

Cuckmere Buses is the trading name for Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd (CCB) and is run entirely by trained volunteers. It has been running for over 40 years supplementing existing bus services and providing bus links for village residents throughout the Cuckmere Valley area to their nearest towns for shopping, for appointments, or for social activities.

OUR VISION is being the Community Bus service of choice in our area, and OUR MISSION is providing a safe, reliable, and courteous local bus, serving those rural and urban communities in our part of East Sussex not served by commercial companies.

Based in Berwick, East Sussex, CCB has around 45 volunteer drivers and 10 additional volunteers who run its fleet of eight 16-seater low-floor mini-buses.

2020 was a difficult year owing to the coronavirus. We suspended operations from end March to early June during the initial lockdown period, when many of our drivers self-isolated. We made our buses covid-compliant and started slowly returning to service over the second half of the year with the aim of delivering all timetabled services by spring 2021. The number of passengers carried was limited per service to maintain social distancing, although many passengers were also isolating. Recovery of services and passengers was continuing towards the end of the year, until the company was further impacted by the second lockdown introduced in November. For the year, we ran some 67,600 (2019, 125,000) miles and catered for around 30,000 (2019, 81,000*) passenger journeys. There was no Private Hire after March and no bespoke services for the whole year. A number of drivers continued to refrain from driving at the end of the year owing to covid.

The charity took delivery of a new bus in February and one in December and sold one of its older vehicles all as part of a bus replacement programme. Apart from two remaining older buses, all vehicles were sprayed with the new corporate colours and logo. The website was also updated reflecting the new image.

CCB remains a busy voluntary organisation and always needs new volunteers. The recruitment programme scheduled for the year stalled owing to covid-19 but will now roll over to 2021.

The Charity operates efficiently to a high standard under the control of the Board of Directors/Trustees who met formally on four occasions during the year (three remotely). They reviewed operations of the company, its financial position, and the outlook for the future. Covid-19 implications were a continuing focus item. In addition, two Stakeholder meetings were held plus the AGM in July, all remotely. The usual annual social gathering was cancelled owing to the pandemic. Regular remote meetings were held with drivers to monitor resource availability, passenger levels and the services operated.

4

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd Annual Review (cont.) for year ended 31 December 2020

The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the charity commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

At the end of the year, advice was finally received from Department for Transport following their consultation about possible changes to the regulations governing the operation of Section 19 and 22 licences for not-for-profit community transport operators. This review followed an earlier challenge from the Bus and Coach Association. The advice means that we can continue operating as we have done in the past.

Financial Performance

The financial statements are included on pages 7 to 9.

Central and local government supported bus operators generally during the lockdown and subsequently by continuing to pay existing grants and concessionary travel support, both based on estimated levels agreed pre-covid. This, together with no salary nor related costs, and reduced maintenance costs owing to less mileage, has helped the charity maintain a viable operating financial position. A new coronavirus support grant was also introduced by the Department for Transport.

With a gross income of £176,946 (2019, £223,112) and expenditure of £177,008 (2019, £228,868), the year ended with a deficit of £62 (2019, deficit £5,756). Year-end net assets amounted to £231,552 (2019, £231,614) including cash at bank of £94,738 (2019, £163,444). The Charity operates a policy of holding cash reserves to meet projected cash outlays taking account of sourcing requirements for acquisitions under its bus replacement programme. Funds not required in the short term are held in an appropriate deposit account.

The Trustees have not identified any uninsured major risks to which the Charity is exposed.

Post Balance Sheet Date Activities

Extended covid-19 lockdown arrangements were introduced in January 2021 which will further impact the business. We anticipate central and local government will continue with their financial support.

Acknowledgements

As always, thanks go to our volunteer drivers, our regular passengers, to everybody involved in the day to day running of the organisation, and to Berwick Service Station for keeping the buses well maintained. Particular thanks also go to the individuals and local authorities who made donations to the Charity during a difficult year. Thank you all.

Beryl Smith - Chairman 29 March 2021

(* incorrectly shown as 85,000 last year)

5

Cuckmere Community Bus Independent Examiner’s Report

I report to the Board of Directors/Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd for the year ended 31 December 2020.

As the Trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe in any material respect:-

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.

NA Butten Independent Examiner 20 February 2021

6

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd Income & Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 2020

Notes
Income
Passenger Services
1
Grants & Donations
2
Private Hire & Special Events
Other income
Total Income
Expenditure
Servicing, Repairs & Cleaning
Depreciation
3
Licences & Insurance
Operations
Diesel (net of BSOG)
Administration
Total Expenditure
Deficit for the year
Opening reserves
Closing reserves(per Balance Sheet)		 £
2020
152,331
20,318
1,830
2,467
176,946
(52,446)
(45,577)
(29,604)
(28,688)
(5,924)
(14,769)
(177,008)
(62)
231,614
231,552		 2019
171,635
27,602
20,278
3,597
223,112
(76,281)
(54,766)
(30,778)
(28,795)
(22,251)
(15,997)
(228,868)
(5,756)
237,370
231,614

7

Cuckmere Community Bus Ltd Balance Sheet

at 31 December 2020

Notes
Tangible Fixed Assets
5
Current Assets
Debtors
6
Cash at Bank
7
Prepayments and Accrued Income
Total Current Assets
Creditors due within one year
Amounts falling due within one year
8
Accruals and deferred income
Unamortised grants for purchase of assets
4
Total Creditors
Net Current Assets
Total Assets less current liabilities
Creditors due after one year
8
Total Charity Funds		 £
2020
2019
326,044
201,808
27,788
11,036
94,738
163,444
122,526
174,480
2,944
14,461
125,470
188,941
(37,015)
(46,781)
(60,605)
(10,788)
(58,804)
(81,184)
(156,424)
(138,753)
(30,954)
50,188
295,090
251,996
(63,538)
(20,382)
231,552
231,614

a) for the year ending 31st December 2020, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477(2) of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the small companies

The Report and Accounts were approved by the Board on 29 March 2021

Beryl Smith Director

Stewart Fuller Director

8

Cuckmere Community Bus Funds Flow Statement

for year ended 31 December 2020

Notes
Deficit for the year
add back depreciation (net)
3
Cash from Trading
Net movement of fixed assets
Movement in Working Capital
Debtors
Prepayments
Creditors
Movement in Loans
Movement in Funds in the Year
Cash at Bank
Opening
Movement in Funds
Closing		 £
2020
2019
(62)
(5,756)
45,577
54,766
45,515
49,010
(192,193)
40,713
(16,752)
(6,775)
11,517
(4,794)
18,905
12,391
13,670
822
64,302
(30,851)
(68,706)
59,694
163,444
103,750
(68,706)
59,694
94,738
163,444		 £
2020
2019
(62)
(5,756)
45,577
54,766
45,515
49,010
(192,193)
40,713
(16,752)
(6,775)
11,517
(4,794)
18,905
12,391
13,670
822
64,302
(30,851)
(68,706)
59,694
163,444
103,750
(68,706)
59,694
94,738
163,444
59,694
103,750
59,694
163,444

9

Cuckmere Community Bus Notes to the Accounts for year ended 31 December 2020

1 Passengers Services
Concessionary Fares
Ticket Fares
Support from:
East Dean & Friston PC
ESCC/B&H
Hailsham Town Council
Polegate Town Council
2 Grants and Donations
Alfriston
Arlington
Berwick
Chalvington & Ripe
Cuckmere Valley
East Dean & Friston
Heathfield & Waldron
Herstmonceux
Long Man
Pevensey
Polegate
Seaford
Westham
Willingdon & Jevington
ESCC
Wealden District Council
Passenger donations
Other donations
3 Depreciation
Charge in year
less amortisation of grant in year (note 4)
4 Unamortised Grants
at start of year
released during year (note 3)
at end of year		 £
2020
2019
122,998
124,092
6,364
20,990
1,218
2,427
12,580
13,218
8,871
10,608
300
300
152,331
171,635
2020
2019
150
200
100
100
100
125
100
250
250
500
500
500
500
150
150
150
200
200
2,000
1,000
100
100
800
800
4,975
4,050
2,430
2,430
5,500
5,375
5,431
12,798
1,982
2,949
20,318
27,602
2020
2019
67,957
81,776
(22,380)
(27,010)
45,577
54,766
2020
2019
(81,184)
(108,194)
22,380
27,010
(58,804)
(81,184)

10

Cuckmere Community Bus Notes to the Accounts

for year ended 31 December 2020 (cont.)

5 Tangible Fixed assets
Cost
at start of year
additions in the year
disposals in the year
at end of year
Cumulative Depreciation
at start of year
charges in the year
disposals in the year
at end of year
Net Book Value
6 Debtors
Accounts receivable
VAT reclaimable
7 Cash at Bank
Barclays current account
Co-operative current account
Charities deposit account
Petty Cash
8 Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Loan repayments due
Amounts falling due after one year
Loan repayments due		 £
2020
2019
545,554
637,651
192,243
10
(76,969)
(92,107)
660,828
545,554
343,746
313,354
67,957
81,776
(76,919)
(51,384)
334,784
343,746
326,044
201,808
2020
2019
7,867
6,528
19,921
4,508
27,788
11,036
2020
2019
61,449
75,334
9,502
4,537
23,576
83,362
211
211
94,738
163,444
2020
2019
(1,876)
(32,788)
(35,139)
(13,993)
(37,015)
(46,781)
(63,538)
(20,382)

9 Transactions with Directors: There were no transactions between the company and its Directors

11