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2021-08-31-accounts

Circuit Accruals Accounts 2020-2021

THE METHODIST CHURCH

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

for the year ended 31 August 2021

Kingston Upon Thames Circuit 1163652 London District No/ Circuit No 35/38

Registered Charity - Registration number

Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

Reference and administrative details

Reference and administrative details
Full Name of Charity: Kingston upon Thames Methodist Circuit
Registration Charity Number: 1163652
Date of registration: 18 September 2015
Main communication address (Circuit office):Surbiton Methodist Church
39 Ewell Road
Surbiton
Surrey
KT6 6AF
Circuit Ministers and officers
Active Circuit Ministers: Rev Dr Stanley Brown
Rev Dr Karl Rutlidge
Rev Dr Mark Wakelin
Circuit Stewards: Mr David Knowles
Ms Ruby Esson
Mr John Harvey
Ms Helen Lamb
Administrator: Mr Michael Axton
Circuit Treasurer: Ms Bridget Russell
Independent examiner: Simon Sturman
Simply Accounts and Tax Limited
Epsilon House
Ransomes Europark
Ipswich
IP3 9FJ
Bankers: Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Barclays Bank Plc

1

Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

Basis of preparation and legal framework

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 – the Charities SORP (FRS102) and taking note of the Update Bulletin 1 issued in 2016. The members of the Kingston upon Thames Methodist Circuit meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of circuit office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the local churches. Fully membership is shown as Appendix A to this report.

Aims and organisation

Mission Statement

To support and develop the Methodist congregations and communities of the circuit through offering over sight, leadership in mission, training and support services. The circuit’s policy is to encourage and enable growth in:

Aims and organisation

Charity objective is to act as a Resource provider within the area around Kingston upon Thames for the Methodist Church.

The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union, the advancement of:

In addition

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Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

Public Benefit

In setting objective and planning activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charities Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance “Public benefit running a charity (PB2) in exercising their powers or duties.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Kingston upon Thames Methodist Circuit links four Methodist churches which serve the diverse and growing communities of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Each of our congregations is distinctive with its own style of worship and its own focus for mission and service, but we are held together by our common heritage of Methodism and a shared passion to worship and serve God within our local communities.

The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976).

Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD).

Day to day management of the circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Leadership team along with the Local Preachers meeting, the Circuit Finance and Property Committee and the Circuit Policy Committee.

Purposes of the Circuit

The purposes of a Methodist Circuit are defined by the standing orders of The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church (CPD). They include: the effective deployment of the resources of ministry, which include people, property and finance as they relate to the Methodist churches in the Circuit, to churches of other denominations and to participation in the life of the communities served by the Circuit. (CPD: Standing Order 500).

The Circuit acts as Managing Trustees for the three residential manse properties occupied by its ministers and also for a fourth residential property formerly occupied as a manse but now let on a tenancy with the income supporting the core work of the charity. It supports and oversees the work of Church Councils who act as Managing Trustees for the local church properties and has an important role in providing scrutiny and permission giving for key decisions affecting the trusteeship of the local churches. Custodian trusteeship is provided by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes.

Trustee Training

A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the circuit specifically the leaflet ‘The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church’ is given to all new Circuit meeting members as induction to their role as trustees.

Related Parties

The Circuit is part of the London District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference. The following Methodist Churches are linked to the circuit Chessington Church, Kingston Church, New Malden Church and Surbiton Hill Church.

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Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

Risk Management

The major risks have been identified and recorded by the Circuit Finance and Property Committee with professional advice taken as required. There is a regular annual review process undertaken and recorded. Income and Expenditure is being monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.

Safeguarding

Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles:

The Kingston upon Thames Circuit commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.

The Kingston upon Thames Circuit commits itself to the provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.

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Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

Review of the year

Introduction

During the year of this report the circuit supported 2.5 full time equivalent Methodist Presbyters and employed one part time administrator. This core staff team, however, only exists to support, encourage, enable and strengthen the ministry of our congregations and the majority of our activities – in worship, service and trusteeship - are led by volunteers.

Our local churches enjoy enriching relationships with partner churches through the various “Churches Together” groupings in the Borough and we actively support a number of borough wide initiatives including Street Pastors, Food Bank, Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness and the Oxygen youth work project.

Staffing

In September 2020 at the beginning of the reporting year the circuit welcomed a new member to its ministerial staff team. Rev. Dr. Mark Wakelin joined us on a 0.5fte equivalent basis to be the minister at Chessington Methodist Church. This was a difficult time to begin a new stage of ministry as partial lockdown rules were in place at the time. Our welcome service had to be offered as an internet broadcast and the normal processes of induction and establishing the new team had to be given more time and thought than would have been usual.

The two continuing ministers in the circuit team both come to the end of their current invitation periods in August 2022. A circuit invitations committee was convened in the spring of 2021 and followed carefully the procedures for consultation with both the ministers and local churches. The decision on whether to agree an extension to these periods of invitation is made at the Sept. 2021 Circuit Meeting (though subject to the support of The Methodist Conference in June 2022) and therefore lies outside the formal scope of this report. It is, however, impossible to say anything meaningful about our future plans without reporting that decision here. Rev. Dr. Stan Brown was invited for a further year from Sept. 2022- August 2023 at which point he intends to retire. Rev. Dr. Karl Rutlidge was invited for a further four years from September 2022 to August 2026.

The circuit’s one lay employee is the Circuit Co-ordinator whose work has also been vital through the year. He has been able to work effectively from home when required

COVID-19 Responses

2020-2021 was a year of constantly changing responses to the virus. The Circuit had to respond to the different degrees of lockdown and the Tier system. Fortunately all our churches are within the same London Borough and we did not experience any of the issues which the introduction different covid rules in different parts of our circuit would have caused.

In keeping with our circuit policy of supporting the churches to develop their own mission plans, each church took responsibility for its own rolling risk assessment with regard to the differing natures of our properties and communities. Worship programs varied through the year as the degree of restriction ebbed and flowed. All four churches continued to develop an effective online presence with new patterns of hybridity beginning to emerge as worship moved to a combination of face to face and online

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Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

Finance

Some community groups were able to meet again in church buildings at periods during the reporting year. This led to a mixed pattern for rental income which might best be described as “patchy”. Once again direct giving by congregations continued to be strong though with some variation across the churches. Fall in income was greatest for the churches with the highest proportion of giving from cash donations in services and least in those with the highest proportion of direct debits and standing orders in the profile of congregational giving.

Reserves are held both by the individual churches and the circuit. Early in the closure period a more regular meeting of local church finance officers had been created and reserve policies revised. During 2020-2021 the circuit continued with the reserve policy established at the beginning of the Covid crisis – that local church reserves would be used first and the reserves held by the circuit kept as a second line. So far it has not been necessary to call on the circuit reserves to support any of the local churches. Local church reserves have been regularly monitored with forward projections to indicate when each church might drop below the recommended reserve of six months expenditure.

Income trends

Circuit income is primarily drawn from the assessment paid by the circuit churches. The rental income relates to the rental of a manse in Kingston upon Thames.

Expenditure trends

Stipend expenditure has increased each financial year in line with conference approved increases. The other expenditure includes costs involved in the upkeep of other manse property within the Circuit.

Fund balances

As at 31 August 2021 the net current assets of the Circuit were £200,635 (2020: £181,737), giving approximately five months cover of expenditure. Plans for 2021/22 Circuit financial plans for the coming year have been prepared on the basis that there are 2.5 full time ordained staff with anticipated cost of living stipend increases combined with an increase in the assessment paid to the district.

Reserves Policy

The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to 6 months’ average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and to be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities in the event of any inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches.

Property

The circuit has fulfilled its responsibility as managing trustees for the manse properties through the work of its manse stewards and has overseen the work of local managing trustees for the churches through the Circuit Meeting. There are nine Methodist Trust properties in the circuit and Quinquennial inspections are carried out by rotation with maintenance schedules being developed from these inspections. The circuit manages one rental property – a former manse now let as a residential property. A void in the tenancy at the beginning of the reporting year gave an

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Kingston upon Thames Circuit Trustees Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2021

opportunity for the property to be inspected and some redecoration and minor improvements to be made on the advice of the estate agent. Our “sinking fund” for major manse repairs had not been established long enough to cover this work and the circuit made use of reserves in order to complete the work and get the property back on the market as quickly as possible. This cost and the loss of rental income is reflected in the accounts. The property was quickly re-let with a small uplift in the rental value. Income from the property and the manse reserves policy is repaying the costs taken from our general reserve.

Safeguarding

The circuit has a role in overseeing the safeguarding work of each local church. During the year our circuit safeguarding officer has worked hard with each local church to ensure that local safeguarding officers are in place and training provided to all relevant volunteers. Our safeguarding policy receives an annual review which was carried out by the Circuit Meeting. Safeguarding is of the highest importance across all our work and we are grateful for the care with which our volunteers ensure this responsibility is constantly kept before us.

Looking Forward

During the year the Circuit Leadership Team increasingly recognised that its role and the mission of the circuit needed to be reviewed in the light of the rapidly changing circumstances. The difficulty of ensuring full and proper consultation and conversations during a time of sporadic video conferencing was, however, recognised and significant discussion has been postponed until the situation improves.

Although slightly outside the time frame of this report decisions on our future ministerial staffing were reported above under “Staffing”. The retirement of the current superintendent minister in 2023 will require a major consultation exercise in 2021-2022. This will run in partnership with the policy of reviewing the mission and structure of the circuit. The timing allows for reassessment, flexibility and change as we emerge from the Covid pandemic. Rev. Dr. Stan brown will also be on sabbatical leave for 12 weeks in 2022. The need for consultation and review together with this limitation on time in the coming financial year mean that we are not attempting any significant development initiatives beyond those already mentioned.

Rev Dr Stan Brown

Superintendent Minister

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Circuit No 35/38

Kingston Upon Thames Circuit

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2021

Notes to Circuit Model Designated
the General Fund Trust Funds Restricted Endowment Total
accounts
(Unrestricted)
(Unrestricted) (unrestricted) Funds Funds 2020-21
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income
1 Donations and legacies -
2 Income from monetary investments 692 692
3 Income from investment properties 11,890 11,890
4 Assessments on Churches 151,079 151,079
5 Capital Receipts -
6 Grants received -
7 Other charitable income
8Total income 163,661 - - - - 163,661
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations -
10 Salaries and associated costs 99,937 99,937
11 Property maintenance 17,432 17,432
12 Connexional assessment & model trust levy 545 545
13 District Assessment & Levy 35,579 990 36,569
14 Depreciation -
15 Office expenses 8,998 8,998
16 Other outgoings 1,477 1,477
17Total charitable expenditure 163,423 1,535 - - - 164,958
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments (316) (316)
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure) 238 (1,851) - - - (1,613)
21 Transfers between funds -
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds 238 (1,851) - - - (1,613)
24 Total funds brought forward 2,160,072 78,124 25,697 - - 2,263,893
25 Total funds carried forward 2,160,310 76,273 25,697 - - 2,262,280

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Circuit No 35/38

Kingston Upon Thames Circuit

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2020

Income
1 Donations and legacies
2 Income from monetary investments
3 Income from investment properties
4 Assessments on Churches
5 Capital Receipts
6 Grants received
7 Other charitable income
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations
10 Salaries and associated costs
11 Property maintenance
12 Connexional assessment & model trust levy
13 District Assessment & Levy
14 Depreciation
15 Office expenses
16 Other outgoings
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward
Notes to the
accounts
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Circuit Model
Trust
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2019-20
£
£
£
£
£
£
-
902
669
1,571
20,170
20,170
157,456
157,456
-
6,000
6,000
184,528
669
-
-
-
185,197
-
105,426
105,426
30,554
30,554
-
31,884
1,990
33,874
-
6,634
6,634
1,830
159
1,989
176,328
2,149
-
-
-
178,477
-
8,200
(1,480)
-
-
-
6,720
-
354
354
8,554
(1,480)
-
-
-
7,074
2,151,518
79,604
25,697
2,256,819
2,160,072
78,124
25,697
-
-
2,263,893

9

Circuit No 35/38

Kingston Upon Thames Circuit

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2021

Fixed Assets Notes to the
Accounts
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
£
Circuit Model
Trusts
(Unrestricted)
£
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
Totals
2020/21
£
Totals
2019/20
£
Circuit Manses & Equipment 2,043,486 2,043,486 2,043,486
Investmentproperties -
Investments 18,159 18,159 38,670
Total fixed assets 2,061,645 - - - - 2,061,645 2,082,156
Current Assets
Debtors - -
Loans bythe Circuit - -
Investments with TMCP 76,273 76,273 78,124
Central Finance Board Deposits 86,713 25,697 112,410 102,402
Cash at Bank and in hand 11,952 11,952 1,211
Total current assets 98,665 76,273 25,697 - - 200,635 181,737
Current liabilities
Creditors (due in under 1 year) - -
Grantspayable within 2020-21 - -
Total current liabilities - - - - - - -
Net current assets/liabilities 98,665 76,273 25,697 - - 200,635 181,737
Total assets less current liabilities 2,160,310 76,273 25,697 - - 2,262,280 2,263,893
Long term liabilities
(due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2020-21 - -
Loans to the Circuit - -
- -
Net assets 2,160,310 76,273 25,697 - - 2,262,280 2,263,893
Funds of the Circuit
General Fund(Unrestricted) 2,160,310 - 2,160,310 2,160,072
Circuit Model Trust Fund (Unrestricted) 76,273 76,273 78,124
Designated Funds (Unrestricted) 25,697 25,697 25,697
Total Unrestricted Funds 2,262,280 2,263,893
Restricted Funds - - -
Endowment Funds - - -
Total Funds 2,160,310 76,273 25,697 - - 2,262,280 2,263,893

Signed

Circuit Treasurer

10

Circuit No

35/38

Kingston Upon Thames Circuit

Notes to the Accounts

1 Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 – the Charities SORP (FRS102) and taking note of the Update Bulletin 1 issued in 2016.

2 Funds

The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Circuit which are Unrestricted. The Circuit Model Trust Fund has wide purposes defined in Standing Orders and is categorised as unrestricted. Restricted funds which are held for a narrower purpose . There are no Endowment funds. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the final note to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash.

3 Accounting policies Basis

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the Circuit’s financial position and activities.

Incoming Resources

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Circuit becomes entitled to the resources, and the trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Resources Expended

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Circuit to pay out resources.

Grants

Grants made by the Circuit from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment.

VAT

Since the Circuit is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

Tangible fixed assets for use by the Circuit

Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500.

The freehold property is shown in the accounts at 2015 deemed values. No depreciation is provided on the building because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year-end) to be not less than its current value. Any depreciation would not be material. The property has been reviewed for impairment.

Investment Properties

Investment properties - no property is currently deemed to not be held for the long term purposes of the charity.

Investments

Investments are valued in the balance sheet at market value at the year end. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable and any gains or losses on revaluation at the year end are shown in the SOFA.

Debtors and Prepayments

None

11

Creditors

Creditors include expenses that relate to recognised obligation due at the end of the accounting year.

4 Payment to Trustees

There were no payments made to trustees for additional services provided to the Circuit by agreement with the Circuit Meeting, this excludes stipends.


Circuit Meeting, this excludes stipends.
Trustee expenses
Number of Trustees
Total amount
2020/21
-
£ -
2019/20
- -
£ - £ -

5 Fees for examination or audit of the accounts

Independent examiner’s or auditors' fees for reporting on the accounts

Other fees (eg: advice, accountancy services) paid to the independent examiner or auditor

2020/21
£
690
-
2019/20
£
690 690
- -

6 Paid employees

Staff Costs paid during the year were:
Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind
Employer’s National Insurance costs
Pension costs
Total staff costs
Average number of full-time equivalent
employees in the year were:
2020/21
£
76,155
6,052
17,731
99,938
4
2019/20
£
79,446
6,362
19,251
105,059
4 4

7 Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

At the 31 st August 2021 there are no capital commitments. No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2021.

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8 Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost or valuation

8 Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost or valuation
Land
£
Manses
£
Other
buildings
£
Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£
Payments on
account and
assets under
construction
£
Total
£
Balance brought forward - 2,042,975 - 511 2,043,486
Additions - -
Revaluations (+/-) -
Disposals (-) -
Transfers * (+/-) -
Balance carried forward - 2,042,975 - 511 - 2,043,486
Accumulated depreciation
Balance brought forward - -
Balance carried forward - -
Net book value
Brought forward - 2,042,975 - 511 - 2,043,486
Carried forward - 2,042,975 - 511 - 2,043,486

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9 Investment assets

The circuit has no Investment properties

Analysis of investment movements

Other investments

Change in investment values

Carrying value at beginning of year Add: additions to investments at cost Less: disposals at carrying value Net gain /(loss) on revaluation Carrying (market) value at year-end

2020/21
£
18,159
38,670
-
(20,196)
(316)
18,158
2019/20
£
38,670
38,670 38,316
-
(20,196)
(316) 354
18,158 38,670

11 Loans

The Circuit currently has no loans

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