Chairmans Report 2023/24
Usage:
The Trustees are pleased that the hall is hired for many activities each week. Hires for a typical week are Yoga, Japanese Fencing, Carpet Bowls, Mature Circuits, and Dance lessons.
Social Sew and So’s continues on a monthly basis. As does the Harkstead Market. As of February 2024, the Hall Trustees no longer run the Market. It is now a private hire, so to speak. We are very grateful to Kim for taking this on and we wish her success in this venture.
Many Birthdays celebrations were held here during 2023/24. With many emails indicating that it saved them having to tidy the house to accommodate a party - and then cleaning/ tidying afterwards too! Common Ground utilised the hall and Eastern Angles were in last week (5 April).
With the pub still closed - Harkstead Church Heritage has taken on Quiz nights etc here. Which has helped them raise funds too. A monthly book club has continued.
Repairs:
Various repairs have taken place over the course of the year. It is fair to say, that due to perseverance, these have happened. Getting trades people to turn up to quote - is difficult. Common themes are that it’s too far out of the way, or the job is too small for it to be worth their while. And, if they do quote, they don’t seem to quote for the work WE want them to do, only what THEY want to do - frustrating and difficult in equal measures. The Grapevine recently carried the latest updates regarding the Velux leak: Following a (second) visit on Friday 16 February, from a Velux-registered installer (having erected a scaffolding tower and brought a replacement window to site) we have been advised:
"[I was] unable to replace the Velux window as the solar panels are fitted too close, meaning that the tiles cannot be removed ” but we are pleased to report that adjustments were made to the flashing, which we hope will stop or minimise the current leak.
However, it remains that the Velux skylight needs replacing and so this is our intention but it is going to be a larger job than first envisaged. We (the Village Hall Trustees) will now review options.
Any internal remedial works/redecoration will follow completion of the skylight works.
Quotes have been been sought with numerous declining to quote due to the solar panel concerns, ie there are not many tradesman prepared to remove the panels and refit them due to the liability of them not working when placed back up. Given the solar panels currently provide 28% of the income - The Trustees are concerned too if they don’t work when they are refitted.
Finances:
Without stealing the thunder of our Treasurer, the hall costs approx £7k to run per year. Income from hire is approx £6k. Thankfully the solar panels bring in approx £2k. As you can see, there is about £1k per year ‘surplus’.
I’d describe the funds as stable/treading water - however, with the volume of repairs and enhancements we are preparing for, the funds will be drained very quickly. The Trustees are considering the future and other revenue streams.
Reality check:
Harkstead is not a growing community. It has disproportionately fewer residents in the working age range and a higher percentage of older people. The majority of those in work do not work nearby. Social and economic changes have resulted in the Village Hall being the ‘hub’ of activity, to it being ‘there’. A recent survey (November 2023) undertaken by the Parish Council and residents were invited to feedback their priorities for the parish over the coming years. Residents were offered 13 local topics and were invited to list their top 5. They were also invited to add their own suggestions. From around 123 households, there were 26 responses (21.14% return). One return to the Parish Council - the Hall was mentioned. The Parish Council advises that the return suggested ‘A hope that more people would get involved.’ As returns were anonymous, further insight cannot be gleaned. The Trustees agree with and appreciate the ‘hope’, however, village life post the COVID pandemic, is not as it was and it is noted that there is no real effort made by any age group to turn back the clock and make the Hall the ‘hub’, just an expectation that someone will do it for them.
I thank my fellow Trustees for their support this year.
Sarah Donnison Chairman (2023-24)
Charity Nanie Harkstead Vlllage Hall {ClO) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from 01-A r-23 31-Mar-24 Section A Receipts and payments Unrèstrictod funds lo the nearest £ Restricted funds to the nearest £ Endowment funds to the nea$1 £ Total funds L•$t year to the nearest £ to the ftea$t £ A1 Recalpts Hire of Hall and Equipment Famers, Market + Farmers, Market Raffle Auction Events Income from So18r Pannels Refreshments COIF Charities Deposit Fund Donalbons & Gifts Government Grant Sub total (Gross income for AR) 990 866 549 324 362 324 362 130 60 10,557 10,557 10,928 A2 Asset and Inve8lJnont 8ale8, 18ee tablo). Sub total Total rncelpts ,55 A3Pa monts Light and Healing Repairs and MaSnlen8nce Ilnc, deanlng & ardenl Wages Insurance VV8ler and Sewage Rates Licences Events Broadband Sundry Expenses Donallons & Gffts Capllal Expendllure 2,233 1,072 422 856 598 1,072 422 2.339 683 813 633 82 271 698 100 100 128 10 128 10 18 97 97 Sub total A4 Asset and investment purchases, (8oe table Tables COIF Charrt*8 Ethical Inve8tmenl Fund Solar P8nne18 Sub totgl Net ofrncelpts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 16,058 16,058 19,757 12,102 CCXX R1 a¢counts {SS) 2310912024
J Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrict8d Restrlcted funds funds to nearest £ lo nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Categories Details Cash funds Cash 436 Bardays Current Account 11,516 COIF 7,806 Total cash funds 19,7S6.56 bIr•* wrth reipl8 and payments a¢coun¢i$ll OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted fund8 lo nearest £ Endowment funds to neaffjst £ Details Fund to whleh •iset belon Unrn•trl¢ted Cost loptlon•l) 24,000 Current valuo o tlonal 63.476 Detalls COIF Chorilies Ethical Investrnent B3 Invo8tment assets Fund to whl¢h a88et belon Current v•lu• onal Details Cost (opllonal) B4 Assets retained for the charity'8 own use Fund to whlch relates Amount du• tlonal When due Ilonal Details 85 Llabiliti88 Signed by one or tsvo trustèes on behalf of all the trustees Date of roval Signature Print Name Hon. Treasurer nicHB&L rRY IO Chairman 2bl £01 Independent Examiner CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 2310912024