VILLAGE HALL CHAIRMAN’S REPORT, MAY 2025
I have the pleasure this evening of presenting this Chairman’s report. I think we can claim that it has been a highly successful year, and at the end of it we are in a strong financial position. Gaining a major client – Lavender Mill – has naturally helped us in this.
We have continued to undertake improvements to the Hall and its facilities. The main one has been the renovation of the toilets (strictly speaking completed in the current Financial Year), for which we gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the Parish Council. The exhibition “Cottesmore Then and Now”, sponsored by the History Group, also adds to the attraction of the Hall. Of course, there are still improvements that we would like to make. Perhaps the chief one of these is the remodelling of the entrance area, although we have yet to decide how best to tackle this.
The Treasurer, who is unable to be with us tonight, has produced and circulated his detailed financial report, which fully explains the reasons for our quiet confidence for the future.
We continue to collaborate closely with the Parish Council, with a hard-working Liaison Group producing some very useful results. The Events Group has been highly active too – witness the music event to take place here in the Hall early next month.
In closing, it is of course appropriate for us to recognise that we have a gallant band of volunteers who keep the Hall going. There are a good few who put in time to help us, but I hope they will not mind if I give a special mention to Ian, who really does prodigious amounts of work for the Hall; also to Jean for her skill in the role of Lettings Secretary – not to mention her work on the general maintenance of the premises; to Pam, for keeping the Committee in order; to Michael, who has taken on some of the “heavy maintenance” activity; to Susan, for organising our monthly film shows: and last but certainly not least to Anna, for leading another highly successful firework event.
All in all, we hope for a prosperous, successful and sustainable future!
John Meara 27.05.2025
Cottesmore Vllloge Hulllncome and E%dItreALlQutr. Aprfl 2024 to March 2025 2023124 Income Bolanees Brou 2024125 2023124 Expendlture 2024125 1,488.CM) Contract aeaner 15.lJXI.IJ) 1.757.62 Insurance 19.487.09 4.319.88 Electricity 3(KI, 1.331.40 Oil 429.88 Water 725.69 Repairs and Maintenance 397.20 Fire/H&S 10.(Kl Ground Rent 2.478.57 Refuse Collection 289.38 Consumable5 3.715.90 Firework Display 223.46 Licenses 20.(N) Donations and Glfts 474.91 Film Expenses 18.99 Stationery 267.28 Committee Expenses O.CK) Bingo 0.1)) IT 0.00 MUSK Event 1,301.25 1,593.80 3,703.57 3,265.10 980.99 1,959.96 2.107.95 iO.(K) 2,752.25 388.79 4.235.70 244.22 0.00 Savings Account 28.576.19 Current Account 306.00 Cash Sub Totol 8,793.50 Regular Hall Hire 2.039.25 Private Hall Hire 7,484.18 Firework Display 5,070.33 Sports & Social Club rent 1,254.00 Film Club 491.00 EntertainmenVBingo 0.00 Lavender Mill 0. New Activity 11.981.50 3,024.75 8.444.57 5,711.74 1.290. 1.020.75 5.599.IXI 532.48 0.00 270.00 141.63 50.40 1,225.44 25,132.26 Sub Total 37.072.31 17.948.16 Sub fotoi 24,763.53 natlons 8,680.00 Grant/Funding 0.00 Gift Aid 2,176.06 Feed in Tarlff - pv Panels 0.00 Sponsorshlp 0.00 Mlscellaneous Ml Ilan 132.62 Misc Equipment 12,024.CKI Capital Expenses 157.CX) New Actlvity 8.(.¢)) 120.IJ) 2,097.02 250.C 225.lY) 0.00 12.568.57 10,856.06 Sub Total 10.692.02 12,31162 Sub Total 12,568.57 Mlscellon 8olon¢es Carrled Forword 0.00 Inland Revenue 178.36 Bank Interest o.ffi Special Events 15.C(M).C(I Savings Account 19,487.09 Current Account 3(Kl.(K) Cash 25,CKMJ.00 21,963.01 703.95 230.14 2.217.50 178.36 Sub Tot41 2 447.64 34787.09 Sub Total 47,666.96 65,048.87 Totol 84 999.06 65,04&87 Totol Certified that the above sumrnary of accounts is a true and fair record of the Cotte5more Village Hall book of accounts for the finanoal year ending 3110312025 Treasurer 1310412025 Inde ndent Examiner IC4fOL 202£. lan Pluck Fox Cottage 27, The Leas Cottesmore LE15 7DG David O W Wallace FirTree Bam Main street Cottesmore LE15 7DJ Pa8elofi
ottesmore Willa e Hall Mana ement Committee Chari Trustee and Treasurerfs Financial R Trusteesnreasurerfs Report: Financial Year April 2024- March 2025 Intr duction and oveieW The final accounts have been reviewed and signed off by an independent external examiner and verification of the yearond SuIt for the Charity duringApril 2024. The increase In the Charivs assets Is due to an increased income. There was a significant increase in expenditu durin8 the year. relating to delay work from the previous financial year. The result however was Improved due to timlng of the refurbishment of the Community Centre toilets, which was originally planned for March and April but delayed until April. The financial year benefrted from the receipt of the Brant fundin8 from the Parish Council In this year, while the expendlture will fall entlrely in the new year. Income.. The final income was £37.072.31 (excluding grant funding and the Feed In Tariff IFtn. The Income in the year increased due to several new bookings. The regular hall hire In¢aSe by 30% over the prevlous year and private hlre was 50% higher. with additional blrthday parties and two elections durin8 the year, with no elections expected in the next year, this income will almost certainly fall. The other areas of improvement were in events income. a new activity Introduced during the year and the income recelved from monthly Bingo sessions. Income from the annual firework dlsplay surpassed all expettations, wfih tickets available online for the first tlme. which proved very popular, alon8 wlth electronic payments on the night in recognltlon of the reduction in cash carrled by the a8e group attending the event. Finally. a new re8ular bookin8 was secUd following 5ignlflcant Investment In the hall heatlng systems during the year. Other income recefved was Grant ftsnding from the Parlsh Councll of £5,(1 towards the 2025126 toilet refurbishment, the LLR Community Fund provided £2,950 towards replacement electrical distributions boards and Rutland CC of £50 towards new badminton and pickleball equipment. Ex enditure: £37.322 an Increase of £7.1(N) on the previous year. There We several special Items of expenditure during the year. General expenditure increased by 38% over last year. However, the largest increases were In Repairs & Maintenance with a 270% increase (£19591 and Fire/H&S Increasing by 525%1£21701. These increases reflect the essential works that were required during the year operate the facility and the Charity has benefitted from SnificantIV lower e15 in the recent past. Utility cost5 were higherfor water. due to an 0$tandIng query and elertrlcty which was lower following a credit i55ued for the first three months. Investment in the building fabric wlth the support of 8rant funding accounted for a thlrd of the yearfs total expenditure at £12,568. Accounts Ovemew Overall, as wlth the previous year. the financial year was a significant challenge, and the Management Committee was pleased wtth the outcome of the financial perfomiance, but without Government and a successful Grant fundin8 application. the outcome would have been significantty drfferent. There was an unexperted surplus which relates almost entirely to the timing of the toilet refurbtshment. which will be undertaken in April and May 2025. The result of which is the bud8et for the new financial vear Is currently expected to be a10$5 equal to the surplus achieved in 2024125.
Accounts Review The External Verifier raised a single Conrn in the revlew of the accounts. as he did in the prevlous year. This cOnrn relates to the perfom)ance of M¢Neill's Icottesmore AFC Enterprises) use of the Social Club and in particular theirfinancial viabilityand the inability to make regular payments. A5 part of this concern, is recognition that the rent has been reduced each of the last two years and late payments have inCased. despite this support from the Village Hall. It is not clear IF this situation can be sustained into the future and the new financial year, may be crltical to both or8anisations and any fvture relationship. The final accounts were slgned on i* April and included with this P)rt. I would Ilke to express my sincere thanks to Davld Wallace. Extemal Verifier, for once agaln, revlewing the Cttaritys accounts and financial performance and providin8 a prompt but invaluable review, challenge. and detsiled examlnatlon of the flnances. ari The last financial year witnessed an Increase in overall income, for the first time since 2020 and the Impact of COVID on the Centre. The Committee. with extemal fundin8 SUPI)ort has continued to Invest heavily In the Communlty cent as a whole. It is expected that thls will continue over a number of vears. with an expectation that the next fve years, will requTr investment levels similar to those of the last fwe years. The committee remain very concerned over the performance of the social club - McNelll's and continued delays in rental payments as highlighted by the External Verifier. The Charlty has contlnued to benefft from significant 5UPPOrt from the Parlsh Council, through grant fundlng and the joint PCNllla8e Hall bi-monthly liaison 8roup. The liaison meeting has enabled 8reater dlscusslon on essential Jolnt Issues and related topics for the mutual benefit of both parties. On behalf of the Management Commlttee. I would like to express our thanks to the regular hirers of the facility, theirvolunteers forensurin8 a wide and varled activity programme is available to residents and visltors to the Parish of Cottesmore. Further, the new hirers in Lavender Mill, Oakham Swin8 Dance and Rutland U3A has added to the varied programme of activities that a offed to the communlty. This last finandal proved to be successful, wlth a flnanclal result far better than we could have hope or planned to achieve. New bookings and In¢aSed usage. alon8 With careful spen(ling has enabled this success alon8 wlth grant fvndln8 frorn the Paflsh Council to protect and enhance the Communty Centre. There remains a considerable amount of work to maintsin the building fabric in the Community Centre and Hall in a good condition and thi5 will undoubtably provlde flnancial challenges In the years to come, and the need to find suitable grant funding to support the Charity for the foreseeable future. The Commtttee agreed in March to retaln hire charges at the prevlous level for another financlal year. despite the financial challenges, particularly the planned investment in the building fabric. The price freeze has only been posslble due to the significant increase Sn use of the hall over the last financial year. The Events Group has added a new dimension to our artivities available at the Hall and it is hoped this group will continue to develop a varied programme to attract visitors to the Community Cent, which in turn will support our future development and as in the last year attract new business.
The committee would welcome all offers of help to support the few dedicated volunteers currently involved and to enhance this valuable community asset enabling the continued development of the hall's potential. New volunteer5 will bring new ideas and spread the workload to enable greater actNities in the future to enhan this valuable community assetenabling the contlnued development of the hall's potential. As always, in c105in& I would like to express my sincere thanks to my fellow Trustees and the Vlllage Management Committee for their continuous support. 8u•dance and 8ood humour. It continues to be pleasure to work you all and manage the Villa8e Hall for the benefit of the community and vlsltors to Cottesmore. For and on behalfof Cottesmore Village Hall Trust and Managernent Committee. lan Pluck Trusteenreasurer May 12. 2025