2024-03-31-accounts - Eaton Community Park Association

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Annual Report - Chair of ECPA

A few weeks ago I would have been writing only about a year of fantastic achievement and ongoing development. However, our successes have of course been tempered by the loss of our new Stiga mower and the resulting fallout from the theft.

A donation of £2000 and all our fund raising activity were poised to give us the ability to maintain the grasscutting in the park without draining our resources but the mower theft has left us shocked and a bit bewildered. Apologies to Ruth and Tony Allen for the damage to their property.

Fortunately we had secured the insurance on the new piece of kit but we are still left with a dilemma of what to do next. Huge thanks to David Wilson for volunteering to mow the grass in the interim.

So moving on - it has been a year of considerable progress. The small group of five trustees have somehow managed the park, raised funds, improved access and maintained contact with local residents.

The new play equipment has proved to be very popular attracting new users from throughout the vale.

We kept costs down with support from Bob Skinner who cut the grass throughout last summer for us at no cost and we improved access from Vicarage Lane and from Main Street with funding from the parish council and a whole army of volunteers who did all the labouring. Some people need special mention - Phil Marsden, Peter Westland, Chris Redfern and Craig Smith.

We had three successful fund raising events - the jumble sale shared with the other groups in the village, the bonfire party which despite the awful weather raised nearly £1000 and the quiz night in February which was also very successful.

We received several small grants from Tesco, Clockwise and Melton Building Society and continue to search for other sources of funding.

We planted 1000 bulbs in the autumn with the help of the community and so saw a great display of daffodils in the spring. The plan is to add to this next year and keep the momentum going.

The tree survey reports that ash trees need to be removed and this needs to be a priority in the autumn.

The parish council has been supportive throughout the year and at the time of writing I am hopeful they will make a pledge to help with ongoing maintenance of £2500 per year.

A couple of other thank yous:

To Claire Mountain for looking after the pétanque court and keeping it weed free.

To Mark Roberts for all his help fixing things especially the zip wire ramp.

To Sue Peters for supporting our events with cakes and goodies and her help in the park.

To Kim Roberts for looking after all our money and to Helen Smith who, as secretary, has kept records and overseen all our necessary requirements.

We planted trees, cleared nails from and replanted the bonfire site, strimmed nettles and emptied dog poo bins.

But there are still things to do:

A priority is to buy and set a new bench in memory of Tim Bryan, a founder and long time supporter of the park, who sadly died early this year.

We plan to plant another 1000 spring bulbs. These have been ordered.

We need to decide on whether to purchase another new mower and consider security. The existing shed needs repair and we desperately need to clear much of the contents. This would be a good full day summer project if we can schedule a date.

We should consider a pergola or cart shed type structure to provide a permanent shelter in the park - possibly to use for future events.

And - we need to enlist the help of the local residents and businesses and try to bring in additional trustees.

Fund raising. - costs continue to increase. We have the bonfire and a quiz night. I think we need 2 additional events to secure our finances. We need to continue with grant applications.

In closing, this will be my last year as chair of the park committee. I will serve until May 2025 and then it will be time for new ideas and new enthusiasm. So a priority must be to bring in new trustees (5 isn’t enough) and to ease in a new chair.

Derek Janes

Eaton Communl Park Association Income and Expenditure Account for the Perlod l April 2023 to 31 March 2024 Balance blf 1st April 2023 6.899.21 Cash Inflows Event Proceed5 Coronation Picnic P¥oceeds jumble Sale Proceeds Bonfire Night Proceeds Quiz Ni8ht Proceeds Proceeds from Horticultural Show produce auction FOSD Ticket Sales- refund from the bank Indlvldual Donations N Graham-miller Oonation towards mower Oonation toward5 mower Paul & Hannah Canham Grant Fundlng Recelpts Lottery Grants Received Tesco Grat Clockwise Grant for Benches Melton Building Socrety Grant ,lft Ald Receipts Gift Aid Other Sale of excess wine Ito Kate) 245.18 352.33 1.006.07 660.96 78.65 410. 2,(NYJ.CM) 150.(KI 15. £ 21,888.(X) 500.(XJ soo. 250.IXJ 184.50 Xmas lunch ticket sales taken on behalf of FOSD 904.44 Cash Ouffiows Event Expenses Beer Purchase Wine Purchase Beer/cider- Coronation Picnic BorTrfire Night Expenses so. 111.80 25.55 346.77 Quiz Ni8ht Expensès Equlpment Purchases Play5cape Equipment purchases Purchase of Benches New sign for Park Entrance Mower purchase New Benches puichased121 ther ricket sale payment to FOSD list & 2nd attempt) Gift for C¥aig (Brandy) for path installation 421.14 -£ 25.290.00 526.68 69.07 4.699.30 526.68 820.00 26. Transfer to FOSD (Xmas lunch ticket sales) Running Costs ROSPA 850.(KI 562.CX) 363.98 Insurance Annual Premiurn Surplus Income versus Expenditure 5.138.84 Balan¢e clf as at 31st March 2024 1.760.37 The above Income and Expenditure Account has been Drepared bv me based on the financial record5 of the ECPA. Dale- K. Roberts ITreasurerl I have reviewed the abov ts and they are in accordance with the A5SOClation's records.. Date.. 13 on