Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
Trustees Annual Report for Year
1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021
T he Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
19, Chilton Grove Yeovil Somerset BA21 4AN
https://yrct.co.uk
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
Executive Summary
1. Registration Name:
The Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
2. Registration Number:
1180724
3. Registration date:
16th November 2018
4. Governing Document:
The Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Constitution
5. Names of Charity Trustees serving during the year:
Mr Lorne Thomson Chair Ms Sarah Hunt. Secretary Mr Thomas Bell Mr Roger Meecham Treasurer Mr Robert Brookes
6. Objects of the Charity
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To promote for the benefit of the public both locally in Yeovil and the wider public within Somerset and Dorset, the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting and maintaining biological diversity, notably, but not exclusively, in the restoration, enhancement and creation of watercourses and any other water features (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system) and their adjoining terrestrial areas. Maintaining biological diversity includes managing and monitoring relevant habitats for the mutual benefit of biodiversity and the public.
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To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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7. Organisation of the Charity
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Number of elected Honorary Officers: 3
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Number of representatives of statutory authorities: 2
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Number of paid staff: 3
Note: Two of the trustees are professional ecologists who provide their professional expertise and experience to the Charity
8. Further details of the Charity
• Name and address of Bank: Barclays Bank plc, King George Street Yeovil Somerset
- Insurers: Zurich Insurance
The Zurich Centre 3000 Parkway Whiteley Fareham Hampshire PO15 7JZ
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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Objectives & Activities
The formation of the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust (YRCT) was spurred by the need to protect the local streams, rivers and ponds together with adjacent natural landscape features, amid growing concern for the environment expressed by the local population as well as a range of organisations including local authorities, the Environment Agency, Somerset Catchment Partnership and other NGOs.
The objectives of the Charity are to promote for the benefit of the wider public, primarily in and around Yeovil, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by:
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Promoting and maintaining biological diversity, notably, but not exclusively, in the restoration, enhancement and creation of water courses and any other water features (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system) and their adjoining terrestrial areas.
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Maintaining biological diversity includes managing and monitoring relevant habitats for the mutual benefit of biodiversity and the public.
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To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
Funding to support this activity is sourced solely through public donations and grants from the statutory nature conservation body (SNCO), local authorities and charitable organisations. The Charity’s work is managed and undertaken by local volunteers and a small number of part-time staff. Technical advice and project management as well as specialist services are supplied by consultants as required.
Specifically, the needs and activities addressed by the Charity are:
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An independent overview of Planning Applications insofar as they affect the natural flow and diversity of waterbodies and habitats, this activity being undertaken in co-operation with the relevant authorities and organisations.
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Through the deployment of volunteer working parties, undertake physical activities on streams and riverbanks, clearing rubbish, debris and invasive non-native plants and undergrowth. This work is in support of the South Somerset District and Local Councils and their Parish Rangers who have neither the time nor resource to provide this service 100% of the time.
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To carry out surveys of local water courses checking for sustainable wildlife habitat by undertaking water sampling and checking out sources of pollution and reporting formally to the appropriate authorities.
Deliverables resulting from the work of the Charity include:
- The provision of technical/specialist analysis and reports to the appropriate sponsor/authority of the Trusts findings.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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Provision of hydraulic modelling studies and design drawings for new ponds, wetlands and modified riverbanks etc. as required.
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Provision of plants, fencing, trees etc in support of new pond and wetland creations.
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Visual and amenity improvements and ongoing maintenance to existing projects.
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Learning opportunities for young people via formal programmes integrated with school curriculum and informal events sponsored during school holidays. It is planned to extend this work to local adult groups and organisations with a focus on mental and physical wellbeing and special needs.
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Active public engagement on environmental issues around rivers and waterways.
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Physical improvement and extended viability to the local streams and rivers in respect of public accessibility and enjoyment. This includes a healthier and sustainable wildlife habitat. This includes identifying, designing and implementing a range of measures to restore, enhance and create aquatic and terrestrial habitats within the Yeo Catchment.
In addition to the ongoing maintenance and tidying up activities, the Charity has completed a major project (P010) during the financial period and commenced work on three others. The projects numbering ten in total are described in the following section. At the time of reporting, five projects are currently not being worked on as they are held awaiting approval/clearance from sources external to the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust.
The trust also employed three part-time staff within the year to assist with administration, volunteer co-ordination and the delivery of practical project actions, e.g. habitat enhancement and creation.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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Achievements and Performance
The following table itemises the major project activity undertaken by the Charity during the reporting period.
| Project Identity |
Description | % Completion |
Deliverables | Funding Status |
| Dodham Brook Restoration 001 Phase 2 |
Implementing a number of rehabilitation and enhancement measures in- channel and on the bankside. These included 5 brushwood berms, creation of wildflower areas on the river bank, installing three aquatic benches in-channel and establishing vegetation on them and hinging four trees into the brook. This work was undertaken in a section of the Dodham Brook within the Yeovil Country Park. In addition to enhancing habitat the actions also provide increased public amenity benefits. |
100% Subject to on- going monitoring and evaluation |
Provision of the actual improvements within the boundary of the Yeovil Country Park including a public demonstration appreciation and learning site. |
Funding of £12000 has been received from the Steel Charitable Trust (£8000 to cover this project and £4000 for Project 008). £6000 has been secured from the Postcode Local Trust and £6000 from the Environment Agency. Funding in kind to the value of £5000 was provided by the SSDC |
| 001 Phase 3 | Implementation of the physical changes required for rehabilitation of the concrete flood channel containing a section of the Dodham Brook beyond the Yeovil Country Park towards Newton Road. |
0% Programme and funding sources to be confirmed. Project go- ahead awaiting formal agreement with the SSDC |
A bid for circa £200,000 will be submitted to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund (Second Round) when the round opens in April/May 2021 |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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| 004 | Restoration and long-term maintenance of Brympton Pond. Planned activity: Development of a natural pond which will be semi incorporated into a proposed business park development. Future use and maintenance to be planned. |
0% | Following discussion within the YRCT, it is considered that if the focus is changed from public amenity to a closed conservation area, the landowner may be more willing to agree to this project. Project currently on hold. |
Awaiting landowners agreement. Project on hold |
| 005 | Alvington Lane Pond and Foxglove Way Basin Provision of a pond with enhanced wildlife habitats in area at the end of the hamlet Enhancement of an adjacent balancing pond. |
30% | The BPC and SSDC are both supportive. The pond has been re-established on the SSDC land in Alvington Lane and is being monitored. Detailed habitat feature designs have been prepared for implementation in 2021/22 at the pond and Foxglove Way basin. Proposed works include extensive planting and seeding of terrestrial and aquatic species, a complex habitat bank and creation of wet meadow areas. |
Estimated cost of works £8000 max. £15,000 grant has been secured from the Bannister Trust and a further bid is in progress with Somerset County Council through their Climate Change Fund. Project P005 is being amalgamated with projects P007 and P009 to form the Brympton Project which will require a total budget of circa £35,000. |
| 006 | Brimsmore housing development. Improvements and overall enhancement of the SuDS which will include: stabilisation of water level and improvements in its quality. Cleaning the outlet culvert and stream which are severely silted up. |
0% | No activity undertaken in the reporting period. Awaiting the SSDC adoption of the site |
No budget in place at this time Project on hold until site is adopted by the SSDC |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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| 007 | The proposed creation of two ponds/wetlands by the Preston Brook at Lawrence Way in the parish of Brympton had to be abandoned due to the reactivation of a nearby badger sett. Work still started on creating backwaters in the brook, creating a wildflower area and surveying habitats for enhancement and interpretation. An alternative site within the parish has been selected for the rehabilitation of two ponds at Oak Tree Park. The project still has the support of the district and parish councils plus the local junior school for use as a learning experience. This project was integrated with projects P005 and P009 in February 2021. |
25% | Work on the backwaters started in February 2021 and a range of surveys and further activities were scheduled from spring 2021 to Spring 2022 |
Residue of a grant of £2000 provided by Brympton Parish Council in the previous accounting year was used and further funding was secured and planned as detailed for project P005 above. |
| 008 | Yeovil Country Park (Ninesprings) Lake, Pond and Water Vole habitat Enhancement The project aims to: Create new aquatic habitats in the lake and pond The project will provide valuable new and enhanced aquatic habitats near the centre of Yeovil which already accommodate endangered species. The proposed enhancements will also augment the works planned for the restoration of Dodham Brook which runs through the country park to the north of the lake and pond. An optimised, resilient network of habitats will thereby be created to support enhanced biodiversity. |
20% | Funding was available via the Steel Charitable Trust (see Project 001 Phase 2 above). Surveys of the lake and pond in Yeovil Country Park were carried out in the Summer of 2020 but the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions forced a delay in progressing to detailed design and implementation stages. Work programme to be drawn up with work commencing later in 2021 or early 2022. |
A grant has been provided by the Steel Charitable Trust Of £4000 See funding discussion for Project 001 Phase 2 above. Further funding is required and additional bids will be made in 2021. |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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| 009 | Agusta Park residential development. Improvements and enhancement of existing pond and SuDS. Project has been integrated with projects P005 and P007 into the Brympton Project. |
0% | Initial discussions held with SSDC and the site Development Company. Formal programme of work to be agreed with developer. |
A budget of £4000 has been allocated from the identified budget requirement of £35000 noted in project P005 above. Further funding will be required once permissions are secured from the developer for delivery through a further phase. |
| 010 | Yeovil Urban Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) and Surface Water Management study |
100% | YRCT successfully delivered the final project report in November 2020 to the SRA, LLFA and other relevant partners in the SCP. |
The project was fully funded by the SRA via FWAG(SW). |
| 011 | Yeovil Schools Education Outreach Project |
Delayed by Covid-19 pandemic |
YRCT had delivered practical sessions and classroom sessions for four schools in the programme as part of a pilot scheme up to March 2020. This was successful but could not be taken further due to the Covid-19 pandemic. |
Funding bids to support this work will be submitted to private grant providers and the National Lottery in 2021 to implement after restrictions have eased. |
| 012 | Upper River Yeo Catchment Strategy. The project is being initiated from funding provided through the Environment Agency. The project aims to prepare a detailed catchment restoration plan for implementing at the landscape scale to address identified environmental issues. |
30% | The first phase of the project was delivered between September 2020 and March 2021. Further phases will be delivered over 2021/22 culminating in a final Catchment Strategy for implementing in phases over a number of years. The EA and SCP are very keen to support this project. YRCT has made enquiry from key partners to |
A £6000 budget was secured via the EA Partnership Grant for the 2020/21 financial year. A further bid via the same grant will be made in 2021/22 for £25000. A bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund is being considered for |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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| establish | 2022. |
|---|---|
| methodology and | |
| funding streams to | |
| maintain project | |
| delivery. |
Financial Review
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At the end of the reporting period, the total income amounted to £42266 The total expenditure amounted to £30915, thus making a surplus of £11351
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The charity does not currently have any unallocated financial reserves. The credit balance at the end of this financial year represents unspent grant funds which are largely committed to spending on the Dodham Brook Restoration Project and other current projects according to the required expediency in maintaining progress. When further funding has been secured and the prospect of a reserve being retained becomes potentially viable, a discussion will be held among the trustees to agree if such a reserve is required and if so, the amount which should be held, e.g. would a sum to cover fixed costs be an acceptable maximum?
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Funds in deficit - None
Financial Report
The financial status of the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust for the period ending 31st March 2021 is shown in the Accounts Form CC16a for submission to the Charity Commission.
Report Prepared by: Lorne Thomson (Chair – YRCT)
Date: 25/11/2021
Report Approved by: …………………………………… (Trustee – YRCT)
Date:
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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Definitions & Abbreviations
| BPC | Brympton Parish Council |
|---|---|
| CIO | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| EA | Environment Agency |
| FWAG | Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group |
| helophyte | plant which grows in marsh, partly submerged |
| HotSWEP | Heads of South West Local Business Groups |
| LDC | Land Drainage Consent |
| macrophyte | aquatic plant that grows in or near water |
| PA | Planning Application |
| SCC | Somerset County Council |
| SSDC | South Somerset District Council |
| SuDS | Sustainable Drainage Systems |
| YRCT | Yeovil Rivers Community Trust |
| YTC | Yeovil Town Council |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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Charity Name No (if any)
Yeovil Rivers Community Trust 1180724
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01-Apr-20 31-Mar-21
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Donations 1,390 - - 1,390 1,157
Grants 40,876 - 40,876 35,650
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
1,390 40,876 - 42,266 36,807
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 1,390 40,876 - 42,266 36,807
A3 Payments
Insurance 453 - - 453 313
Consutancy Fees 22,022 - 22,022 15,926
Data & Services Supply 84 - 84 492
Water samples analysis - - - 993
Handtools & Protective Clothing 412 - 412 126
Website/media 295 - - 295 1,114
Miscellaneous /expenses 362 492 - 855 500
Project Site Works 3,976 - 3,976 1,963
Staff wages/PAYE/Pensions 420 2,398 - 2,818 -
Sub total [ 1,531 ] 29,384 - 30,915 21,427
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 1,531 29,384 - 30,915 21,427
Net of receipts/(payments) - 141 11,492 - 11,351 15,381
A5 Transfers between funds 516 - 516 - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - 15,543 - 15,543 162
Cash funds this year end 375 26,519 - 26,894 15,543
----- End of picture text -----
Charity Commission Accounts 01-4-20 to 31-3-21 v2
CC16a R1 accounts (SS)
1
18/08/21
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | the end of the period | the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Accountancy Fees Details Bank Current Account Bank Reserve Account Cash in hand Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) SCC Climate Emergency Community Fund grant re Project 007 via Brympton PC Details Details Details General & specialised handtools Protective clothing |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 375 - - 375 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Unrestricted Unrestricted Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 26,519 - - 26,519 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ 22,400 - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) 438 100 - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) 180 - - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) 15 25 - - - - - - - When due (optional) |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Date of Print Name approval
Charity Commission Accounts 01-4-20 to 31-3-21 v2
CC16a R2 accounts (SS)
2
18/08/21
Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees For the Period Ended 31 March 2021 ALBERT GOODMAN AG Independent examinefs report to the Trustees of Yeovil Rivers Community Trust I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts ftir Yeovil Rivers Community Trust I'the ¢harity'l for the period ended 31 March 2021. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity Iruslees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe 2011 ACV'I. I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all Ihe applicable Directions gtven by the Charity Commission under sectson 145lSllbl of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's ststement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me Cause lo believe that in any material respect". accounts'ng records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act., or 2. the accounts do not compty with these Tecords I have no ¢oncems 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 account5 to be reached. Michelle Ferris FCA Albert Goodman LLP Chartered Accountants Goodwood House Blaekbrook Park Avenue Taunton Somerset TA12PX Date.. 02 Dernber 2021