Charity Registration Number: 1165496
Poole Quays Forum
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
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Poole Quays Forum Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Reference and Administration Details
Charity name
Poole Quays Forum
Charity registration number
1165496
Charity’s principal address
Poole Quays Forum 2 Poplar Close Poole BH15 1LP
Trustees
Christopher Allenby (Interim Chair) – appointed 11/10/23 Lisa Fall – re-appointed 11/10/23 Gordon Sutterby - appointed 25/03/21 Andrew Preston - appointed 23/01/23 Susan Bellamy – appointed 01/11/23 William Constance – retired 11/10/23
Poole Quays Forum Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
Poole Quays Forum is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’), which was created and registered with the Charity Commission on 9 February 2016.
Poole Quays Forum is a membership-based organisation. Membership of the CIO is open to;
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i. anyone who resides, or works or, in the case of a corporate body or a partnership has a place of business in the Neighbourhood Area; or
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ii. anyone who is an elected member of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council), whose area falls within the Neighbourhood Area; and is interested in furthering the purposes of the CIO.
The general management and control of the charity rests with a board of trustees, who are elected by the membership of the charity at each annual general meeting. The board of trustees may also appoint new trustees during the year, although such persons will hold office until the next AGM, where they may be re-appointed. Trustees are required to retire by rotation, with one third of the trustees retiring each year. Trustees who retire at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) may, if still willing to act, be reappointed.
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The board of trustees meet approximately once a month to manage the affairs of the charity. All trustees give their time voluntarily. They are assisted by a group of voluntary advisors, who provide advice and guidance to the trustees on a range of technical issues.
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the charity, as set out in its governing document, are to promote for the benefit of the public:
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a. the protection, preservation, improvement and revitalisation of the built environment;
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b. high standards of architecture and town planning;
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c. the provision or improvement of public amenities, open spaces and recreational facilities for the public at large or those who have need of them by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances; in the neighbourhood area, in particular but not exclusively by such sustainable means as may promote sustainable development, in order to improve the social economic and environmental wellbeing of the neighbourhood area.
The ‘neighbourhood area’ means the area known as Poole Old Town and Hamworthy East.
Poole Quays Forum (PQF) primarily pursues its objects as defined in the Neighbourhood Plan for the Poole Quays Forum area. Under the Localism Act 2011, a neighbourhood forum has the powers to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan and Development Order for a neighbourhood area. The PQF plan was adopted by the Local Authority (LA) in February 2017 and is now part of the LA’s planning policies. As a formal group recognized by the Local Authority, Poole Quays Forum can therefore represent the neighbourhood and the local community’s various interests. It is an opportunity for interested parties to share ideas and work together to make the neighbourhood area a better place.
Poole Quays Forum also pursues its objects by pursuing improvements to public amenities in the neighbourhood area. Such work involves working in partnership with other bodies to identify opportunities and bring forward plans to improve public space.
The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing aims and objectives and when planning future activities. The trustees are satisfied that the charity meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit test.
Achievements and Performance
A positive start to the year with BCP Council granting PQF accreditation, as a Neighbourhood Forum for a further 5 years to January 2028. This is the third consecutive renewal period.
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The first members meeting of the year, held in January drew 80 attendees, who engaged in a workshop to review and comment on the BCP Council emerging Local Plan. The plan will set out a strategy for how much, where and what type of development will take place across the BCP area up to 2038. It will provide detailed planning policies and land allocations to guide change and new development.
Steve Dring, Interim Planning Policy Manager, BCP Planning Services, along with members of the BCP Planning Team acted as facilitators for ten member groups. Specific subjects studied were, Build Environment, Transportation, Homes, Climate Change and Regeneration of the Town Centre. The outcomes were fed into the local Plan process and feedback and discussion continued to be part of the three other members meeting during the year.
The members meeting in April attracted 72 attendees, with Jim Stewart, Chief Executive, Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) presenting the PHC draft Masterplan. The presentation included PHC future visions; including, to maximise Port Estate Potential, to maximise Ferry Potential and to become the UK’s Number One Marine Leisure Destination.
Captain Brian Murphy, Harbour Master gave an update and explained the remedial actions taken following a significant oil spillage from the Perenco Wytch Farm facility.
Olivia Burton, Senior Development Manager for London Land Group, gave the presentation at the members meeting in July, which was attended by 76 members. Olivia gave details of the development and methods of construction for the Waterfront Development, adjacent to the Twin Sails Bridge.
The site will comprise of 291 residential apartments, club lounges with roof terraces and a large communal area. There will be two commercial units and two restaurant/hospitality units overlooking the water.
This is the largest residential development in Poole for many years and is significant in regenerating “brown field” sites within the region.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held in October, with 64 attendees. The Trustees welcomed Siobhan Harrington, CEO University Hospitals Dorset as guest speaker. The hospital group serves a population of more than 700,000 and is part way through a significant re-development of expansion and refurbishment, with an investment totalling £760 million.
The presentation gave details of the services offered, organisation and the redevelopment project.
Harry Paye Day, is an annual event celebrating the Heritage of Poole and the historic link of pirates with the harbour and Quay. PQF were present with a stand on the Quay, welcoming new members and providing information on new developments within the area.
The High Street Action Zone (HAZ) project, jointly funded by Historic England and BCP Council has made significant progress with structural and visual improvements to Listed properties in the High Street. Also, in making contributions
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to the refurbishment and expansion of Poole Museum and Scaplens Court. All this work contributing to the celebration of the Heritage of Poole. PQF are represented as HAZ Board Member.
PQF objective is to encourage the local community to play an active part in shaping the future environment for the PQF area. Providing, timely and accurate information on activities, developments and changes to the local environment, which may affect people’s work and/or living conditions. That means bringing people together, physically, to share concepts and work towards improvements in the area.
The Trustees and Advisors met regularly on 10 occasions through the year. The working group review all planning applications within the area, submitting comments to the Planning team, when appropriate. Information is passed to Members, who are encouraged to give their own views and comments. The objective is to inform people and encourage them to be active in the community. We continue to work closely with developers and BCP Council on potential developments and public realm projects. Regular meetings are held with the BCP Director of Planning. PQF objective is to encourage good and sustainable development, which will improve the environment and benefit the existing and future community of the Neighbourhood area.
Representative members of the Trustees and Advisor group continued engagement and contributed to other local organisations including Poole Business Improvement District (BID), the local Police Authority, the Society for Poole, and the BCP Future Places team. PQF representatives were active in developing the “Poole Quay Design Code” and the BCP “Building Heights,” policy.
A proportion of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) paid by developers is available for bids from the local community for projects to enhance the local environment. As PQF have a registered Neighbourhood Plan any requests for CIL funding within the PQF area must be considered by the Trustees, who make recommendations to BCP Council, who allocate the funds. During the year PQF have recommended the following payments;
Poole Town Faith and Heritage Trail Map, £2000
Tuckers Field, Hamworthy, £24000
Oriel Café, The Quay, Flying Angel Mural £3250. Now registered as a heritage asset. -
The Neighbourhood Plan is now firmly established as part of the BCP Council planning process. PQF will continue to work in partnership with other interested parties such as the Council, Poole Harbour Commissioners, local businesses, potential developers, and the Poole BID team to share ideas and work together to make the neighbourhood area a better place.
PQF Trustees wish to thank all members for their continued support. Membership at the year-end was 521, with an additional 162 interested parties and 18 BCP Council representatives, with a total mailing list of 705. All members are encouraged to participate in PQF activities and new members are most welcome.
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The Trustees wish to thank the RNLI for their continued support and assistance.
A special thank you is due to fellow Trustees and Advisors, who continue to give of their time, knowledge, experience and effort on a voluntary basis.
We look forward to another active year.
Signed on behalf of all the trustees.
Christopher Allenby Interim Chairman of the Trustees 6[th] June 2024
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Poole Quays Forum Receipts and Payments Accounts For the Year Ended 31 December 2023
| Notes | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Receipts | |||
| Grants | - | ||
| Donations and gift aid | 242 | 1097 | |
| BCP & BoP | - | 3500 | |
| Total receipts | | | |
| 242 | 4597 | ||
| | | ||
| Bank Charges | (61) | (63) | |
| Workshop | - | - | |
| Print & publicity | - | - | |
| Website Domain | - | - | |
| Insurance | 5 | (185) | (187) |
| Loans paid off | (1000) | - | |
| Other miscellaneous costs CVS Subscription | - | (2298) | |
| | | ||
| Sub-total | (1246) | (2548) | |
| | | ||
| Net receipts / (payments) | (1004) | 2050 | |
| | | ||
| Cash funds brought forward | - | - | |
| | | ||
| Cash funds carried forward | (1004) |
2050 |
All funds are unrestricted.
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Poole Quays Forum Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2023
| Notes | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Cash funds | |||
| HSBC current account | 3252 | 4255 | |
| HSBC savings account | - | - | |
| | | ||
| 3252 | 4255 | ||
| | | ||
| Liabilities | |||
| Payments due | (100) | (100) | |
| Loan notes | 3 | - | (1,000) |
| | | ||
| (100) | (1,100) | ||
| | |
All funds are unrestricted.
Signed on behalf of all the trustees.
Christopher Allenby Interim Chairman of the Trustees 6[th] June 2024
Accounts reviewed by
DEBBIE L. FERGUSON Date: 8[th] June 2024
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Poole Quays Forum Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
The following notes provide additional analysis to assist with the understanding of the accounts.
1. Basis of preparation
As a CIO, the charity is required to follow accounting and reporting requirements set out by charity law. As the charity’s annual income is below £250,000, it is permitted to prepare its accounts on a receipts and payments basis. The charity has therefore chosen to present receipts and payments accounts with a statement of assets and liabilities.
2. Independent examination of the accounts
An audit or independent examination is only required if the charity’s gross income is over £25,000. The trustees have therefore decided not to have an independent examination performed in accordance with the Charity Commission’s guidance set out in ‘Independent examination of charity accounts: examiners (CC32) ’. The Trustees have, however, subjected the accounts to informal external verification by a suitably experienced person not connected to the charity.
3. Loan notes
Loan notes were partly repaid and/or transferred as donations to PQF. Duncan Challis, retired as a Trustee. He was repaid £500 and donated the balance of £500 to PQF. Christopher Allenby and William Constance each donated £500 of the loan notes to PQF. New loan notes to the value of £500 were issued on 08/11/2022. Both of the outstanding loan notes were paid off from funds October 2023.
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Christopher Allenby | (000) | (500) |
| Duncan Challis | (000) | (000) |
| William Constance | (000) | (500) |
| | | |
| (000) | (1,000) | |
| | |
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