– Account Summary 1[st] January 2024 31[st] December 2024
We have continued with our bookings as per normal for all three halls and thus have increase on last year. Statistically, we took 38 bookings in 2023 and took 52 this year, 2024. Some of our regular hirers have extended their hours and we have picked up another new regular hirer [Zumba]. We are pleased to say that we have managed to increase our income by just under £10,000 on what we achieved last year.
We have minimised the large evening parties of Fri/Sat due to the significant damage caused by a few, as this hasn’t been cost effective. Some of the refurbishment costs are because we have had to do some significant repairs.
We are happy that we have been able to support the continuation of a much needed toddler group within the village and are please that Early Learning Steps have been able to increase to 4.5 days a week.
All work has been completed as part of the EICR which was done in Nov 2023. We have had a few lighting issues, and this is due to the fittings coming to the end of their lifetime and needing to be replaced with metric version and up to date requirements.
We have provided new heaters in the office for our Parish Council staff and upstairs within the two committee rooms.
Our utilities have continued with Octopus, and we have renewed our contract with them into a new fixed term contract. Smart electrical meters were fitted in February and seem to be making a difference in our costs, as we have spent slightly less than last year! I have been trying to chase up the rebate from OPUS too. (I can say that we have now received this in the financial year 2025).
We received the costings from HB Homes for our 6 phase redevelopment in November and that information has enabled us to start making applications for grants. (I can report that the ones applied for this 2024 financial year were unsuccessful.)
From a refurbishment/maintenance point of view, we have had gardening areas cut back (which seems a never-ending job), plumbing issues sorted out to help with heating, signage put up for the area where the toddler group would be during the day, various outside lightening fixtures sorted and some small roofing repairs completed. Some of these maintenance jobs are not necessarily highly visible to visitors/hirers but are being completed.
We have managed to keep our expenditure to similar level to that of last year and thus the surplus £12,000 will go back into the coffers to help pay for the upcoming redevelopment costs.
31/12/2024 31/12/2023
31/12/2022
INCOME
Hire and Rent received
| INCOME Hire and Rent received |
INCOME Hire and Rent received |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North & South halls | £36,258.44 | £29,212.24 | £25,930.00 | ||||
| West Hall | £2,280.90 | £233.00 | £1,991.00 | ||||
| External area rents | £830.00 | £720.00 | £600.00 | ||||
| Commercial rents | £5,139.00 | £5,699.75 | £9,182.50 | ||||
| Events | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||||
| total | £44,508.34 | £35,864.99 | £37,703.50 | ||||
| Deposits returned from previous year | £376.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||||
| refundable deposits held at 31/12 | £175.00 | £745.00 | £75.00 | ||||
| Donations / refunds/grants | £90.00 | £32.00 | £3,940.00 | ||||
| total | £45,149.34 | £36,641.99 | £41,718.50 | ||||
| cleared o/standing hire | fees from previous | ||||||
| year | £1,056.00 | £325.75 | £373.50 | ||||
| written off from previous year/COVID | |||||||
| refunds | £1.50 | £0.00 | £74.00 | ||||
| o/standing hire/rents at year end | -£382.49 | -£1,057.50 | -£325.75 | ||||
| Total Income | £45,824.35 | £35,910.24 | £41,840.25 | ||||
| EXPENDITURE | |||||||
| Rates | £0.00 | 0 | £0.00 | £0.00 | |||
| Water | £1,731.51 | £713.64 | £96.40 | ||||
| Gas | £3,395.42 | £4,558.93 | £2,636.80 | ||||
| Electricity | £5,936.11 | £6,768.11 | £3,220.60 | ||||
| Repairs and Maintenance | £7,596.11 | £7,147.33 | £5,015.08 | ||||
| Redevelopment | £0.00 | £1,426.00 | |||||
| Redevelopment Architect | £1,740.00 | £0.00 | £16,176.28 | ||||
| Insurance | £3,486.78 | £3,309.07 | £2,914.28 | ||||
| Bins/cleaning/Material & Supplies | £9,132.92 | £9,913.54 | £8,886.12 | ||||
| Sundry expenses | £274.18 | £235.80 | £768.38 | ||||
| Certificates/licences | £362.88 | £427.54 | |||||
| Events | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||||
| total | £33,655.91 | £33,073.96 | £41,139.94 | ||||
| Excess of income over expenditure | £12,168.44 | £2,836.28 | £700.31 | ||||
| Accumulated excess at | 1st January | £79,879.96 | £77,043.68 | £76,343.37 | |||
| Accumulated excess at | 31st December | £92,048.40 | £79,879.96 | £77,043.68 | |||
| Balance 31st December | £92,048.40 | £79,879.96 | £77,043.68 | ||||
| Represented by: | |||||||
| SCC Lloyds Bank | 40635.39 | 38922.47 | 76099.44 | ||||
| SCC SAVER | 51187.17 | 40611.65 | 350.15 | ||||
| Cash held | 225.84 | 345.84 | 594.09 | ||||
| £92,048.40 | £79,879.96 | £77,043.68 |
Independent examiner’s report to the Staplehurst Community Centre, Staplehurst, Kent. For the year ended 31st December 2024
This report on the financial statements of the Staplehurst Community Centre for the year ended 31st December 2024, which are set out on the accompanying pages, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with section 43 of the Charities Act 1993 (‘the Act’).
Respective responsibilities of the Staplehurst Village Centre and the examiner
As members of the Staplehurst Village Centre you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and section 43(2) of the Act do not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations.
Basis of this report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the Act. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Staplehurst Village Centre and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and to prepare financial statements, which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
.................................................... Graeme Smith FCMA CGMA
2 Vine House, High Street, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent TN12 0AR
17[th] January 2026