JANE ASCROFT ACCOUNTANCY LIMITED Chartered accountants Enterprise House Harmire Enterprise Park Barnard Castle County Durham DL12 8XT westpark L8vy Tr61st Cbarity RegtratiOn Number 1186861 Annual Report Financial Statements For the year ending 31 January 2025 11
Westpark Levy Trust
Financial Statements
Year Ended 31 January 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Annual Report | 1 |
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 |
| The Following Pages Do Not Form Part of the Financial Statements | |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 14 |
| Photos from this year |
Westpark Levy Trust
Trustees' Annual Report
Year Ended 31 January 2025
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2025.
Objectives and Activities
To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Darlington and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities, by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
We aim to do this by:
Caring for the environment increasing biodiversity of our community spaces.
Sharing great green space with the community by maintaining Green Flag Award status.
Daring to try new initiatives, community engagement which delivers an arts and events strategy.
The Trust will deliver this utilising the West Park Levy and external funding streams where available.
The objectives of the WestPark Levy are:
To support the provision of non-statutory environmental improvements, including but not limited to landscaping, enhanced maintenance, interpretation and management facilities, community and voluntary projects and education and arts initiatives in the West Park Locality and surrounding areas.
Achievements and Performance
The WestPark Levy Trust began the year reviewing community feedback which alongside the previous year's community meetings gave us a focus of delivering on enhancements and improvements.
This year focused around bringing the Community Together with our events partner Stellar, who developed and delivered our Spring and Summer Music on the Hill event. This years events saw over 1600 people attend this year with positive feedback, there is some concern about costs and sustainability in the long term. The Trust looks forward to delivering a second Music on the Hill Event in 2025 and a Christmas Tree and Carol sing along to set the programme for the 20th anniversary year
Grants were also made to maintain the aesthetic of the bridges with repainting works, to keep the park a welcoming place. We continued this with the commissioning and installation of new benches and the continuation of annual wild flower seeds.
Looking towards winter we wanted to add more lights to the Village Christmas Tree. We were pleased and thankful to both Cockerton Prize Silver Band and the Church Choir for making this years event more community minded.
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Westpark Levy Trust
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
We were honoured to be nominated in the Environmental Category of the Darlington Stronger Communities Awards
The Trust continued to make grants and payment in accordance with its statutory and regulatory requirements and make plans and commitments in-line with the enhancements and improvements detailed in the landscape management plan.
The Trustees continue to have a focus on providing a high-quality green space to the community, so again this year we sought review through the Green Flag Award accreditation process. This is an internationally recognised benchmark for quality of green space governance, awarded on behalf of the UK Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities. The Trustees are delighted that this accreditation was achieved for another consecutive year. Feedback from judges included
"Incorporating local history with poetry in the entrance ways and structures is inspiring. "
The Trustee, looking forwarded noted the importance of 2025, celebrating 20 years of the Park opening and as such wanted to mark the changes made of that time and commissioned a Biodiversity Study of Westpark, to guide the Trustees in its aim of caring for the environment. The Trust also committed to three new gazebos to support community events of the future.
This year has also seen the Trust continue to deliver in-person community engagement. In-person community meetings continued with the Friends of WestPark held locally in West Park Academy quarterly. This in person community engagement, alongside social media and increased information being available on our website, the Trust commissioned a piece of work by BHP Law to explain the Levy and how it works across the different phases, the Trust wanted to set out an easy to understand explanation in its 2024-25 annual newsletter.
The Trustees listened to the community's desire to bring back community events and in 2024 we commissioned Stellar Creates a Tees Valley based production company who successfully delivered these events. An evaluation was produced and will be used to help plan 2025's events.
Financial Review
Income during the period totalled £114,310 (2024 - £92,485) and expenditure totalled £114,502 (2024 - £104,195) giving a deficit of £192 (2024 - £11,710). At 31st January 2025 total funds held were £131,981.
Plans for Future Periods
The Trust continues to look increase the number of Trustees this coming year, we are still committed to further expanding the Board of Trustees to better represent the diversity and expand our in-house knowledge within the charity and best represent the community of West Park and Darlington. We would welcome expressions of interest from members of the community who would like to volunteer with us in either a trustee capacity or other volunteering role.
The Trust plan to continue the face-to-face Friends of WestPark meetings at West Park Academy school hall to support face to face community engagement; feedback and comment helps us develop our plans and guides our decisions to achieve the widest community benefit.
The Trust has funded several enhancement and improvement projects this year.
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Westpark Levy Trust
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
The Trust will continue to spend the income obtained by the West Park Levy and external funding in line with our aims, to allow us to care for the environment through increasing the quality of the local green space, We look forward to continuing our events programme as we move towards the parks 20th Anniversary in 2025 and continue to be daring in the grants and projects we allocate grants to alongside delivering projects for further enhancements and improvements.
The Trust would once again like to actively encourage the people to come forward with any ideas they would like to see within the community - there is always an opportunity to invest in our community.
We received external feedback on the Trust's performance relating to its green-space focus, we will aim to achieve and improve our score within the Green Flag Award accreditation framework, and look forward to reading the feedback from the Biodiversity report in 2025.
Trustees will continue to consider the opportunities to build a community facility and engage with stakeholders as the West Park Garden Village continues to be developed and the community continues to grow. Although we note this is taking longer than initially hoped.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity was registered on 10th December 2019 with registration number 1186861.
The Trust has retained all the Trustees and hope to continue to expand the range of skills and experiences through further increasing the number of Trustees to greater represent the community with deliberate action having been taken to invite applications from all Levy payers. Training will be delivered in-house using the Charity Commission guidance for Trustees and additional external support will be available to support anyone interested in becoming a trustee.
We encourage the community to feedback to the Trust, by attending a community meeting or using social media, volunteering, keeping up to date with the annual newsletter and minutes of the community meeting and sharing information with neighbours.
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered charity name Westpark Levy Trust Charity registration number 1186861 Principal office C/o B H P Law Westgate house Faverdale Industrial Estate Darlington DL3 0PZ
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Westpark Levy Trust
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
The Trustees
| Neil Brimer (Chair) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Robert George | ||
| Andrew Buckingham | ||
| Anthony Cooper | ||
| Paul Black | ||
| William Neil Herbert | ||
| Martyn Hunter | ||
| Joseph Gardiner | (Appointed 22 March 2024) | |
| Gemma Gill | (Appointed 22 March 2024) | |
| Independent Examiner | Jane Ascroft FCA MA (Cantab) | |
| Enterprise House | ||
| Harmire Enterprise Park | ||
| Barnard Castle | ||
| County Durham | ||
| DL12 8XT |
The trustees' annual report was approved on 28th November 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Neil Brimer Trustee
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Westpark Levy Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Westpark Levy Trust
Year Ended 31 January 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Westpark Levy Trust ('the charity') for the year ended 31 January 2025.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements 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 Commission under section 145(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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the 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 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 accounts to be reached.
Jane Ascroft FCA MA (Cantab) Independent Examiner
Enterprise House Harmire Enterprise Park Barnard Castle County Durham DL12 8XT
5
Westpark Levy Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
Year Ended 31 January 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||||
| fundsTotal funds | Total funds | |||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 4 | 109,920 | 109,920 | 92,485 |
| Investment income | 5 | 4,390 | 4,390 | – |
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| Total income | 114,310 | 114,310 | 92,485 | |
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||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 6,7 | 114,502 | 114,502 | 104,195 |
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||
| Total expenditure | 114,502 | 114,502 | 104,195 | |
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||
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| Net expenditure and net movement in funds | (192) | (192) | (11,710) | |
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||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 132,173 | 132,173 | 143,883 | |
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| Total funds carried forward | 131,981 | 131,981 | 132,173 | |
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The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
6
Westpark Levy Trust
Statement of Financial Position
31 January 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Current Assets | |||
| Debtors | 11 | 64,835 | 110,050 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 91,890 | 41,537 | |
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||
| 156,725 | 151,587 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 12 | 24,744 | 19,414 |
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||
| Net Current Assets | 131,981 | 132,173 | |
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||
| Total Assets Less Current Liabilities | 131,981 | 132,173 | |
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||
| Net Assets | 131,981 | 132,173 | |
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||
| Funds of the Charity | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 131,981 | 132,173 | |
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| Total charity funds | 13 | 131,981═════════ |
132,173═════════ |
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 28[th] November 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
Martyn Hunter Trustee
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
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Westpark Levy Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year Ended 31 January 2025
1. General Information
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is C/o B H P Law, Westgate House, Faverdale Industrial Estate, Darlington, DL3 0PZ.
2. Statement of Compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
3. Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
Going Concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The trustees consider that there are no significant estimates or judgements affecting these financial statements.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
Income
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
8
Westpark Levy Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
3. Accounting Policies (continued)
Income (continued)
-
income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
-
legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.
-
income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.
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income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
-
expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, noncharitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.
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expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
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other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
Financial Instruments
The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
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Westpark Levy Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Accrued income and tax recoverable is included at the best estimate of the amounts receivable at the balance sheet date.
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Creditors
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Taxation
The company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
4. Donations and Legacies
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | ||||
| West Park Levy - West Park Phase 1 | 85,670 | 85,670 | 78,432 | 78,432 |
| West Park Levy - West Park Phase 2 | 23,871 | 23,871 | 13,303 | 13,303 |
| Donations | 379 | 379 | – | – |
| Grants | ||||
| Stronger Communities grant | – | – | 750 | 750 |
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|
| 109,920 | 109,920 | 92,485 | 92,485 | |
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Westpark Levy Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
5. Investment Income
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Bank interest receivable | 4,390 | 4,390 | – | – | |
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| 6. | Expenditure on Charitable Activities by Fund Type | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Costs of charitable activities | 97,764 | 97,764 | 91,543 | 91,543 | |
| Support costs | 16,738 | 16,738 | 12,652 | 12,652 | |
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| 114,502 | 114,502 | 104,195 | 104,195 | ||
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7. Expenditure on Charitable Activities by Activity Type
| Activities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | Total funds | Total fund | |||
| directly | Support costs | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Costs of charitable activities | 97,764 | 16,738 |
114,502 | 104,195 | |
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| 8. | Independent Examination Fees | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Fees payable to the independent examiner for: | |||||
| Independent examination of the financial statements | 600════ |
540════ |
9. Staff Costs
The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2024: Nil).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).
10. Trustee Remuneration and Expenses
Trustees received neither remuneration nor expenses during the current and previous period.
11. Debtors
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Levy arrears | 1,638 | 6,795 |
| Funds held by Kingston Property Services | 63,197 | 103,255 |
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|
| 64,835 | 110,050 | |
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11
Westpark Levy Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year Ended 31 January 2025
12. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Accruals and deferred income | 600 | 540 |
| Levy paid in advance | 24,104 | 18,874 |
| Other creditors | 40 | – |
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|
| 24,744 | 19,414 | |
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13. Analysis of Charitable Funds
Unrestricted funds
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At | ||||
| At 1 February | 31 January | |||
| 2024 | Income | Expenditure | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 132,173 | 114,310 | (114,502) | 131,981 |
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|
| At | ||||
| At 1 February | 31 January | |||
| 2023 | Income | Expenditure | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 143,883 | 92,485 | (104,195) | 132,173 |
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|
| Analysis of Net Assets Between | Funds | |||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Current assets | 156,725 | 156,725 | ||
| Creditors less than 1 year | (24,744) | (24,744) | ||
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|||
| Net assets | 131,981 | 131,981 | ||
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|||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Current assets | 151,587 | 151,587 | ||
| Creditors less than 1 year | (19,414) | (19,414) | ||
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|||
| Net assets | 132,173 | 132,173 | ||
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14. Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds
12
Westpark Levy Trust
Management Information
Year Ended 31 January 2025
The Following Pages Do Not Form Part of the Financial Statements.
13
Westpark Levy Trust
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
Year Ended 31 January 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| West Park levy - West Park Phase 1 | 85,670 | 78,432 |
| West Park levy - West Park Phase 2 | 23,871 | 13,303 |
| Donations | 379 | – |
| Stronger Communities grant | – | 750 |
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|
| 109,920 | 92,485 | |
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|
| Investment income | ||
| Bank interest receivable | 4,390 | – |
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|
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|
| Total income | 114,310 | 92,485 |
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|
| Expenditure | ||
| Activities undertaken directly | ||
| Spring & Summer events | 40,464 | – |
| Project payments to Darlington Borough Council | 53,628 | 86,742 |
| Newsletter | 2,533 | 2,705 |
| Other costs | 1,139 | 2,096 |
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|
| 97,764 | 91,543 | |
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|
| Support costs | ||
| Accountancy fees | 660 | 540 |
| Legal fees | 2,415 | – |
| Website and domain | 162 | 152 |
| Kingston Property Services admin charge | 13,301 | 11,760 |
| Room hire | 200 | 200 |
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|
| 16,738 | 12,652 | |
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|
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|
| Total expenditure | 114,502 | 104,195 |
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|
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|
| Net expenditure | (192) | (11,710) |
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