Annual Report for The Mere Lecture Hall Trust For the Year Ending 30[th] June 2021
(Charity Registration Number 202620)
1 Administrative Details
Registered Office:
Newport House Salisbury Street Mere Wiltshire BA12 6HE
Correspondence Address:
Chris Wood (Treasurer) Swainsford Fish Farm Woodlands Road Mere Warminster Wiltshire BA12 6BY
Trustees as of 30[th] June 2021:
Mr A Bristow Mr S Burroughs Mr Gareth James Mrs D Potter Mr A Rees Mr C Rutter (chairman) Mr Simon Rutter Mr B Watts Mrs Audrey Hart-Roy Mr C Wood (treasurer)
Rev M Laurie Mr P Platt-Higgins Mrs H Watts Mrs M White
Number of Active Trustees at Year End: 14
Custodian Trustee:
Legal Trustee Limited Company registration number 00195819 C/O Rutters Solicitors 2 Bimport Shaftesbury Dorset SP7 8AY
Trust Document:
The Trust was created by Deed dated November 22, 1924
April 2022
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The Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Annual Report for The Mere Lecture Hall Trust For the Year Ending 30[th] June 2021
(Charity Registration Number 202620)
2 Structure, Governance and Management
The Trust is governed by up to 25 Administrative Trustees, with the backing of a Custodian Trustee. Six Trustees are especially representative of the Christian presence in the town and are elected by their own churches each for a period of three years. The rest are selfperpetuating, elected by the remaining trustees for an indefinite term, being gathered from the local community resident within 13 miles' radius.
"The Administrative Trustees shall manage or superintend the management of the trust properties with power to deal therewith as if they were absolute owners thereof." They thus have wide powers.
The Trustees currently meet once or twice a year. They annually elect a management committee to manage the day-to-day business of the trust, consisting of a chairman, secretary, treasurer and four others plus a hall manager. They also appoint a Grants' subcommittee of up to 5 trustees. The management committee meets as required, but usually 4 – 6 times a year. The Trustees approve the annual accounts, set the level of grants for the year, receive and discuss the management committee's report and decide items of policy.
The Trustees employ the services of a Caretaker/Cleaner for the Lecture Hall building. Although they are at liberty to employ any other servant if they wish, all the office holders are also trustees and act in a voluntary capacity. From time to time they employ professional help as required.
April 2022
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The Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Annual Report for The Mere Lecture Hall Trust For the Year Ending 30[th] June 2021
(Charity Registration Number 202620)
3 Public Benefit Statement
The Primary Objective of the Trust is to provide a meeting place for the community of Mere and surrounding area for non-commercial use. This enables the various groups that make up the community to meet and develop spiritually, physically and socially.
The Hall is available to all sections and groups within the community although there are restrictions on use based on the requirements as set out by the original Trust Deed and the limitations of the building.
The Grants provided to the local community require the benefit to be used within an 8 mile radius of Mere and the purposes of the grant must be consistent with the objectives of the Trust as set out in the original Trust Deed.
None of the Trustees receive any benefit, direct or indirectly from the Trust.
April 2022
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The Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Annual Report for The Mere Lecture Hall Trust For the Year Ending 30[th] June 2021
(Charity Registration Number 202620)
4 Objectives and Activities
"The objects of the Trust are the promotion of the spiritual, moral, intellectual or social welfare of the inhabitants of Mere in the County of Wiltshire and elsewhere, along lines not inconsistent with non-conforming Christianity, or the promotion of temperance, or the promotion of similar charitable objects elsewhere."
To this end the "Lecture Hall" building, a main 100-seater hall and stage, two smaller halls and various ancillary spaces, was given to the Trust in 1924. In many ways it serves as a community hall. At the same time various properties were also given to the trust as endowment for the Hall to ensure its spiritual freedom and financial independence.
The Trustees maintain the Hall as an attractive and suitable venue for many local activities as a benefit to the community. One of the halls is now a coffee bar and there are modern toilets and disabled facilities. The rooms are offered for rent at a subsidised rate to the community and at a commercial rate for commercial purposes.
The trustees endeavour to make small grants each year to community organisations and continue to explore opportunities to promote the objects of the Trust.
To maintain a viable level of income, the trustees maintain, manage and let a number of properties, both residential and commercial.
April 2022
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The Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Annual Report for The Mere Lecture Hall Trust For the Year Ending 30[th] June 2021
(Charity Registration Number 202620)
5 Achievements and Financial Review
Having been closed for certain periods during the pandemic the Mere Lecture Hall is now being well used and the Trust is now able to meet the primary objective of providing a suitable venue for the people of Mere and district.
The Trust continued to do various works to maintain the properties the Trust owns and manages. The Trust endeavours to keep abreast of current legislation to ensure all the properties are within the Health and Safety and building regulations.
The property known as Hartfield has been substantially renovated and is now let. Two, fully documented short term loans of £10,000 each at interest of 5% p.a. have been made by two of the trustees to cover the work on Hartfield. The main and front hall have been redecorated and a new efficient gas central heating boiler has been fitted to replace the two 20-year-old boilers. As of 30th June 2021, all the trust properties are let bar Homelea which has just become vacant and is awaiting refurbishment.
During the pandemic some rent holiday was agreed with the snooker club as they were unable to use the premises and no grants were given during the year ending 30[th] June 2021.
Two long standing trustees have regretfully had to resign their trusteeships and attempts will be made to find new trustees.
April 2022
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The Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
for
Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
| Page | |
|---|---|
| General Information | 1 |
| Accountant's Report | 2 |
| Trading and Profit and Loss Account | 3 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 |
Mere Lecture Hall Trust
General Information
for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
TREASURER:
ADDRESS:
ACCOUNTANT:
C R C Wood Newport House Salisbury Street Mere Warminster Wiltshire BA12 6HE Gordon Chubb 542 Bishops Caundle Sherborne Dorset DT9 5ND
Page 1
Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MERE LECTURE HALL TRUST
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 30th June 2021.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiners
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act);
-
to follow procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act)
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of
independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given in the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements have not been met:-
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.
Gordon Chubb 542 Bishops Caundle Sherborne Dorset DT9 5ND
Date: 1[st] October 2021
Page 2
Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Trading and Profit and Loss Account
for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income | ||||
| Donations received | - | 10 | ||
| The Gables - ground floor | 6,500 | 6,500 | ||
| The Gables - Drama Room | 400 | 400 | ||
| The Gables - Top floor flat | 6,678 | 3,045 | ||
| Hartfield | 3,180 | 600 | ||
| Courtfield | 4,800 | 4,813 | ||
| Newport House - Maisonette 1 | 5,700 | 5,700 | ||
| Newport House - Maisonette 2 | 7,125 | 4,557 | ||
| Newport House - Office | 1,620 | 1,560 | ||
| Town & Country House - office | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||
| Town & Country House - snooker room | 637 | 605 | ||
| Homelea | 6,722 | 6,900 | ||
| Truscott | 7,500 | 7,968 | ||
| Lecture hall | 718 | 3,169 | ||
| Garage | 480 | 480 | ||
| 57,060 | 51,307 | |||
| Property direct costs | ||||
| Repairs to property - Gables | 85 | 295 | ||
| Repairs to property-Courtfield | 265 | 630 | ||
| Repairs to property | ||||
| - Newport House | 484 | 6,649 | ||
| Repairs to property - Truscott | 323 | 85 | ||
| Repairs to property - Homelea | 85 | 680 | ||
| Repairs to property - Lecture Hall | 6,212 | 1,300 | ||
| Repairs to property - Town & | ||||
| Country House | - | 19,500 | ||
| Repairs to property-Hartfield | 66,987 | 85 | ||
| 74,441 | 29,224 | |||
| GROSS (LOSS)/PROFIT | (17,381) | 22,083 | ||
| Establishment costs | ||||
| Security | 476 | 822 | ||
| Management fees | 5,262 | 5,124 | ||
| Rates, water, & insurance | 4,913 | 5,214 | ||
| Cleaning | 1,107 | 1,622 | ||
| Heating & lighting | 1,883 | 2,786 | ||
| 13,641 | 15,568 | |||
| (31,022) | 6,515 | |||
| Administrative expenses | ||||
| Telephone | 315 | 297 | ||
| Post and stationery | - | 17 | ||
| Advertising | 110 | 110 | ||
| Sundry expenses | 187 | - | ||
| Accountancy | 650 | 600 | ||
| Donations & grants | - | 4,000 | ||
| 1,262 | 5,024 | |||
| Carried forward | (32,284) | 1,491 |
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Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Trading and Profit and Loss Account
for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Brought forward | (32,284) | 1,491 | ||
| Depreciation | ||||
| Improvements to property | 696 | 696 | ||
| Plant and machinery | 234 | 275 | ||
| 930 | 971 | |||
| NET (LOSS)/PROFIT | (33,214) | 520 |
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Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Balance Sheet
30th June 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| Tangible assets | 1 | 191,829 | 192,759 | ||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Trade debtors | 497 | 299 | |||
| Deposits held by Gilyard | |||||
| Scarth | 5,407 | 5,258 | |||
| Bank current account | 11,701 | 24,470 | |||
| Cash in hand | 84 | 142 | |||
| 17,689 | 30,169 | ||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||
| Trade creditors | 244 | 1,239 | |||
| Deposits received from tenants | 5,407 | 5,258 | |||
| Accrued expenses | 1,250 | 600 | |||
| Loan - Peter Platt | 10,000 | - | |||
| Loan - Chris Wood | 10,000 | - | |||
| 26,901 | 7,097 | ||||
| (9,212) | 23,072 | ||||
| NET ASSETS | 182,617 | 215,831 | |||
| FINANCED BY | |||||
| CAPITAL ACCOUNT | 2 | 182,617 | 215,831 |
We approve the financial statements and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation.
Charles Rutter Chairman
Chris Wood Treasurer
Date: 30[th] September 2021
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Mere Lecture Hall Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30th June 2021
| 1. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improvements | Fixtures | |||||
| Freehold | to |
Plant and | and | |||
| property | property |
machinery | fittings | Totals | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| COST | ||||||
| At 1st July 2020 | ||||||
| and 30th June 2021 | 159,462 | 34,803 | 2,391 | 2,179 | 198,835 | |
| DEPRECIATION | ||||||
| At 1st July 2020 | - | 3,176 | 721 | 2,179 | 6,076 | |
| Charge for year | - | 696 | 234 | - | 930 | |
| At 30th June 2021 | - | 3,872 | 955 | 2,179 | 7,006 | |
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||||||
| At 30th June 2021 | 159,462 | 30,931 | 1,436 | - | 191,829 | |
| At 30th June 2020 | 159,462 | 31,627 | 1,670 | - | 192,759 | |
| 2. | CAPITAL ACCOUNT | |||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Brought forward | 215,831 | 215,311 | ||||
| Add | ||||||
| Net profit | - | 520 | ||||
| 215,831 | 215,831 | |||||
| Less | ||||||
| Net loss | 33,214 | - | ||||
| 182,617 | 215,831 | |||||
| 182,617 | 215,831 |
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