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2025-06-30-accounts

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

ACCOUNTS

30 JUNE 2025

Charity Number 1149281

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED ACCOUNTS 30 JUNE 2025

Contents Page
Company information 1
TRUSTEES’ Annual report 2
Independent Examiner’s report
8
Income and expenditure report 9
Balance sheet 10
Notes to the accounts 11

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED COMPANY INFORMATION

Registered charity name Lechlade Library Limited, a company limited by guarantee

Charity number 1149281 Company Registration Number 08095601 Registered office 1 Market Square Lechlade Gloucestershire GL7 3AB TRUSTEES Mr J Watkins Ms P A Mason Mrs L E Sanford Mrs J H Stewart Mr R Ward Mr S W Winckles Secretary Mrs L E Sanford Independent examiner Mr J N S Jones Bow House, Hambidge Lane, Lechlade, GL7 3BL.

Page 1

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the accounts of the charity for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees who served the charity in this period were as follows:

Mr S W Winckles Appointed 29 November 2012 Mrs L E Sanford Appointed 15 October 2021 Ms S L Duce Appointed 15 October 2021 Resigned 15 March 2025 Mrs C V Cordingley Appointed 07 March 2023 Resigned 20 October 2025 Mrs F C McAnespie Appointed 07 March 2023 Resigned 19 May 2025 Mr R Ward Appointed 07 March 2023 Mr J Watkins Appointed 04 October 2023 Mrs J H Stewart Appointed 19 May 2025 Ms P A Mason Appointed 19 May 2025

The Trustees had no beneficial interest in any significant contract with the company. Trustees received no remuneration or expenses.

Page 2

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 (continued)

The objectives of the incorporated charity are:

To provide a lending library service for the benefit of residents of Lechlade and the surrounding area

To provide that service to the public without discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, disability or similar considerations.

The activities of the library include:

Lending adults' and children's fiction and non-fiction books and audio books from our expanding stock of new titles

Providing free access to the internet via the People's Computers and WiFi

Providing a Visitor Information Service with a wide range of brochures, maps and guides

Providing children's activities such as Story-time and the Summer Reading Challenge

Providing printing, photocopying and laminating services

Promoting local events and local organisations through posters and window displays

Providing support for those learning to use computers

Providing information for residents on planning, health, education & transport.

Page 3

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 (continued)

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The Library has enjoyed another outstanding year maintaining its high standard of service to both local patrons and visitors to Lechlade. Thanks to the commitment and hard work of our volunteers, we have expanded our opening hours, including an evening session to improve accessibility for after-school children and other groups.

In the year to 30 June 2025, we managed to make a surplus of £2,817 in unrestricted income, despite increasing costs against a surplus of £834 for the previous year. We also made a restricted surplus of £18,267 (£51,015 in the prior year) by raising funds for the refurbishment that was completed during November and December 2024. We have also transferred £7,753 from unrestricted to designated reserves to cover future depreciation on the refurbishment capital costs not already covered by restricted reserves. This has resulted in an unrestricted surplus £23,890 (prior year: £28,826).

We are pleased to report that Gloucestershire County Council has awarded us an additional £2,000 grant in the prior year and has confirmed the annual funding for the next five years at £12,000 per year from April 2025 in the new Grant Agreement starting on that date.

Lechlade Town Council also granted us £1,000 in the prior year. Due to the increase GCC grant, we chose not to seek additional funding from Lechlade Town Council for this year. We have informed them of this situation, but have asked to be allowed to apply for future support as the need arises.

Our successful campaign to recruit more Friends has continued to bolster our financial resources. These funds are crucial in maintaining our opening hours and expanding our stock for both adult and children’s collections.

We are grateful to the numerous individuals, organisations and groups who have supported this initiative. The refurbishment began in early October 2024 and is now complete and includes new bookcases, redecoration and upgrades to glazing, electrical and plumbing systems to enhance sustainability. This was completed on time and on budget. There was some snagging that took a while to resolve, but we are pleased to report that we have received the completion certificate from CDC in August 2025. Our thanks go to the sub-committee of Liesel Sanford, Clare Cordingley, Marian Winckles, Tim Yeoman and John Watkins for their considerable efforts in making this happen. A list of our larger donors is included in note 5 to the accounts. An amazing total of £74,837 was donated in total.

Pam Ayres MBE, officially reopened the library on 5th December 2024. She unveiled the plaque and spoke about the importance of local libraries and how they play a vital role in promoting literacy and a love of reading. From all the feedback, all of Lechlade and our visitors are happy with what was achieved in the refurbishment.

Thanks to our wonderful volunteers and the generous support of the Lechlade Memorial Hall Committee, we were able to set up and run a pop-up library at the Pavillion for the time that the library was closed for refurbishment.

Page 4

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 (continued)

We have also benefitted this year from a one off Green grant of £7,500, which was awarded to all Community Libraries in Gloucestershire from GCC. This grant is to be spent on capital projects resulting in environmental improvements. So far, £2,734has been spent on a new gas main and installing emergency light and we also installed LED lights on the first and second floors of the Library after the end of the year.

We also received a grant from GCC Estates of £1,837 towards the cost of repairing a water leak.

Changes to Directorship

There have been a number of changes to the Board of Directors during the year. The total number Is currently at 6, with Sarah Duce stepping down in March 2025, Fiona McAnespie stepping down in May 2025 and Clare Cordingley in October 2025. We would like to thank them all for their contribution over the last few years. We are please to welcome Tricia Mason, who has taken over administrative tasks and Jenny Stewart in her role as buyer of adult books. John Watkins and Rod Ward continue as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively. Liesel Sanford remains our Company Secretary and Treasurer. Clare Cordingley still serves as our Volunteer Coordinator, and Simon Winckles provides invaluable IT expertise and continuity as a founding director.

Volunteer Coordinator

Our Library’s operations are largely sustained by the dedicated efforts of our volunteers, who generously offer their time both regularly and on an ad hoc basis. We are fortunate to have such a diverse and skilled group of volunteers who support one another. Clare Cordingley has done an exceptional job integrating new volunteers, organising training sessions, and addressing all their needs. There has been an average of 42 volunteers of which 35 volunteer regularly. We also have an average of 2 Duke of Edinburgh volunteers on a Saturday.

Activities

Reserves have been built up in the previous 12 years, currently £23,890 (prior year: £28,826). A substantial proportion of this is reserved to cover 12 months’ worth of operational costs while the rest is intended to be set aside for a future refurbishment and any dilapidations costs.

Book issues and returns were lower than in previous years due to the closure of the Library for six weeks during the refurbishment. The total number of issues in the current year was 6,970 against 7,690 for the prior year.

Our Library continues to have the highest footfall among community libraries in Gloucestershire, partly due to our role as a Visitor Information Centre. We are actively monitoring the balance of visitor versus local traffic and sharing interesting visitor queries. The monthly average was 1,612 this year against 1,702 in the prior year, lower as the Library was closed for six weeks during the refurbishment.

Jenny Stewart continues to curate an excellent selection of adult books, earning numerous compliments from our users. We encourage users to make books requests if they have specific needs.

Marian Winckles deserves special recognition for her extensive contributions to the children’s library. She selects new books, organizes year-round activities, and has enhanced The Library Challenge with improved rewards and simplified processes for volunteers.

Page 5

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 (continued)

We are dedicated to attracting more users to the Library, whether for borrowing books, using computers, or participating in activities. We now host a Book Club that meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, a well-supported Mah Jong Club, a new Canasta Club, and some author and speaker events. With the services of Andy Smart, there is computer support offered each Thursday. We also continue to offer a warm, safe space during winter months.

There have been a couple of major issues that arose in this year, resulting in the installation of new water and gas mains.

We also appreciate the ongoing support from Susie Dickinson at Gloucestershire County Council, who has conducted training sessions for our volunteers and is available for assistance.

Local charities and groups continue use our display windows to promote their events, garnering positive feedback from local community.

Mr J Watkins, Chair, Lechlade Library Limited

Page 6

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 (continued)

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees (who are also the Directors of Lechlade Library Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the accounts in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these accounts the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

SMALL COMPANY PROVISIONS

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

Registered Office Signed by order of the Trustees 1 Market Square Lechlade Glos GL7 3AB Mr J Watkins, Chair

21 October 2025

Page 7

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Lechlade Library Limited

I report on the accounts of the company for the period ended 30 June 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 13.

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 accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination was needed despite the fact that the charity's gross income did not exceed £250,000.

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

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

to 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 charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, 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 accounts present a 'true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

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

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

 to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and

 to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, 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 accounts

to be reached.

Nigel Jones Bow House, Hambidge Lane, Lechlade. GL7 3BL

21 October 2025

Page 8

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT for the year ended 30 June 2025 All for charitable activities: Charity Number 1149281

INCOMING RESOURCES
Grant – Gloucestershire County
Council
Grants received – Lechlade Town
Council
Grants received - refurbishment
Grants received – other restricted
Donations - Friends
Donations - refurbishment
Gift-Aid on Friends donations
Other donations
Hire, fines and sales
Bank interest
Other
Total income
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Stock purchased
Capital expenditure
Capital expenditure – refurbishment
Premises and utilities
Premises and utilities - refurbishment
Premises and utilities – other restricted
Legal and governance, insurance
Software and website
Depreciation - refurbishment
Other (see note 1)
Total expenditure
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)
NET ASSETS BROUGHT
FORWARD
Transfers between reserves
NET ASSETS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
income
Designated
income
Restricted
income
Total
Previous
Year
£
£
£
£
£
12,000
-
-
12,000
10,500
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
23,000
23,000
32,000
-
-
9,337
9,337
-
1,581
-
-
1,581
1,722
-
-
196
196
18,799
372
-
-
372
670
267
-
-
267
315
1,375
-
242
1,617
1,283
489
-
299
788
736
30
-
-
30
302
16,114
-
33,074
49,188
67,327
3,523
-
-
3,523
3,801
782
-
-
782
656
-
-
671
671
-
5,384
-
-
5,384
7,290
-
-
249
249
-
-
-
4,571
4,571
-
2,432
-
-
2,432
1,897
339
-
-
339
522
-
-
9,316
9,316
85
837
-
-
837
1,227
13,297
-
14,807
28,104
15,478
2,817
-
18,267
21,084
51,849
28,826
51,015
79,841
35,492
(7,753)
7,753
23,890
7,753
69,282
100,925
79,841

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these accounts.

Note 1 Includes Lechlade walks leaflets, Ordnance Survey maps, volunteer expenses, postage, stationery and printer consumables and other miscellaneous items.

Page 9

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

RESTATED BALANCE SHEET As At 30 June 2025

Notes
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
2
Cash at hand and in bank
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
3
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
FUNDS
4
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 30 June 2025
£
72,269
37,884
9,228
28,656
100,925
23,890
7,753
69,282
100,925		 30 June 2024
£
1,223
88,874
10,256
78,618
79,841
28,826
-
51,015
79,841

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these accounts

STATEMENT BY TRUSTEES

The Trustees are satisfied that the charity company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the period by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for: (i) ensuring that the charity company keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and (ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity company as at the end of the financial period and of its profit or loss for the financial period in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity company.

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

These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee on the 13 October 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:

Mrs L E Sanford Director

Page 10

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 30 June 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RELATED MATTERS

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable standards and guidance.

All fixed assets under £500 are expensed as purchased. Depreciation on assets over £500 is provided at the annual rate either to write off each asset over its estimated useful life or to the end of the building lease in the case of leasehold improvements if that term is shorter. The leasehold improvements are assumed to have a useful life of 10 years and fixtures and fittings of 5 years.

All income and costs relate to charitable and continuing activities.

No salaries or wages have been paid to employees or to members of the committee during the period. No expenses were paid to trustees.

No transactions with related parties were undertaken.

The company is limited by guarantee.

2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST
At 1 July 2024
Additions in year
At 30 June 2025
DEPRECIATION
At 1 July 2024
Charge for year
At 30 June 2025
NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 June 2025
At 1 July 2024		 Leasehold
improvements
Fixtures and
Fittings
Leasehold
improvements
£
1,308
53,829
0
26,533
1,308
80,362
55,137
26,533
81,670
85
6,123
0
3,193
85
9,316
6,208
3,193
9,401
48,929
23,340
72,269
1,223
0
1,223

Page 11

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 30 June 2025 (CONTINUED)

3. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

30 June
2025
30 June
2024
£
£
Accrued expenses
228
1,256
Prepaid income
9,000
9,000
9,228
10,256
4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
As at 30
June 2024
Net
movement
in funds
As at 30 June
2025
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
28,826
(4,936)
23,890
Designated funds
-
7,753
7,753
Restricted funds
Refurbishment project
51,015
13,501
64,516
GCC Estates
0
0
0
GCC Green grant
0
4,766
4,766
51,015
18,267
69,282
TOTAL FUNDS
79,841
21,084
100,925
Net movement in funds, included in the above is as follows:
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
Transfers
between
funds
Movement
in funds
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
16,114
13,297
(7,753)
(4,936)
Designed funds
-
-
7,753
7,753
Restricted funds
Refurbishment project
23,737
10,236
-
13,501
GCC Estates
1,837
1,837
-
0
GCC Green grant
7,500
2,734
-
4,766
33,074
14,807
-
18,267
TOTAL FUNDS
49,188
28,104
-
21,084		 30 June
2025
30 June
2024
£
£
Accrued expenses
228
1,256
Prepaid income
9,000
9,000
9,228
10,256
4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
As at 30
June 2024
Net
movement
in funds
As at 30 June
2025
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
28,826
(4,936)
23,890
Designated funds
-
7,753
7,753
Restricted funds
Refurbishment project
51,015
13,501
64,516
GCC Estates
0
0
0
GCC Green grant
0
4,766
4,766
51,015
18,267
69,282
TOTAL FUNDS
79,841
21,084
100,925
Net movement in funds, included in the above is as follows:
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
Transfers
between
funds
Movement
in funds
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
16,114
13,297
(7,753)
(4,936)
Designed funds
-
-
7,753
7,753
Restricted funds
Refurbishment project
23,737
10,236
-
13,501
GCC Estates
1,837
1,837
-
0
GCC Green grant
7,500
2,734
-
4,766
33,074
14,807
-
18,267
TOTAL FUNDS
49,188
28,104
-
21,084		 30 June
2025
£
228
9,000
9,228
As at 30
June 2024
Net
movement
in funds
£
£
28,826
(4,936)		 30 June
2024
£
1,256
9,000
10,256
As at 30 June
2025
£
23,890
-
7,753		 7,753
51,015
13,501
0
0
0
4,766		 64,516
0
4,766
51,015
18,267		 69,282
79,841
21,084		 100,925
33,074
14,807
-
18,267
49,188
28,104
-
21,084

Page 12 LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 30 June 2025 (CONTINUED)

4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (continued)

Prior year:

----- Start of picture text -----
||||| |---|---|---|---| |As at 30 June|Net|As at 30 June| |2023 Restated|movement in|2024| |funds| |£|£|£| |Unrestricted funds| |General fund|27,992|834|28,826| |Restricted funds| |-| |Refurbishment project|51,015|51,015| |TOTAL FUNDS|27,992|51,478|79,841| |Net movement in funds, included in the above is as follows:| |Incoming|Resources|Movement in| |resources|expended|funds| |£|£|£| |Unrestricted funds| |General fund|16,227|15,393|834| |Restricted funds| |Refurbishment project|51,100|85|51,015| |TOTAL FUNDS|67,327|15,478|51,849|

----- End of picture text -----

5. GRANTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED

We are grateful to the following organisations for their generous support:

Gloucestershire County Council

£12,000 revenue grant* for the period 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025 and the prior year

*This grant to be paid annually for at least 4 years from 1[st] April 2024

In addition, the County continue to be responsible for the external fabric of the building (Trustees are responsible for internal repairs) and provide the building free of rent.

Lechlade Town Council generously made a donation of £1,000 towards the ongoing running of the Library in the prior year.

Page 13

LECHLADE LIBRARY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 30 June 2025 (CONTINUED)

GRANTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED (continued)

We are also grateful to the following organisations for their generous support by donating towards the refurbishment of the Library, which was completed during the year. These funds were all included in restricted funds:

----- Start of picture text -----
Year ended 30 June Year ended 30 June
2025 2024
The National Lottery £20,000
Lechlade Town Council £10,000
The Lord Faringdon £2,000
Lechlade Parochial Charities £1,000
Clementson Memorial Nursing Fund £1,000
Cotswold District Council – Rural England £16,000
Prosperity Fund
Lechlade Heritage and Development Trust £5,000
Lechlade Lions £2,000
----- End of picture text -----

We would also like to thank those who fundraised on our behalf including Lakes By Yoo, Lechlade Women’s Institute and last but no means least Ella Bacon, who, at the age of 10, raised £1,018 on a sponsored readathon.

We must also thank all of the local businesses who kindly donated prizes for our raffle in aid of the refurbishment, which raised a total of over £4,500.

And lastly, we would like to thank all of those in the local community who donated towards the cost of the refurbishment. The generosity has been truly awe inspiring, given the size of our town.

We were also awarded a one off Green grant of £7,500, which was awarded to all Community Libraries in Gloucestershire from GCC. This grant is to be spent on capital projects resulting in environmental improvements.

We also received a grant from GCC Estates of £1,837 towards the cost of repairing a water leak.

Page 14