THE SOMERTON LIBRARY TRUST Registered Charity No: 1181508
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2026
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| The Trust and Trustees | 2 |
| Trustees' Report | 3 |
| Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 7 |
| Breakdown of Accounts | 8 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts | 9 |
THE SOMERTON LIBRARY TRUST
Trust information
Charity number 1181508
Trust’s correspondence address:
Little Barns The Triangle Somerton Somerset TA11 6ND
Library address:
Somerton Library Cox’s Yard West Street Somerton TA11 7PR
Charity Trustees:
| Trustee name | Office | Dates as Trustee if not for whole year |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Greenop | First charity Trustee, Chair, Communications and PR and Fundraising |
Throughout |
| Martyn Smith | First charity Trustee, Treasurer. | Throughout |
| Robert Cherry | Facilities Manager | Throughout |
| Susan Partington | Community Engagement | Throughout |
| Alexandra Stannett | Health & Safety | Throughout |
| From 11 April 2025 to 20 | ||
| Martyn George | Fundraising | |
| August 2025 | ||
| Philip Flowers | Town Council Nominated Trustee | To 8 April 2025 |
| Amanda Worsdale | Town Council Nominated Trustee | From 23 July 2025 |
| Julie Goodman | Assistant for Communications and PR | From 17 September 2025 |
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THE SOMERTON LIBRARY TRUST THE TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2026
The Trust
The Trust’s Constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a Foundation Structure was approved and registered by the Charity Commission on 10 January 2019. The Trust’s Object is:
The advancement of education for the public benefit by supporting the operation and maintenance of a public library in Somerton for the benefit of local residents.
The Trust assumed responsibility for running Somerton Library with Somerset County Council, now Somerset Council ( SC ), as a Community Library Partnership ( CLP) on 1 April 2019.
The Trust has renegotiated the contract ( the Agreement) with SC to renew the Community Library Partnership ( CLP ). The ‘Commencement Date’ for the new Agreement was 5 February 2026 with an Expiry Date of 4 February 2033.
Somerton Town Council ( STC ) leases the library building to the Trust. The lease was renegotiated commencing on 1 April 2026 and ending on the 31 March 2033. STC owns the library building and is responsible for the maintenance of the building’s structure.
Successful delivery of the Trust’s Object is dependent on commitment to the ‘Partnership’ by SC, STC and the Trust.
Trust Management
The Trust is managed in accordance with its Constitution endorsed by the Charity Commission.
Meetings are held when required. In the reporting year the Trust has held 2 routine meetings. The 2024/2025 Annual General Meeting was held on 10 April 2025. Minutes are produced for all meetings and retained with key Trust documents to which all Trustees have access.
On 29 August 2025, the Charity Commission acknowledged receipt of the Annual Return for 2024/2025 and the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts. The Report was publicised locally and copies submitted to SC and STC.
The Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts document for 2025/2026 (this report) was circulated by e-mail. It was endorsed by the Trustees and subsequently approved by the Members at the Annual General Meeting on 30 April 2026.
Details of serving Trustees are on page 2.
The Trust and the Somerset Library Service ( SLS ) hold regular CLP review meetings to evaluate the effectiveness of library services and interaction with the community. In 2025, SLS again noted the added range of community activities offered by Somerton Community Library and noted that statistical data gathered by SLS marks the Library as one of the highest achieving libraries within the 13 CLPs in Somerset.
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Trust Priorities and EOY Review
Priorities for 2025/2026 were to:
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❖ Negotiate and agree a replacement Agreement with SC to commence on 1 April 2026;
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✓ Signed on 5 February 2026 with a commencement date of the same day.
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❖ Negotiate and agree a new Lease with STC to commence on 1 April 2026; ✓ Signed on 23 March 2026 to commence on 1 April 2026.
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❖ Recruit a Trustee to undertake the role of: ‘Communications and PR’; ✓ Recruited a trustee who is the assistant for ‘Communications and PR’.
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❖ Maintain an enthusiastic volunteer base and continue a rolling training programme;
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✓ Achieved. There is now a waiting list.
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❖ Review and update the programme of work and enhancements to the building with particular focus on redecoration of the interior.
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Partially achieved with the initiation of a plan to refurbish the Library,
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including redecoration, in 2027.
As indicated above (✓) there has been considerable success in the achievement of many of the 2025/2026 goals. Those that require further work () will be pursued in 2026/27. Priorities for 2026/2027 are on page 6.
Volunteers
A volunteer policy document is in the final stages of production.
The volunteer programme is managed by 2 coordinators, one of whom is the Clerk to the Trust.
A significantly increased programme for volunteer training (and refresher training) was established in the Agreement and is in place. All new volunteers are required to complete a number of SC modules before commencing work. Existing volunteers are completing the additional modules by July 2026. Thereafter, all volunteers undergo inhouse refresher training. Customer Service volunteers undertook a programme of training for the new Library Management System.
Facilities Management
Under the terms of the new lease, the Trust is responsible for all maintenance other than to the structure of the building. In November 2024, STC endorsed an arrangement whereby STC will provide additional funding in the Annual Grant in support of the Trust’s maintenance responsibilities. The Trust remains responsible for managing the utilities and facilities within the library building. SLS maintains the library IT systems and associated infrastructure.
Following the FRA conducted in July 2025, all outstanding deficiencies have been rectified or, where adjudged unwarranted, added to the Risk Assessment.
Health & Safety (H&S)
H&S responsibilities are apportioned between SLS and the Trust for which there are separate policies. The division of responsibility for observance and implementation of the policies is defined in the Agreement. The Trust is responsible for the H&S policy as it
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applies to the building and for activities outside core opening hours, while SLS is responsible for the implementation of both policies during core opening hours.
The Trust’s Health & Safety Policy was reviewed, updated and endorsed in October 2023, and is due for review by 1 October 2026. The Trust’s Risk Assessment was updated on 1 April 2026.
Librarians and volunteers receive induction training in accordance with the H&S Policy and changes in the Risk Assessment.
Following the FRA conducted in July 2025, all outstanding deficiencies have been rectified or, where adjudged unwarranted, added to the Risk Assessment.
Insurance
The Trust is insured with Zurich for: Public Liability; Employer’s Liability; Hirer’s Liability; and Contents.
Finance
SLT banks with the Unity Trust Bank and has no investments. SLT continues to ringfence £10,000. This amount is held in reserve but available, should the need arise, to maintain Library operations (in accordance with the terms of the Agreement) if the Trust has to be wound-up without the necessary funding.
The Trust receives £8,000 each year from SC: a payment called the ‘Annual Sum’ as set out in the Agreement. In addition, there is income from rentals and fines, as well as donations from local parishes and various benefactors.
Expenditure is primarily to SC for provision of full-time library staff. Other budgeted expenditure is for: utilities; maintenance; and various administrative outgoings.
On 1[st] April 2026 the balance was £23,962
INCOME
STC agreed for 2025-26 a total support package of £24,000 which has been included in the Grant column
We received a grant of £2,874 from Somerton Community Association for a new boiler
We received grants from Co-op totalling £2,340 and from Somerset Community Foundation of £1,750
Income from fines and loans was £3,670
We have reclaimed a total of £4,850 of VAT (including the VAT for the boiler work)
We received £7,200 from SCC (3 payments instead of 4 due to phasing)
We also received £850 from sundry lettings, some of which we reimbursed from Co-op funding.
We received £200 sponsorship from George James Estate Agents
Library donations totalled almost £600
Total income was £49,380
EXPENDITURE
Once again SC made a back pay award and overcharged us by £455, which took a while to recover.
Our wage bill to SC was £30,000 including VAT
Karen Dowell, the cleaner, resigned in December, but we have recruited her daughter Donna
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We have spent £1,660 on utilities.
Total maintenance cost over £8,500, but this included £2,875 for the boiler and £4,350 for Fire Risk work, both of which were grant aided. General maintenance amounted to £1,275
Admin costs of £1,900 included payment for Ade Bowen and a grant to Long Sutton School from Co-op funds.
Total expenditure amounted to £43,653
We closed the year on 31st March 2026 with a balance of £29,689.
STC has agreed to budget £24,000 for SLT in 2026/2027. This covers ongoing building maintenance and will be drawn down as required.
Future Plans
Priorities for 2026/2027 are to:
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❖ Develop a programme of work to achieve the full refurbishment of the Library with a target date for completion in the first half of 2027.
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❖ Pursue sources of additional support to finance the refurbishment of the Library.
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❖ Recruit a Trustee to undertake the ‘Fundraising’ role.
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❖ Develop a strategy to inform new residents in the community of the library services available.
Appreciation
Thanks are due to STC, the Trustees, generous donors and, above all, to the volunteers, without whom the library could not operate.
Jeremy Greenop
Chair of Trustees
30 April 2026
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THE SOMERTON LIBRARY TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
APPROVAL OF THE ACCOUNTS
The attached accounts (below) are approved on behalf of the Trustees.
Jeremy Greenop Chair of Trustees 30 April 2025
THE SOMERTON LIBRARY TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2026
ACCOUNT DETAILS:
Balance on 1 April 2025: £23,962 Total receipts to 31 March 2026: £49,380 Total revenues 31 March 2026: £73,342 Total payments to 31 March 2026: £43,653 Balance on 31 March 2026: £ 29,689
Martyn Smith Treasurer of the Somerton Library Trust 30 April 2026
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THE SOMERTON LIBRARY TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2026
BREAKDOWN OF ACCOUNTS
| 31 March 2025 | 31 March 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS | ||
| £33,125 | Grants | £30,964 |
| £2,846 | LibraryIncome | £3,672 |
| £6,993 | VAT repayments | £4,878 |
| £12,171 | Lettings & Service provision | £8,055 |
| £1,495 | Donations | £1,842 |
| £56,570 | TOTAL | £49,380 |
| PAYMENTS | ||
| £28,812 | Wages SC/Cleaner | £31,479 |
| £3,805 | Gas, Electricity, Water | £1,663 |
| £9,945 | Maintenance | £8,596 |
| £5,582 | Administration | £1,915 |
| £48,144 | TOTAL | £43,653 |
| £8,426 | Net for year | £5,727 |
| £15,536 | Balance brought forward | £23,962 |
| £23,962 | BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD |
£29,689 |
Martyn Smith Treasurer Somerton Library Trust
30 April 2026
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS 2025-2026
The Somerton Library Trust
Accounts are set out on pages 7 and 8
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under s145 of the Charities Act 2011 [the Act] and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under s145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mary Palmer The Old Shoemaker’s Sutton Road SOMERTON
27 April 2026
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