Chair’s summary of activity 2023-2024
The hall
This time last year we had just heard of a developer being interested in the Home Farm development. After a lot of delay over the land sale we were able to reveal that the developer is Emerald Homes, part of the RTW group of Pinchbeck. Andy and I have a contact there who we have met a few times, and to whom we gave the Allison Homes plans, and said ‘Build that’. Their first drawings came back nothing like, so we patiently repeated the instruction and their second set came back a lot closer. We pointed out a few discrepancies and at the third attempt we have drawings for a hall that is just about identical to the Allisons hall.
Signs have gone up at the entrance to the site, and Emerald Homes bought the centrefold in the village news to tell readers of their plans for the development. These show the hall as being set back behind the car park rather than between the road and the car park but at this stage much can change. As I write this the SHDC website still shows the detail matters as undecided for planning purposes but that is only a matter of time. In informal discussions we were told that due to the need to complete sewers, roads and a pumping station before any drainage is viable, the earliest completion date for a hall would be 2026, and it could be 2027. It usually only slips one way!
Summer fete
The big event was, as always, the summer fete. It was an overcast day but at least it stayed dry; this did affect footfall. We were let down a few weeks before the event – again – this time by the tombola, our biggest money maker. Rob Jarvis stepped in and ran this under the Good Neighbour Scheme banner, along with a raffle, face painting, and a coconut shy, taking over £600, but of course this went to the GNS not the CIO.
Thanks again to Emma and Steve Corrigan for getting the marquee from the rugby club, and a generator, fuel, and transport from AD Bly. Thanks again to Steve Fernandez, and to Sam who lent their BBQ, to Nicholas for the food donations, and to St Nicholas house for donating some chairs. Ye Olde Bridge Inn also donated some chairs, and again ran the BBQ for us as well as the bar. We made a modest surplus of £484, due again to the Parish Council underwriting the costs of the fete, £688.
Andy and I have stepped down from the role of organisers. We have co-ordinated the last five village fetes over seven years, with a break of two years for Covid-19, and have decided it’s time to hand the reins over to our replacements, whoever they may be. So, next year’s fete is up for discussion. If it is to be, we will need a new committee, and Andy has made this clear at the PC meetings and in the Village News. We’ll be happy to hand over the contacts and a ‘how to’ checklist.
Other news
I am willing to continue as CTC chair if that is the wish of the committee. We go into our next year in a very healthy financial position and with a renewed sense of hope about the hall.
Deborah Croyle, Chair, October 2024
Annual Accounts
Deeping St Nicholas Village Hall CIO For the year ended 30 June 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Brough Forward | £6,715.84 | £5,878.21 | £3,688.09 |
| Revenue | |||
| Funds Raised - Events | £1,022.50 | £1,679.35 | £3,249.60 |
| Funds Raised - Sales | |||
| Other Revenue | |||
| Total Revenue | £1,022.50 | £1,679.35 | £3,249.60 |
| Direct Expenses | |||
| Event Costs | £351.00 | £784.07 | £892.48 |
| Total Direct Expenses | £351.00 | £784.07 | £892.48 |
| Gross Profit | £671.50 | £895.28 | £2,357.12 |
| Administrative Costs | |||
| Advertising & Marketing | £100.00 | ||
| General Expenses | £17.00 | ||
| Motor Vehicle Expenses | £6.84 | £57.65 | £67.00 |
| Subscriptions | |||
| Total Administrative Costs | £23.84 | £57.65 | £167.00 |
| Profit | £647.66 | £837.63 | £2,190.12 |
| Balance | £7,363.50 | £6,715.84 | £5,878.21 |