Berkeley Books
Company Registration No 07840781 Registered Charity No 1149718
Annual Report and Summary Accounts
31 March 2025
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YESR ENDED 31 March 2025
Berkeley Books was established in November 2011 when it took over the County run library as a Community Library. The number of activities carried out has been steadily increased since then with much greater involvement from the community. The building inherited from the County was a poor-quality wooden structure giving unpleasant environmental conditions for the occupants whilst have high energy costs. It was clear that this building needed to be replaced and the trustees decided that the best option was to build the new one in two phases, the first behind the existing one to enable services to be maintained and the second on the footprint of the old one.
An architect was employed to draw up the design and this was estimated to cost £250k in 2015, so the trustees worked to raise this money and managed to obtain a total of £500k by the end of 2023. However, by this time the building costs for phase 1 were estimated to be around £400k, so the expectation was that there would be some funds left over for phase 2 after phase 1 was built.
The architect was re-employed to do the detailed design and draw up the invitations to tender. Three construction companies tendered, but the cheapest came in at £660k, negotiated down to £600k
As all of the grants were time limited there was little choice but to proceed, so the Talus Construction were engaged and they started work in September 2024. Unfortunately, the treasurer died just before the first invoice was due at the end of October and the bank froze the account. It took until the end of December before access to the bank account could be regained and Talus paid for the work done. We were fortunate to have such a good relationship with Talus, for them to show such forbearance. The cost of the construction work is a significant element of the accounts for 2024/25, well in excess of the normal turnover of the charity and this will be the case next year.
Management of the Charity
The charity is managed by trustees, currently six including a local District Councillor. The trustees meet regularly to set the policies and governance for the charity. The day-to-day work is done by a paid manager assisted by volunteers who arrange to hire out the facilities and carry out low level fund raising. The Manager holds regular meetings with the volunteers to keep them informed and to receive feedback from them. The range of activities offered to the community are continuously being extended and these will be vastly extended when the new building is available.
The activities currently being offered include Gardening Club, History Society, Crochet Club, Art Group, Craft Group, Poetry and Book Clubs. In addition, the NHS have used the facility for health checks and vaccinations, the is a book prescription service and a summer reading challenge for school children. All this is as well as a library service for two and a half days a week.
Financials
The financial report for this year shows the high cost of constructing the new building, identified as project cost on the Income & Expenditure Account, as well as the normal revenue costs for running the existing facility. This will also the case for 2025/26 where the final expenditure for the new build will take place, before returning a normal operational budget in the following years. The charity continues to be a selfsustaining organisation through its own fund-raising activities and a grant from Gloucestershire County Council to help support the library service. Some of the income is from hiring out the building and this is
expected to increase when the new modern, well equipped new building is available with a far better environment.
Summary
The trustees have had a busy and challenging year having to deal with a multitude of issues resulting from the management of a significant construction project. However, the new building is coming to fruition and it is expected to provide Berkeley and the surrounding settlements with a first-class facility for the local residents.
Page 1 of 4
Berkeley Books
Company Registration No 07840781 Registered Charity No 1149718
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Note | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| FIXED ASSETS Land & Buildings Plant & Machinery CURRENT ASSETS Stocks Prepayments Debtors Cash at bank CREDITORS Retentions due within one year Amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS CHARITY FUNDS Project Funds Revenue Funds |
3,000 0 0 272,565 |
314,131 297 314,428 261,946 576,374 405,516 170,858 576,374 |
3,000 0 500 167,766 |
16,185 594 |
|
| 16,778 171,124 |
|||||
| 275,565 -13,619 0 |
171,266 0 -142 |
||||
| -13,619 | -142 | ||||
| 187,902 | |||||
| 0 187,902 |
|||||
| 187,902 |
The director is satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirements to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies act 2006. The member has not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.
The director acknowledges his responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
Page 2 of 4
Berkeley Books
Income & expenditure account for the year ended 31/03/25
| Project Revenue Total Total |
|
|---|---|
| Funds Funds Funds funds |
|
| 2024/25 2024/25 2024/25 2023/24 |
|
| INCOME £ £ £ £ |
|
| Sales 0 2,990 2,990 3,099 Cost of sales Purchases 0 967 967 1,301 Decrease/increase in stock 0 0 0 200 |
|
| Subtotal Cost of sales 0 967 967 1,501 |
|
| GROSS PROFIT 0 2,022 2,022 1,598 Other operating income Grants 399,985 12,000 411,985 30,299 Donations 300 300 6,546 Other income 1,260 1,260 1,330 Bank interest 5,532 0 5,532 5,977 |
|
| Subtotal other operating income 405,516 13,560 419,076 44,152 |
|
| Wages & salaries 10,734 10,734 9,751 Staff training & welfare 0 0 304 Rates 500 500 126 Lighting ,heating & water 1,891 1,891 3,058 Cleaning 0 0 263 Telephone, broadband & alarm 241 241 490 Stationery & printing 321 321 431 Bank charges & interest 0 0 96 Admin/Licences/Fees 643 643 0 Insurance 1,162 1,162 1,029 Software & IT 988 988 125 Repairs & maintenance 208 208 4,558 Depreciation 297 297 297 Accountancy fees 1,080 1,080 1,020 Fundraising fees 14,350 14,350 12,100 Other fees & licences 213 213 83 |
|
| Total other costs 0 32,627 32,627 33,731 |
|
| NET PROFIT 405,516 -17,044 388,472 12,019 |
Berkeley Books
Page 3 of 4
Fixed Assets Analysis at 31/03/25
| TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | Land & | Plant | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings | & Machinery | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| COST | |||
| At 01/04/24 | 16,185 | 8,884 | 25,068 |
| Additions | 297,947 | 0 | 297,947 |
| Disposals | 0 | ||
| At 31/03/24 | 314,131 | 8,884 | 323,015 |
| DEPRECIATION | |||
| At 01/04/24 | 0 | 8,290 | 8,290 |
| Charge for theyear | 297 | 297 | |
| At 31/03/25 | 0 | 8,587 | 8,587 |
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||
| At 01/04/24 | 16,185 | 594 | 16,778 |
| At 31/03/25 | 314,131 | 297 | 314,428 |
Berkeley Books
Page 4 of 4
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31/03/25
1 Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS102. The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Tangible Fixed Assets
These are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Equipment - 25% straight line Buildings - 1.5% straight line
Stocks
Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less cost to complete and sell.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measure at transation price (which is ususally the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are intially rcognised at transaction price.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method.
2 Employees
| Employees | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Average numbers of persons emplyed by the company | 1 | 1 |
3 Tangible Fixed assets
| See page 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Debtors | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
| £ | £ | ||
| Other debtors | 0 | 500 | |
| 5 | Creditors | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
| £ | £ | ||
| Other creditors | 0 | 142 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Report to the trusteesl mernber5 of Berkeley Books On acCOts for the year 31.,D3,25 Charity r (rf any) 1149718 Set out on page5 1 to 4 atsthed to trms report I report to the trustees my examin8bDn of trte 8CCOUrts of the above th8rty fthe Trusf) the year wded 3110312025. Responsibilit5 and As charity trustees of the Trust Y ao responsible for the wep&rntion basis of rèport of the accounts in 8ccc¥d8nce the requirements of the Charrtles Act 2011 (Yle Act'l I reF4Xt resrt of my exwnin8lion of the Trusf5 8xounts corried YJ[ Secti 145 of the 2011 Acl fdnd in urrying out my examinBlion. I have followed the applicable DirectN)ns grwen by the Chanty Commission under secbcffj 145(51ibl of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I h8ve c¢)mF4eted my exarninabon. I confirni that no m8teri81 matters h8ve come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in conneclion with Ihe exafflination Twhith kwves me uSe to bebeve that in. any materi aceountm9 rerdS were not kept in acc)rdaf With section 130 of the Act or the 8ccounts do nol 8cMrd With the 8ccountirvJ rec(Yd5 I have no ce&m5 and have come across no other matters in c<)nnedion with the examination to TAth•c attenbon should be drawn in Cfder lo enable proFer understanding of the accounts to be re8C - Please delei the ldS in the brackeis rf they do not apply. S•gned: Date: 09A)75 Katie EIiz8teth Johnson Relevant wofe55ional qualific3tion15) or body Irf any1= AddTr55: 8 Orcharcl Close. 64¢4(4 lfjnos Stsnley. t3os. GL10 3QA IER October 2018
Section B Di5cIoswe Only cornpte rf tne ex&miner needs to higttl•gnt matter5 of COf7cern Isee CC32. IndepenthEnt examinatKJn of charrty accounts.. directions and guidance lor exarniner5}. Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to di5c105e. nla IER October 2018