Bembridge Community Library Church Road Bembridge Isle of Wight PO35 5NA ## **Trustees Annual Report November 2023 Period Covered: 01/04/22 – 31/03/23** Covid lockdown restrictions have now been entirely removed, although some Health & Safety measures are still in place (e.g. gel for hand sanitation and screens at the front desk. The Library is now open on Wednesdays 09:30 to 12:30, Fridays 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:30 and Saturdays 09:30 to 12:30. These hours are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future. The objectives of the Trust and the Trustees remain as previously documented and can be found on the Charity Commission Website. During the period the Library made itself available as a ‘Warm Space’ as part of a wider initiative in the village to provide help for those less able to afford the escalating costs of heat and light. Take up has been low which reflects the relative affluence of the area but this initiative will be continued into the 2023-24 winter period. As can be seen from the annual accounts, the main income streams received during the period of this report were enhanced by being out of Covid restrictions. Reasonable sources of funds came from donations, book sales, room rental and events. For the first time interest was received on deposit accounts which may help offset some increases in inflation starting to come through at the end of the reporting period. Up until now all funds had been held in a current account with no interest. The trustees want to ensure that going forwards, income from savings are maximised without risking the savings in any way. On the expenditure side the main costs relate to gas and electric costs which are likely to continue to be a significant burden on the library’s funds going forwards. Ideally the Library would replace the gas boiler with an air source heat pump/solar array but, in the absence of any grants to help achieve this we are unlikely to make much progress in this area. The repairs and maintenance bills are also high until we get to a position where much needed essential repairs are completed. Wherever possible volunteers are carrying out some much-needed redecoration. A secondhand kitchen has been acquired (for free) which will be installed in 2023. During the period the entrance hall was given new lino and the whole corridor redecorated by volunteers using paint donated by the Village Hall. The Isle of Wight Council have taken buildings insurance back in-house which is a help but the library is still responsible for contents and liability cover. The number of trustees has stayed at nine for the duration of this report although one is on agreed leave during the latter part of this reporting period. The library building is split into two parts - the main Library area and a secondary area previously occupied by Bembridge Heritage Society. When the library took on the lease, it entered into an agreement with the Isle of Wight Council to also take on a lease for the entire premises. During the period the library signed this second lease but has no current plans on what to do with the rear section of the building. The rear is a ‘temporary structure’ which requires a lot of remedial work even to use as a storage area. Problems include single brick walls, a leaking roof, and a valley gutter which fills with debris from overhanging trees etc. In the next period we will investigate costs associated with tackling some of these issues and investigating any sources of funds which might help remedy the problems. Ian Graham Chair of Trustees 01[st] November 2023 BEMBRIDGE LI8RARY_ Chantable Incorporated OrgaTrisation 1179944 BEMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LIBRARY Chgrltable Ineorpor4ted OrgJnis*tioD 1179944 Income & Expenditure AcCoU￿1- Is¢ Apral 2022 to 31st Mareh 2023 Ineome 22123 21122 ExpeThdltllre 21123 21n2 l Fe¢s Donations £ 1,113 £ 1.138 Insurance 1,33] Book Sal¢s lcopying & Printing '.Book Fines/ Lost Books 799 Heat, Light & Pow¢r irs & mainten?￿Ce 2,986 3,292 247 143 4,295 Licenres ITV) ioffice Chairs 159 211 | Book R¢5¢rvaiionb IDVD Rental IAudiD Book Rental IRoorn Rental 'Craft Sales 122 71 292 'Covid-PPE elc 50 39 Stsiionery Computer & R¢lat¢d Presentation Gift 89 58 £ 1.045 219 1 23 316 212 62 30 IEvent5 '.Bric-a-Brac £ 1,470 28 44 Event Expenses .'Professional Fee5 374 £ 5,286 Iio 751 60 ..GvaDts and Other Income ,'Library Flag Purchase of Books J20 COV1D-19 Restriction l £ Ji,ooo 48 Water Compmy Survey !IDterest Rectivtd: Bank iother TOTAL INCO￿tE 100 Sundry Items Refre5hD]¢nts 32 £ JS,347 TOTAL EXPENDITURE IE¥cess D Income over BEM LIB YIARY March 2023.x15 Page1of1 INC & EXP 2023 Financial Control BEMBRIDGE HAR80UR USERS GROUP 1710612023 22'.21 BFl￿BRIDGE COMMUNITY LIBRARY BALANCE SHEET 08 at 31st March 2023 'CURRF,NT ASSETS Bank Ciirr¢nl Account ! Inslant Online Account Fixed Tern) Deposit , Cash (Floats) .￿_.:.caSh in Hand 39051360 59157062 1 18999iOOLS | 8,863.33 20,018.96 60,000.00 120.00 31.35 89,033.64 .,Debtors Bank Interest BB Inj¢ 12.67 ments 0.00 ..TotAI Current Assets 89,046.31 CUiiRETrrr LiABIirrIES - Icreditors and Accruals 0.00 0.00 Income Received in Advance Total Curreni Liabilities 0.00 ET CURRENT ASSETS 89,046.31 IRepresented by: Capital & Reserves as at 1st April 2022 Add Excess of Income ov¢r ExEenditure for the Y¢ar Icapital & Reserves as at 3 1st March 2023 91,463.09 -2.416.78 89,046.31 BEM LIBRARY March 2023.xls Page1011 BAL SHEET 2023 Tim Woodcock Bookkeeping & Accounts Service T. W. Woodcock The Old Cottage, Upper Green Road, St Helens, Ryde, Isle of Wight, P033 1 UQ BEMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LIBRARY CIIARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION 01983 872519 Registered Number 1179944 07737 315116 Independent Examiner's Report tim.woodcock@uwclub.net I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Charity for the year ended 31" March 2023. Res onsibilities and Basis of Re ort As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Society's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Cornmission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Inde endent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no n]aterial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,.. The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act. OT The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or The accounts did not Comply with the applicabl¢ requirements concerning the forni and Content of accounts Set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that th¢ accounts give a "true and fair" view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come acr055 no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should b¢ drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to b¢ reached. igned by: Dated., 17, June 2023 / Qualifications: BookkeepeT & Chality Treasurer" Company Director