Management Committee Report
| 25 July 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Charity Commission Trustees’ Annual Report 2023-24 |
| Purpose of Report | To note the attached Annual Report 2023-24 |
| Contact Officer(s): | Surjit Tour Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer |
1 PURPOSE OF THE ITEM
To approve the Charity Commission Trustees’ Annual Report 2023-24.
2 RECOMMENDATION
That the Charity Commission Trustees’ Annual Report 2023-24 be approved.
3 BACKGROUND DETAILS
- 3.1 The Charity Commission requires an annual report. This document is backwards looking and must be approved by the Management Committee (or its representative) before submission to the Charity Commission.
1
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/04/23 Period start date To 31/03/24 Period end date
Charity name: Barlow Homes For Aged Persons Charity registration number: 203035
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Barlow Homes provides accommodation of 37 bungalows for elderly residents with links to the local area of Oldbury. There is a community hall on the estate that is used by the residents, local community groups and for local elections. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
There have been significant improvements to the bungalows and estate over the last few years to bring the properties up to a modern standard. This included renovated new kitchens and bathrooms, electrical rewiring and other improvements required. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | |
| Other |
2
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | A high quality of homes on the estate which are popular and short periods of void lets. The community hall is used for local community groups and residents. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The final outturn as at 31/3/24 was a surplus of £19,751 which was transferred into reserves. This was higher than expected due to voids being occupied during the year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | There is no definitive policy but as a guide the Trust looks to have at least 10% of its annual rent income set aside in balances. The actual level of balances as at 31/3/24 is significantly above this level. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £461,036 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
3
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Additional information (optional)
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Rental income from the properties is the main source of income. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Trust deed |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Independent Trust |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointed by Sandwell MBC |
4
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | The Trust receives administration and management support from Sandwell Council officers. Sandwell Council manage the lettings of the bungalows on the estate and ensure that all costs and income are separately accounted to the Trust. The trustees meet with key council officers approximately quarterly at the scheduled Board meetings. Decisions on the maintenance, repair and improvements of the bungalows and other estate issues are taken by the local trustee councillors on the Board. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Barlow Homes For Aged Persons |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 203035 |
| Charity’s principal address | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Democratic Services Oldbury Council House, West Midlands B69 3BS |
5
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwell MBC | Sandwell MBC PO BOX 2374, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 3DE |
|||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
6
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Mike Jones - Assistant Director for Legal and Assurance and Monitoring Officer.
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
7
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Ellen Fenton | ||
Chair Barlow Homes Management Committee |
||
| 25 July 2024 | ||
| 25 July 2024 |
8
BARLOW HOMES 2023/24 Statement of Accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
Budget Description Actual Spend Variance
2023/24 2023/24 2023/24
£ £
INCOME
(600) Interest Receivable (26,221) (25,621)
(300) Hire of Hall 0 300
(154,000) Rents of Dwellings (145,036) 8,964
(154,900) Total Income (171,257) (16,357)
EXPENDITURE
26,550 Maintenance of Grounds 47,152 20,602
5,350 Treeworks 0 (5,350)
46,600 Response Repairs/Call Out/voids 75,183 28,583
1,500 Gas - Community Hall 3,221 1,721
1,500 Electricity - Community Hall 2,770 1,270
800 Council Tax - Void Properties 0 (800)
700 Water Charges - Community Hall 0 (700)
1,200 Internal Cleaning Recharge 975 (225)
8,400 Insurance Premiums 8,430 30
50 Printing 50 0
100 Postage 100 0
600 Community Alarms Line Rental 1,177 577
750 Broadband 3,051 2,301
300 ICT hardware / software 0 (300)
1,000 Events / miscellaneous 0 (1,000)
8,200 Recharge from SMBC 9,040 840
0 Legal Charges 0 0
600 National Non Domestic Rates 358 (242)
104,200 Total Expenditure 151,506 47,306
(50,700) Deficit/(Surplus) to date (19,751) 30,949
(441,286) Reserve (441,286)
(491,986) General Reserve cfwd (461,037)
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Finance Statement
I have checked that these accounts are a true and fair representation of the transactions relating to Barlow Homes Trust for the financial year 2023/24. It reconciled to the final ledger statements for Barlow Homes.
Vincenzo De Grassi FCCA Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council 10 June 2024