BLACKHILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REPORT for June 2022 to June 2023
The Commitee
At the AGM on 13 June 2022 the following were elected to the Community Association committee:-
John Worters – chair, Amy Hedley – treasurer, Kathleen Slater - secretary, Edith Parkinson, John Toner, Billy Turnbull, John Anderson, Susan Newton, Tricia Clark.
The committee met in June, August, October and November 2022 and in January and March 2023, with between five and eight members present.
Users
Currently there are 18 regular sessions held at the centre, mostly on a weekly basis, although some only take place during school term time. During the year the Shotley Bridge and Blackhill ladies’ group ceased to meet and the Friday Art class ceased, although hopefully, the latter will return at some later date. Nearly half of the sessions were organised through the Blackhill Methodist Church, who now hold their Sunday service of worship at the centre. They also organise monthly Saturday coffee mornings, which are very well attended.
Other one-off of short course bookings included Little Movers, briefly, Harrogate and District NHS Trust Youth Service, children’s birthday parties, a photo shoot, Derwentside Singers, a band practice and an Easter Market.
The Community Centre building
Between July and September 2022 the boiler house was flooded three times due to a faulty drain. This incurred substantial repairs to the drain and replacement of damaged parts to the two boilers. The cost of this was eventually recovered through the property insurance.
We also had repointing and repairs carried out to the boundary walls, including the lowering of a wall which had originally been part of the school outside toilets.
Within the building, we have installed a water heater in the disabled toilet and had other minor repairs to the toilets. We have disposed of a number of the older chairs and cabinets in the centre. The former have been replaced by chairs brought in by the Methodist Church.
Finance
The accounts for the end of December 2022 show an excess of expenditure over income of about £10,600. This was largely due to the cost of repairing the damage caused by the flooding in the basement and the broken drainage.
John Worters, chair, Blackhill Community Centre. June 2023
BLACKHILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS y.e. 31st December 2023
Receipts £ 16,018.52 Payments £ 13,286.44 Receipts less payments £ 2,732.08 Balance b/f £ 23,922.24 c/f £26,654.32
Signed: Treasurer………………………………………………. Chairman………………………………………………. Inspector………………………………………………..
BLACKHILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION RECEIPTS y.e. 31st DECEMBER 2023
D.C.C. Refund (insurance) £ 6,777.24 Hire charges £ 1,663.00 Methodist Church £ 3,044.00 Rent from groups £ 4,514.00 Donatons £20.28 £ 16,018.52
BLACKHILL COMMUNITY ASSCOIATION
PAYMENTS y.e. 31ST DECEMBER 2023
Repairs £ 2,829.40 Wages £ 4,170.40 Gas £ 2,505.95 Electric £ 1,050.90 Phone & internet £ 305.80 Water £ 352.69 Water heater £ 180.00 Redecoraton £ 300.00 Printer ink £ 55.99 Scrap removal £ 40.00 Banner £ 18.00 Cleaning £ 23.22 Post £ 11.44 Replacements £38.39 Compliance tests £ 1047.95 Insurance £356.31 £13,286.44