CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 2021
In my last annual report which was given pre-Covid at the 2019 AGM, I concluded by saying "I look forward to 2020 and hope that I can report then on a year of continued progress and success". Little did I know then what was around the corner, however, as things turned out, the last twenty-four months have seen progress and success if not necessarily in the areas I expected.
After a good steady start to the 2019/20 year as regards bookings and usage, we progressed the development proposals for the improvements to the Stable' by obtaining an acceptable price for the work, and were looking forward to that work starting sometime in the Spring of 2020, although this was going to disrupt the Hall's usage. Then in March as we all know Covid 19 struck, the resulting 'lockdown' meant closing the Hall and the immediate loss of income, however, this closed period provided a window of opportunity to the contractor who was able to carry through the contracted work without interruption, although he did have difficulty in sourcing some of the materials such as plaster the price of which rose from roughly £20 a bag pre-Covid, to in some merchant outlets as much as £60, eventually our contractor obtained most of what he needed from Poland!! The heaters were also in very short supply such that although bought and paid for in May did not arrive until October and were fitted in November in time for me to show off the warm, dry, draft proofed and freshly decorated room at our AGM, which of course did not happen! The total cost of this project was £7,484.73.
At this point I must turn to the 'Main Man' of this Trust, Andrew Mier our Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Booking Officer. When it looked like lockdowns would result in heavy losses, it was Andrew who got wind of the availability of government money to ease the pain of Covid, he applied and received on our behalf a £10.000 grant, then as Covid persisted more money came from the government so that ultimately we received a total of just over £29,000.00.
So what of 2021? This at the start was very much like 2020, lockdowns and very little business at the start, but little by little as restrictions were lifted and people regained their confidence to get out and about, bookings began to trickle in, we are not quite back to where we were pre-covid but things are better than we might have expected. In the meantime, works have commenced on our other improvement projects to the Hall and the grounds.
At the beginning of September the overgrown hedge on the southern boundary was cut down and where possible layered, this has allowed much more natural light into the hall as well as opening up the view across the valley. Whilst the tree surgeon was on site he noted that two ash trees on the westerly boundary hedge have ash die-back disease, so he will be returning in due course to fell these. The felling requires Planning permission as we are in a Conservation Area, and most of that treed boundary has tree preservation orders on it; the appropriate application is with West Devon Borough Council now so we should know before Christmas their decision.
The three external timber door units on the South West elevation of the main hall have been replaced with powder coated aluminium sliders in the case of two of the openings, with an emergency exit door in the third opening. Under a separate contract, galvanized steel Juliette balconies have been fixed across the outside faces of the two new sliding units. The long balcony has been demolished for which I offer my sincere thanks to Ian Walton and his sometime temperamental chain saw! We now await the formation of the concrete foundation slab, and installation of the galvanized steel platform and steps, which will see our current improvements works completed.
I was going to conclude by singling out my thanks on behalf of the Trust to the Chancellor, Mr Sunak, for the grants that enabled us to stay afloat, but in all honesty I have to put at the top of my list of thanks, our Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Booking Officer, Andrew Mier who as well as having covered those three offices within the Trust, has also kept us up to date with the Covid regulations ensuring when reopened we had all the appropriate signage in place and sufficient sanitiser at the required locations all of which required reading through pages of government and ACER documents, and managing to do all of this between baking bread and making ice cream!! Without Andrew this Trust and more particularly I myself would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
Of course my thanks also go to Eric and Jane Portman for sending out our meeting agendas and for the taking and issuing of the minutes. Theirs is an entirely voluntary contribution to the Trust, and without them, we would be struggling. Then there is Robin Singleton, jack of all trades, and master of all of them, heaters not working properly, no problem, Robin can sort it, same with plumbing problems, Robin can sort them, and whereas a builder, plumber, or electrician might take weeks to show up Robin usually has the problem fixed in a matter of hours from when it is reported.
My final, but no less important thanks goes to all the Trustees for their unfailing support of the Trust, and I look forward to the coming year in their company and friendship, as we embark on further projects to improve the facilitiesetc. that we can offer to Whitchurch and the wider community.
Whltthur(h C4ynmunlty Hall narbdal Statements Yr ended 31 October 2021 Reglstered Charlty Number 202196
2021 2020 Income Lettings Donations and FundrnlsiThJ Bank Interest Buslr*ss Supwt Grnnt Total Income 8,1W7 6,821 47 27,152 16,870 Expendlture Secretsrfal and Admlnistrath)n Electrldty Buslness Rates Water Rates Contvact CkanirKJ arml Materlals Refuse Qjllectlon etc Repalrs and Maintenan Insuran AdvertlslThJ Bank Loan Interest Sundry Expenses Total Exp•ndltur• 253 2,479 2.202 512 1,701 196 11,026 2,194 307 1,470 196 7,947 102 The atove Inco1r arml exFeTrdthre account and attach balae sheet have been prepar8J from the acctyJntlThJ recwds of the Whltchurch Ccthmunlty Hall ar#a frc¥n Infomth and explanatlons glven to me. Lesley Johnson FC4 19 N¢)vemter 2021
Whltthurth Cmimunlty Hall 2021 2020 Flxed Assets Purchase of LarKI Building Works Works tt) stream Works to path Installatlon of access dcor Professional Fees Kltchen extens Fumishlngs arKI equlywt (less £5 grant) brlllator (less £516.31 contrtbutk)ns) 25,C 152,609 25,LMJ) 152,f 6,12S 6,125 43,313 13,287 43,313 13,287 269,077 269,077 Current Aonunt Current Ac£ount-2 InVestnt Account 8,291 1,872 18,1 8,585 1,215 10,IX15 Current Uabllltles Credltors & Accnwls Bank k)an 674 345 674 345 R•pr•thd by: Genernl Fund Reserve5 Brought Forward Net IrKome for the Period 1,356 288,123 Accountlng PollcSes These acc£MJnts have been wepared an accruals basis aThJ clAY wlth tr requlrements Charftles Act 2011. All fuThJs a cla$51fied a5 unre5trktsl.
Whltthurch Communlty Hall as at 3tst October 2021 2021 2020 Cr•dhord & accruals Water Secretarial and Administrat Cleaning Electric 670 345 674 Dobtorn & pr•p8ym•nts Lettings Electric Rehjse Water Rates Insurance 1,156 82 126 455 176 536 Sundr16• Independent Examiner gfft voucher Covid Equipment 40 82 102 Repalrn & Malnt•nanc• Sundry Repaifs and Maintenance Stable Refvrblshmenl Extemal t)oors Replaced Maintenance of Beech Hedge Gafvanised Steps 143 201 10.142 $40 127 7,820 11,028 7,947