MATLOCK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
TRUSTEES`ANNUAL REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR April 2023 -March 2024 (extended to September 2024)
MCA met 9 times in the year with an average attendance of 11, and I am pleased to say membership increased to 28 plus 4 friends. The Trustees remained the same, although David Smith is unable to attend monthly meetings. The financial situation continued to be very healthy due to the earlier bequest from David Barker.
A major project was the design and installation of the large Locomotive Cut Out Artwork on the station footbridge together with an associated lectern/plaque and planters. This project had dragged on for many years, was only completed by Ken’s persistence and was unveiled at a ceremony of the interested parties in February 2024.
Thanks to Peter Wild 4 more Blue Plaques have been installed at Jackson House Hydro, Bank House Hydro (Derbyshire Archives), Chesterfield House Hydro (Presentation Convent), and Prospect Place on Wellington Street. Two others have been designed for Chatsworth House Hydro and Oldham House, but changing ownership has delayed installation.
It has been decided that arrangements should be made now for the future transfer of the MCA Charity together with its funds (like a will with a power of attorney) because of ageing of the Trustees and membership and the difficulty of spending our considerable funds due to ‘cash strapped` local authorities not being prepared to take ownership of any foreseeable completed MCA projects. After some research it was decided that Matlock Town Council should be the recipient and custodian of MCA at some future date and be required to comply with its charitable objectives and the criteria set down by David Barker, all of which required the drafting of a new Governing Document. Final approval by MCA membership and the Town Council is awaited, but progress is looking good.
One such project, which suffered due to the above local authority pressures and constraints, was the Hydro Themed Artwork for Crown Square or the Park, but it is hoped this can be resurrected as soon as possible. Plans to create a new public viewpoint at Artists Corner have been similarly delayed and we still await feedback on the DCC commissioned viability study of developing the East Bank trail to Matlock Bath.
475 copies of the Jitties Trail booklet have been sold up to September 2024 and Richard has kept supplying our sales outlets in local shops. Brian Wood organised cleaning of the mural, which should be repeated next Spring (2025). Together with the Town Council, and especially Martin Burfoot, some progress has been made to deter lorries damaging the paving outside Gregg’s on Bakewell Road but the tarmac patching really needs to be repaired in matching stone and DCC action will be necessary. Discussions
are underway to support costly repair work to the old clock outside Evans jewellers on Dale Road.
Led by Richard Walker we have been very active in making representations on Planning Applications. We secured significant improvements to the Quarry Lane development of 75 houses and have continued to object strongly to the Gritstone Road proposals, which have been rejected so far. However, despite our repeated objections, including speaking at the planning committee meeting, the RBS development has been approved with a flat roof extension, which could be a dangerous precedent in this Conservation Area. We have made representations on design and materials on the Halldale Quarry application, which seems to have stalled.
Richard has also led our submissions on the Local Plan and revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). We have influenced the rebuilding of the Riverside Wall next to Matlock Bridge by the Environment Agency and secured better, matching stone work to the new wall instead of the ‘stone in metal cages’ originally proposed. We also persuaded EA to add large rocks to mask the harsh concrete wall opposite and it is now softening with new vegetation. However our request to create a viewing terrace on the new wall (possibly with an outdoor café) was unsuccessful. Richard has represented us on the reconvened DDDC Conservation Advisory Forum until March 2024 (since when it has not met). Our involvement with Matlock Community Vision has ceased as it has been wound up with their remaining funds of approximately £400 transferred to MCA by agreement. The redevelopment of the Bakewell Road site, which MCV had championed for 10 years, will remain substantially unchanged apart from the frontage (another opportunity in waiting).
Administration continued with the AGM in November 2023 at which Alan Belton, a member from Essex, described the work of The School of Military Intelligence at Smedley’s Hydro (now County Hall) during the 2[nd] World War. A big thank you to Dave Puxley for producing the accounts, managing the investments and renewing our insurance, and many thanks to Brian Wood for auditing the Accounts. Civic Voice emails are circulated as appropriate, the Charity Commission annual return was completed and the Remembrance Service attended.
As usual huge thanks to Ken for all his hard work especially on the frustrating loco cut out project and the complex transfer document. Finally thanks to all our members for their continued support particularly those who are able to make it to the meetings.
Drafted by Tony Symes (Chairman MCA) Revised by Trustees on 25 October 2024 Agreed by AGM on 11 November 2024
MCA1542
ACCOUNTS FOR MATLOCK CIVIC ASSOCIATION FOR 1.4.2023- 31.3.2024 OPENING BALANCE AS AT 1.4.2023 Melton Building Society Mansfield Building Society HSBC Bank Account Lloyds Bank Account Petty Cash £ 84494.61 £ 85505.85 £ 25353.81 £ 1622.79 60.00 TOTAL OPENING BALANCE £197037.06 INCOME FOR 1.4.2023 - 31.3.2024 Membership Friends membership Donations Jitty booklet sales Building Society interest £ 620.00 50.00 70.00 £ 642.50 £ 1988.52 TOTAL INCOME £ 3371.02 EXPENDITURE FOR 1.4.2023- 31.3.2024 Bank charges Sundry expenses (room hire, web site, wreath. CV memb.) Insurance Jitty trail booklet production Rail footbridge artwork Blue Plaques 10.00 £ 779.24 £ 160.58 £ 1083.00 £ 11665.00, £ 1900.40 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £ 15598.22 DIFFERENCE (between income & expenditure) - £ 12207.20 CLOSING BALANCE AT 31.3.2024 £184 829.86 FUNDS AT 31.3.2024 Mansfield Building Society Lloyds Bank Account UnityTrust Bank Cambridge & Counties Bank Petty Cash £ 26981.24 £ 12708.62 £ 85000.00 £ 60000.00 ' £ 140.00 TOTAL FUNDS AT 31.3.2024 - see next page car over to 2024-25 £184 829.86 MCA1549
Notes Membership income covers all of this year's subs and some late income (#3} for previous year Donations are for receipt of Eurotunnel shares (from David Barker's will) and from Churchill (via Ken) Building Society interest from closing Melton B.S. account1£60.77) (NB this was only thefinal interest paymentfrom Melton,. a payment of £210. 71 was paid on 31/3/2023 and wos therefore included in lost year's accounts) plus part-year interest (£452.36) from UTB, plus £1475.39 from Mansfield BS. Bank charges comes from the old HSBC account (now closed) An unusually large Sundries figure. Room hire is generally the largest contributor to this. This year it was boosted significantly (to a total of £695) by the fact that the Methodist Church did not send us any bills throughout Covid, hence a very large backlog this year Costs of a second print run The Rail Footbridge Artwork was our only major project this year. This expenditure figure is very misleading as much of this funding was received from other bodies (notably the Rail Partnership) in previous years The Mansfield pays a lower interest rate than the other savings accounts but has money available at only 30 days, notice Lloyds is our current account for day to day transactions. It incurs no bank charges but bears no interest United Trust Bank offers the best rate of interest, 180 day notice, initially paying 5.25% but linked to Base Rate. Interest is paid into Lloyds to prevent balance going above FSCS limit. £452.36 received in Oct. 2023 Cambridge & Counties Bank pays a slightly lower rate (5.00%> but is fixed until Sept. 2024. No interest received yet but is expected to pay £3016 then at term end. The HSBC and Melton BS accounts have been closed during this year Prepared by Dave Puxley, MCA Treasurer; 91412024; Signed IDPII Audited by Brian Wood, MCA Official Auditor; 201412024. Signed To be approved at MCA 2024 AGM MCA1549
Brian Wood Amberley 298 Smedley Street Matlock DE4 3LH Tel.. 01629 584716 E Mail: brian.wood500 btinternet.com D Puxley Hon Treasurer - Matlock Civic Association 29 Cavendish Road Matlock DE4 3J8 Ih 28 April 2024 Dear Dave Matlock Civic Association Accounts 01.04.2023 - 31.03.2024 I conf irm that the Independent Examirntion of the Income and Expenditure accounting records presented to me agreed with the Bank Reconciliation f or the period 01.04.2023 - 31.03.2024 in the Sum of £184829.86 A signed copy of the Examiners Report to the Trustees is enclosed. Yours sincerely Brian Wood MCA1549
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Matlock Civic Association Charity No 1161566 I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024 Respective responsibilities of trustses and examiner As the chartty's trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the AcV}. I report in respect of the examination of the Trust's accounts carried OLrt under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145 15) (b) of the Act. Independent Examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matenal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to lIeVe that in any material respe accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting statements I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. (Signed) . .Date 28° April 2024 Qualification= D.M. Address: Amberley, 298 Smedley Street. Matlock. DE4 3LH MCA1549