## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period 01/09/2019 to 31/08/2020 Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Methodist Circuit** ## **Objectives and activities** The purposes of the Methodist Church are the advancement of: - a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church; - b) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit. local or other organisation of The Methodist Church; - c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church; - d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church. The Circuit acts as an umbrella body for the 7 Methodist Churches, which fall within the Circuit’s area. The Circuit produces a quarterly preaching plan to ensure regular acts of worship take place at each of those 7 churches. These are open to all people without charge. ## **Achievements and Performance.** The trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and in particular their guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, when planning their activities. The actions taken by the circuit meet the requirement for there to be an identifiable public benefit or benefits and that such benefit is to the public or a section of the public. During the 2019/20 financial year the Circuit has used its funds raised from the churches in the following ways: - Our ministers together with local preachers provide regular Sunday worship in our churches. Such services are freely available to their local communities and every effort is made to make the experience of worship welcoming and meaningful to visitors. - The Circuit has provided courses for those requiring Safeguarding training, and has ensured that DBS checks have been completed for those whose voluntary posts require them. The Circuit has adopted and regularly revises a Safeguarding Policy - covering both children and vulnerable adults - and has ensured it is rolled out to the churches. - The Circuit continues to support local churches in their work with young people. - The Circuit encourages its churches to engage with their local communities. - The Circuit Estates Worker continues to seek ways to build links in one of the local housing Developments. - The Circuit has carried out its oversight of the churches through 3 meetings of the Circuit, and by requiring a written report of activity from each church. - There is a regular review process carried out by the Leadership Team to ensure that the Charity is fulfilling its objectives. - Risks to the Circuit are considered by the Circuit Leadership Team (*see below) who oversee the day to day running of the charity and report to the full meeting of Trustees. Professional advice is taken as required. ## **Financial review** During the year the Circuit received total receipts of 152k (2018-19: £141k) and dispersed £153k (2018-19 £153k). This financial position was much as expected – making use of the proceeds of sale in the previous years of one house, which was no longer needed for use by the Circuit. These are being used over a period of 3 years to enable the Circuit to maintain its current complement of staff, without demanding more money from the churches than they can easily raise. The trustees of the Circuit have every reason to believe that the Circuit is a going concern, principally because churches continue to meet the assessments required of them. The Circuit has adequate reserves to cover any unforeseen events. Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two. The Circuit continues to hold 5 freehold properties, 3 being used to house the Ministers of the Circuit and 2 being rented out to supplement the income produced by assessment. The Circuit has the following principal sources of funds: - Assessments on Churches within the Circuit - Interest on investments - Rents paid for the 2 additional houses owned and rented out. These sums are used primarily to pay the Ministerial staff of the Circuit, to pay their expenses and to maintain the houses of the Circuit. Smaller sums are used to support particular mission initiatives undertaken by churches. ## **Reserves Policy** - The Reserves Policy for the Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit is to hold a sum equivalent to 6 months' average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and to be able to continue in the short term funding planned activities in the event of the closure of a large church or an inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches. - It is necessary to hold sufficient working capital to enable the quarterly payment of stipends and business expenses for 2 paid ministers, part time workers and to cover our contribution to the District and the Connexion. ## • Details of funds materially in deficit. There are none. ## **Structure governance and management** ## **Description of the charity's trusts** _Type of governing document_ Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976) _How the charity is constituted_ Act of Parliament _Trustee selection methods_ Appointed by local churches and existing trustees. Ministers are automatically trustees _Additional governance issues_ None _Induction/Training_ A range of guidance is produced by Methodist Connexion. Leaflet 'The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church' is given to each trustee. _Structure_ Part of the Plymouth and Exeter Methodist District. Accountable to the Methodist Conference. _Related Parties_ None ## **Reference and administration details** _Charity Name_ The Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Methodist Circuit. _Registered Charity Number_ 1133126. _Charity's Principal Address_ Temple Methodist Church, Upper High Street, Taunton TA1 3PY ## _Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the charity_ . The Charity Trustees are the members of the Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit Meeting. This comprised during the year of this report. |*Rev Chris Brown|Elaine Dew| |---|---| |*Rev Deborah Kirk|Jane Allin| |*John Haines|*Virginia Pearson| |Hazel Burnett|
*Richard Sillett| |Dick Brewer|Brenda Lamberton| |*Carol Stowe|Carolyn Lear| |Sheila Baker|
Sue Parker| |Sandy Rogers|Chris Downing| |
Merlyn Brown|
Pauline Steward| |
Janet Sillett|Louise Wright| |Conrad Marks|
Robert Ormesher| |Lynda Kazer|Doreen Marks| |Marlene Burnell|Margaret Sweet| |---|---| |Margaret Walters|
Daphne Gillham| |
Kevin Boseley|
Barbara Poole| |
Joanne Pinguenet|Valerie Pearson| |
Glenys Allinson|David Clitheroe| |
Robert Blackhall|Ken Bird| |Peter Crew|Tony Cox| |Anthony Huxtable|
Robin Hutt| |
Emmaline Kay|Brian Stocks| * indicates a member of the Circuit Leadership Team, who as a group manage the Circuit between full Circuit Meetings. _Custodian trustees_ Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Manchester ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees ||**Christopher Brown**|**Emmaline A Kay**| |---|---|---| |Full name(s)|Chris Brown|Emmaline Kay| |Position|Chair|Secretary| |Date|23/03/2021|23/03/21| Appended to this report is the Statement of Financial Activity for the year concerned together with the Balance Sheet at year end. **CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS** # **THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS** **Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor** Circuit **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020** |**District**
Plymouth and Exeter
**Registered Charity - Charity Registration number**|**Circuit no**
24/15
1133126| |---|---| If not a registered charity **Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number** (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242 ) Ministers: Rev Christopher Brown Rev Deborah Kirk ## Circuit Stewards: John Haines Richard Sillett Carol Stowe Treasurer: Virginia Pearson 2015 Circuit R and P.xls 1 of 5 **Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit** ## **20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Un - Circuit
restricted Model Trust Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Fund Funds year year
a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ £ £ £
a2 Assessment/Share 111,648 111,648 108,025
a3 Capital receipts
a4 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
578 104 2 684 740
a5 Grants
a6 Other receipts 33,425 33,425 32,391
a7 TOTAL RECEIPTS 145,651 104 2 145,757 (a8) 141,156
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and
travel costs 76,648 76,648 77,026
b3 Manse Costs 16,289 16,289 13,392
b4 Administration etc 4,743 35 4,778 4,715
b5 District Assessment 31,229 432 31,661 31,797
b6 Grants & donations 7,705 7,705 7,005
b7
b8 Other payments 15,024 139 15,163 19,300
b9 TOTAL PAYMENTS 151,638 467 139 152,244 (b9) 153,235
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR
THE YEAR
c1 (a7-b9) (5,987) (363) (137) (6,487) (12,079)
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 56,573 17,300 42,969 116,841 (c6) 128,920
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 50,586 16,937 42,832 110,354 116,841
c4 Transfers and adjustments 7,005 (7,005) (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 57,591 9,932 42,832 110,354 (c8) 116,841 (c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above)
d1 Balance brought forward from last year 2,784 2,986
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 2 798
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations 139 1,000
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3) 2,647 2,784
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2015 Circuit R and P.xls 2 of 5 **Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoo** **Circuit** ## **SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATION REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING** **SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page** Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations. **----- Start of picture text -----**
INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from
e9 page 2 - totals column) 145,757 (a8) 152,244 (b9) (6,487) (c7) 116,841 (c6) 110,354 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
e10 HELD BY CIRCUIT 145,757 152,244 (6,487) 116,841 (x) 110,354 (y)
Continue on a separate TOTAL
sheet if necessary and TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
bring the totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2020 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 Bank Current Account 5,465 4,197
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 53,029 55,182
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 58,347 50,973
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL 116,841 (c6) 110,352 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the
f8 closing balance totals above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 116,841 (x) 110,352 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2019 31 August 2020
g1 Investments (include Endowments)
g2 Land and Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 1,286,234 1,387,849
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
g5 Other Liabilities
**----- End of picture text -----**
f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5) 2015 Circuit R and P.xls 3 of 5 Name of Circuit …………………………………………………………… No……….. ## **Declarations and Scrutiny** I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting. Signature of treasurer ……………………………………………………… Date…………………….. Name and address of treasurer …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………. Post Code……………… ## **Presentation to the Circuit meeting** I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 were/will be* presented to the Circuit meeting held on …………….. Signature of the Chair of the meeting …………………………………………………………………… Name of the Chair of the meeting …………………………………………… Date …………………… ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the** ## **……………………..…………………….. Circuit** ## **Charity Number …………..** ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the …………………………………. Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2020 set out on pages … to …. As the Circuit’s trustees, 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 Circuit’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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. * delete or circle as appropriate 2015 Circuit R and P.xls 4 of 5 Name of Circuit ………………………………………………………………………… No …………. ## **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 (other than that disclosed below*) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting 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. I have/have not* obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner …………………………………………………………………. Name of independent examiner ………………………………………………………………………. Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ……………………………………… Name of firm (where appropriate) ……………………………………………………………………… Address …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code ……………… Date ………………………………………… - delete or circle as appropriate Sep-20 2015 Circuit R and P.xls 5 of 5 ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ##