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2023-03-31-accounts

Charity number: 1169845 Company number: 10157307

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST (a company limited by guarantee)

Unaudited

ANNUAL REPORT

For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Contents

Page
Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers 1
Trustees' Report 2 – 5
Independent Examiner’s Report 6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9-13

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Directors and Trustees

Dr P D Ballard Prof M. Butler Dr D J F Cresswell Cllr P M Davis Ms S E Edwards Prof I D Grosvenor Cllr Brigid Jones (removed by Birmingham City Council 26 October 2022) Mr D N Kidney Ms D Mattison (appointed 19 April 2023) Mr S. Li (removed 26 October 2022) Ms C L Organ Ms L. Portelly Mr Martin Straker-Welds (appointed by Birmingham City Council 19 October 2022) Mr M S Williams

Company secretary

Ms C L Organ

Charity registered number

1169845

Company registered number

10157307

Principal office

Highbury, 4 Yew Tree Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8QG

Independent Examiner

Mr Glen Bott FCA of Cooper Parry Group Limited

Accountants

Cooper Parry Group Limited, Cubo Birmingham, Office 401, 4[th] Floor, Two Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3AX

Bankers

Natwest Bank, 112a High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7LQ

Page 1

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Trustees' Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

The Directors, who are also Trustees of the charity for the purposes of charity law, are pleased to present their sixth annual report for the year ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities," 2019.

Structure, governance and management

Constitution

The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles dated 30 April 2016.

The principal objects of the charity are:

Appointment or election of Trustees

When Trustees retire (ether by choice or at the end of their permitted term of office) or their appointment is terminated, the appointment of new Trustees is by open advertisement, competition and interview except that the Memorandum and Articles of Association permit Birmingham City Council to appoint two Trustees, whose appointments are governed by the Council’s procedures.

During 2022/23, no Trustees retired at the end of their term of office, two Trustees were removed: Mr S. Li was removed by the Trust Board for persistent non-attendance and Cllr Brigid Jones was removed by Birmingham City Council and replaced by Mr Martin Straker-Welds. During the year, no new Trustees were recruited by open advertisement, competition and interview.

Trustee Training

Whilst all Trustees had experience of trusteeship or similar responsibilities at the time of their appointment, the Company Secretary has regularly drawn to Trustees’ attention guidance and advice from the Charity Commission and other relevant sources. Trustees with specific professional qualifications and other responsibilities have attended training relevant to those professions and responsibilities.

The Trust is committed to undertaking regular skills audits of trustees to ensure Trustees are competent to discharge their statutory responsibilities and duties. The next skills audit is due in 2023-24.

Page 2

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Trustees' Report (continued) For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Policies and objectives

The Trustees regularly review their policies and make changes and additions as required. The Trustees plan a full programme of activities for each year. In setting the aims and objectives and in planning future activities, the Trustees give due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit.

The Trust remains committed to the renovation of Highbury’s mansion and grounds so that the estate can be opened to the people of Birmingham as was envisaged when it was first gifted to the citizens by the Chamberlain family. A development grant was secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) in September 2021 and a delivery grant will be sought in August 2023.

Risk Management

The Trustees have created and maintain a risk register which Trustees review at every meeting of the Trust Board. The Trustees seek to identify all relevant strategic risks, to take measures to eliminate them or, where elimination is not possible, to take action to mitigate the risk and to manage the residuary risk.

Since the Trust successfully obtained a development grant from NLHF on 20 September 2021, the major risks in the risk register have revolved around managing the development phase of the Highbury restoration project and obtaining a delivery grant from NLHF for Highbury’s continued restoration over the next few years. Risks include raising match funding, construction cost overruns, damage to the fabric of the building, and failure to maintain good relations with partners, stakeholders, tenants, local residents and neighbours.

The Trustees managed the challenges brought about by Covid-19, including those times when the mansion had to be kept closed. The gardens were very popular with people from local communities during times of lockdown and social distancing and visitor numbers exceeded 100,000. When the restoration project is completed, the mansion will regularly be open for visitors (an admission charge will apply) and the grounds will be open to the public for free all year round.

Achievements and performance

During the year, the Trustees, having successfully achieved a development grant from NLHF, together with funding from Birmingham City Council, which enabled the Trustees to assemble a Design Team comprising a range of professionals with appropriate skills and experience of heritage restoration projects and developed its restoration project to RIBA Stage 2. The mansion was opened for visitors for numerous Open Days, the grounds continued to be open for visitors for free every day and the Trustees managed a small paid team of managers and 50 plus volunteers.

As reported above, there were some changes to the composition of the Trust Board and these changes were managed without any adverse disruption to the Trust’s operations.

Youth Board

The Trustees continue to operate a young leadership education and training programme for cohorts of young people from Birmingham and its surrounds. The restoration plans include the provision of a dedicated learning centre for the future operation of this programme. From those young people who participate in the young leadership education and training activities, the Trustees appoint a Youth Board and members of the Youth Board are consulted on all aspects of the Trustees’ work with a view to the co-production of plans for the future development of Highbury and its activities.

Page 3

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Trustees' Report (continued) For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)

The Trustees acknowledge the development grant received from NLHF in September 2021 and this acknowledgement is also recorded on the Trust’s website and in all relevant communications and activities of the Trust.

The Trustees acknowledge the contribution made by individual Lottery players without which NLHF would not be able to assist projects like the Trust’s restoration project for Highbury. The Trust took part in a week of celebration of the contribution made by Lottery Players during March 2023 with open access and guided tours of Highbury available to Lottery players.

The Trustees have committed to consider lasting ways of embedding this acknowledgement in the restoration works and future activities of the Trust.

Heritage Open Day

The Trustees once again participated in the Birmingham Heritage Week in 2022, holding a Heritage Open Day in September 2022. The Heritage Open Day at Highbury on 11 September attracted 140 visitors who took mansion tours, 13 visitors who took grounds tours, 40 visitors who took our “Hidden Highbury” tours, 36 visitors on Calligraphy workshops and 300 other visitors.

Communications

The Trustees engaged with a wide range of stakeholders (the stakeholders have been mapped) throughout the year by means of the Trust’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, its website (www.chamberlainhighburytrust.co.uk), a monthly newsletter updating all subscribers on key news and forthcoming events, emails and organised communication and consultation meetings at Highbury.

Financial review

Income for the year totalled £253,588 (2022: £185,728) and charitable expenditure totalled £247,854 (2022: £257,945). As at 31 March 2023, the Trust had total funds carried forward of £90,625 (2022: £84,891) of which £48,096 (2022: £44,478) were unrestricted and £42,529 (2022: £40,413) were restricted.

Reserves policy

The Trustees aim to maintain reserves at a level sufficient to support the operational expenditure and any commitments of the Charity for a period of 12 months.

Plans for future periods

Proposals for Highbury

The mansion

The Trustees’ restoration plan is to accommodate a combination of activities for the mansion including heritage visits, young leadership education and training, and lettings of office space, and the restoration of many of the historical features of the gardens. The Business Plan commits the Trustees to raise enough income to ensure the viability of the Trust and provide public access to the building and opportunities for educational and cultural activities. The refurbishment of the mansion will involve extensive external repairs and the complete renewal of services, including complete rewiring, the replacement of the boilers and a new heating system. The Trustees intend the new systems to be as sustainable as possible both in terms of compatibility with Net Zero ambitions and affordability.

The grounds

Following completion of a Phase 1 Gardens Project in 2021, the Trustees are planning to restore many of the historical features of the grounds in order to give visitors a sense of what the Chamberlain family planned and experienced. As far as possible, and subject to careful cost control, original Italian, Dutch and rock gardens will be restored, the rhododendron collection will be revived, trees and a pergola will be added, ponds will be restored to health, and historical features which cannot be replaced, such as the original hobby farm will be referenced.

Page 4

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Trustees' Report (continued) For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Trustee Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also directors of The Chamberlain Highbury Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

In preparing this report, the trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A if the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 18 October 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

David Kidney, Trustee

Page 5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 7 to 13.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

This report is made solely to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

GLEN BOTT FCA

Cooper Parry Group Limited Cubo Birmingham Office 401, 4[th] Floor Two Chamberlain Square Birmingham B3 3AX

Date:

Page 6

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Statement of Financial Activities For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Year ended Year ended
31 March 31 March
Unrestricted Restricted 2023 2022
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME FROM
Donations 2 26,840 1,278
28,118
45,000
Grants 3 - 225,416 225,416 140,103
Other income 54 - 54 625
_ _ __ __
TOTAL INCOME 26,894 226,694 253,588 185,728
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities 4 18,276 229,578 247,854 257,945
_ _ __ __
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 18,276 229,578 247,854 257,945
NET INCOME/(LOSS) FOR THE YEAR 8,618 (2,884) 5,734 (72,217)
Transfer between funds (5,000) 5,000 - -
_ __ __ __
Net movement in funds 3,618
2,116
5,734 (72,217)
Total funds at 1 April 2022 44,478
40,413
84,891 157,108
_ __ __ __
TOTAL FUNDS AT
31 MARCH 2023 8 48,096 42,529 90,625 84,891

The notes on pages 9 to 13 form part of these financial statements.

Page 7

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2023

Note
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 6
Cash at bank
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors 7
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
CHARITY FUNDS
Unrestricted funds 8
Restricted funds 8
TOTAL FUNDS
£
25,416
118,345
2023
££
90,625
£
21,161
71,603
2022
£

84,891
143,761
(53,136)
92,764
(7,873)
90,625 84,891
48,096
42,529
,44,478
40,413
90,625 84,891

The Trustees consider that the charitable company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 and members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the period in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006, and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at 31 March 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure for the period then ended in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the financial statements so far as applicable to the charitable company.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 18 October 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

David Kidney, Trustee

The notes on pages 9 to 13 form part of these financial statements.

Page 8

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The Chamberlain Highbury Trust is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 1.

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised as cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to the accounts.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Ireland (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below.

1.2 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.

Designated funds are funds which are to be used for purchase of acquisitions that may become available.

The cost of raising funds and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.

The aim and use of each fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.3 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity has entitlement to the funds, after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable the income will be received.

1.4 Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which the expenditure arose.

1.5 Going concern

The trustees have considered the current financial position of the Trust alongside the future forecasts and budgets and are confident that the Trust has sufficient resources to continue to operate for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as no material uncertainties exist.

Page 9

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Notes to the Accounts

For the year ended 31 March 2023

2. DONATIONS

Donation from the Highbury Trust
Other Donations
2023
£

28,118
-

28,118
2022
£
45,000
-
45,000

Donations of £45,000 were received in the prior year, £45,000 related to unrestricted funds and £nil related to restricted funds.

3. GRANTS

The Highbury Trust
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Historic England
Birmingham City Council
Other Grants
2023
£

40,000
106,416
-
70,000
9,000
225,416
2022
£
-
5,886
41,500
87,717
5,000
140,103

Grants of £140,103 were received in the prior year all of which related to restricted funds.

4. CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE

Charitable activities
Legal and professional fees
Business support
Independent examination fees
Other costs
2023
£
5,117
4,972
1,734
236,031
247,854
2022
£
8,607
7,500
1,400
240,438
257,945

Expenditure in the prior year totalled £257,945 of which £42,128 related to unrestricted funds and £215,817 related to restricted funds.

5. NET INCOMING RESOURCES

During the period, no Trustees received any remuneration (2022: none). During the period, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2022: none) During the period, one Trustee received travel expenses totalling £1,536 (2022: £677).

Page 10

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Notes to the Accounts

For the year ended 31 March 2023

6. DEBTORS

Accrued Income
VAT Recoverable
7.
CREDITORS
Accruals
8.
STATEMENT OF FUNDS



Unrestricted funds
General funds

Designated funds

Restricted funds
Major Project
The Gardens Project
Rhododendron Project
Celebrating Comms
TOTAL
Brought
Forward


£
34,478
10,000
44,478
27,514
6,832
-
6,067
__
40,413
____
84,891
Incoming
resources


£

26,894
-
26,894
226,694
-
-
-
_
226,694
_
253,588
2023
£
2022
£
-
20,000
252525,416
1,161
25,416
21,161
2023
£
2022
£
53,136
7,873
53,136
7,873
Resources
Expended
Transfer
between
funds
Carried
Forward
£
£
£
(18,276)
(5,000)
38,096
-
-
10,000
_
(18,276)
(5,000) 48,096
(223,595)
(2,425)
-
-
-
5,000
30,613
4,407
5,000
(3,558)
- 2,509
_
_
_
(229,578)
5,000
42,529
_
_
__
(247,854)
-
90,625
2022
£
20,000
1,161
21,161
2022
£
7,873
7,873

Major Project – These funds represent monies which will be used to match fund future NLHF grants if future bids are successful.

The Gardens Project – These funds represent various grants that were provided for the Trust’s landscape restoration programme for the 30 acres of gardens. The restoration programme was ongoing at the end of the year.

Page 11

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Notes to the Accounts

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Celebrating Comms (Previously The Birmingham Roots project) - These funds represent a grant from Birmingham City Council to promote community events inspired by the Commonwealth Games.

Rhododendron Project – These funds represent monies to ensure the Rhododendrons planted by Joseph Chamberlain are protected and will be an important feature of the restored gardens at Highbury.

Designated funds – These funds represent a fund to be used to purchase objects related to Highbury or the Chamberlain Family which may become available in due course.

8a. STATEMENT OF FUNDS – PRIOR YEAR




Unrestricted funds
General funds

Designated funds

Restricted funds
Major Project
The Gardens Project
Rhododendron Project
Birmingham Roots
TOTAL
Brought
Forward


£
40,519
-
40,519
22,466
93,123
1,000
-
__
116,589
____
157,108
Incoming
resources


£
45,087
-
45,087
5,538
127,386
-
7,717
_
140,641
_
185,728
Resources
Expended



£

(42,128)
-
(42,128)
(490)
(213,677)
-
(1,650)
_
(215,817)
_
(257,945)
Transfer
between
funds
Carried
Forward
£
£
(9,000)
34,478
10,000
10,000
_
1,000 44,478
-
-
(1,000)
27,514
6,832
-
- 6,067
__ _
(1,000)
40,413
___ _

-
84,891

Page 12

THE CHAMBERLAIN HIGHBURY TRUST

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS

Unrestricted
Funds


Cash at bank & in hand
Other net current assets
26,740
21,356
____
48,096
Restricted
Funds
Total
91,605
(49,076)
118,345
(27,720)
__
_____
42,529
90,625

9a. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS – PRIOR YEAR

Unrestricted
Funds


Cash at bank & in hand
Other net current assets
51,190
(6,712)
____
44,478
Restricted
Funds
Total
20,413
20,000
71,603
13,288
__
_____
40,413
84,891

10. RELATED PARTIES

There were no related party transactions during the period. See note 5 for details of Trustee expenses paid in the year.

11. MEMBERS

The charity is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee having no share capital and in accordance with the Memorandum of Association, every member is liable to contribute a sum of £10 in the event of the company being wound up. At 31 March 2023 there were 8 members.

Page 13