**APPENDIX 1b** 


|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Trustees' Annual Report**|||||**for theperiod**|||
|**From **|Period start date|||**To**|Period end date|||
||01|April|2020||31|March|2021|



## Section A                        Reference and administration details 

**Charity name** 

**Other names charity is known by** 

HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM & WORKMANS HALL TRUST 

CHARITY FOR A GYMNASIUM AND OTHER PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS 

**Registered charity number (if any)** 233752 

**Charity's principal address** NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL COUNCIL OFFICES, GERNON ROAD LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY, HERTS **Postcode SG6 1JF** 

## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||North Hertfordshire<br>District Council|Corporate Body<br>(represented by Sub<br>Committee<br>consisting of the<br>trustees named<br>below)|||



## **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** 

|**Name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|
|---|---|
|Councillor Judi Billing||
|Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg||
|Councillor Steve Jarvis||
|||
|||
|||



## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** 

**Type of adviser Name Address** 

## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** 

Page 23 



**APPENDIX 1b** 

**Section B              Structure, governance and management** 

**Description of the charity’s trusts** 

Type of governing document 

TRUST DEED 

(eg. trust deed, constitution) 

How the charity is constituted 

TRUST 

- (eg. trust, association, company) 

THE COUNCIL AS A CORPORATE BODY IS THE TRUSTEE, Trustee selection methods COUNCILLORS SIT AS TRUSTEES AND ARE ELECTED BY THE (eg. appointed by, elected by) ELECTORS OF NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE 

## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: 

- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; 

- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; 

- relationship with any related parties; 

- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. 

The Trust comprises of an element of the Hitchin Town Hall comprising the Gymnasium and Workman’s Hall. The remainder of the building is in the ownership of North Hertfordshire District Council, which is also the Trustee of the Trust part of the property. 

- Both parts of the property are managed by the District Council (the Trust property under formal agreement) and are used for community purposes, in line with the objectives of the Trust. 

- To affect management of the Trust and ensure separation from the Council, a Sub-Committee with full decision-making powers in the interest of the Trust has been set up comprising of three Members of the Cabinet, whose Portfolios have no direct interest in the Council’s part of the building. 

Since local government re-organisation in 1974, when the Trustee changed from Hitchin Urban District Council to North Hertfordshire District Council, until 2009 the distinction between the Trust owned element of the building and the Council owned element has been lost. The arrangements explained above have been put in place to correct this omission. 

## **Section C                    Objectives and activities** 

The objectives of the Trust are set out as: 

**Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** 

_“Upon trust to use or permit it to be used as a Gym for the benefit of the residents of Hitchin and for other purposes mentioned in s6(3) Museums and Gymnasiums Act 1891 and also for any other (charitable) purpose for the benefit of the North Hertfordshire District for which North Hertfordshire District Council can lawfully use building and land vested in them”._ 

Page 24 



**APPENDIX 1b** 

The whole of the Hitchin Town Hall complex, including the Trust part of the property was closed at the end of October 2012 to commence work on converting the building to a refurbished community facility, substantially incorporating that part of the building owned by the Council, and a District Museum substantially incorporating the Trust part. Work continued throughout until 2016, with the Museum opening on a restricted basis in 2017. 

After a period of complex contractual negotiations between the Council and Hitchin Town Hall Limited, the Council finally purchased 14 & 15 Brand Street in January 2019, which now consists of the main entrance to the facility. The refurbishment was completed, and the Museum was fully opened to the public with access through the new entrance on 6 July 2019. 

**Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit  in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)** 

The new Museum has four galleries, including a terrace gallery and a changing exhibition gallery. The museum hosts educational activities for adults and children, including school groups, in the top floor Learning Centre. These include a regular after-school activities for stressed young people, called ‘A Space to Be’, and dance projects for teenagers, as well as regular holiday art and craft workshops. 

An on-site café that serves food and drinks catered by staff in the new kitchen hosts seasonal activities such as afternoon teas. The Town Hall is a beautiful community facility available to hire for a wide range of private and corporate events. which along with the Museum provides a fantastic community facility for the residents of North Herts and beyond. In the week, a range of classes is held during the day, from Tai Chi to fitness classes, while on weekday nights the hall is rented out for dance lessons, choir practice and Zumba. On Sundays the hall is used by a church group. From comedy nights to conferences, weddings to wakes, the Mountford Hall is booked well into 2022. 

Since its full opening in summer 2019 North Herts Museum has held many exhibitions and events. In the period 01 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, visitor numbers were 30,930. Since then the museum has had to close its doors twice because of the Covid pandemic, but has still managed to host some extremely popular exhibitions. Summer 2021 saw ‘ _The Tiger who came to Tea’_ exhibition, which bought in over 6,500 children and families from a wide area. In 2021 the museum also held an exhibition about a local project during the lockdown period, where people with dementia and their carers made artworks based on the museum objects. The participants all visited the museum to see their work on display. 

Page 25 



**APPENDIX 1b** 

**Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: 

- policy on grantmaking; 

- policy  programme related investment; 

- contribution made by volunteers. 

Page 26 



**APPENDIX 1b** 

## Section D                      Achievements and performance 

**Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** 

~~Page 27~~ 



**APPENDIX 1b** 

## **Section E                    Financial review** 

**Brief statement of the** 

**charity’s policy on reserves** 

The Trust’s reserves total £2,735,707 at 31 March 2021. The reserves consist totally of restricted funds. These funds represent the property asset (Gymnasium and Workman’s Hall), which is retained for actual use rather than to be expended. 

The Trust has no unrestricted funds as at 31 March 2021 that can be expendable at the discretion of trustees in furtherance of the charity’s objectives.  The Trust’s general expenditure is greater than general income.  As a result North Hertfordshire District Council provides a contribution to the Trust and unrestricted funds are maintained at a zero balance over time.  If the financial situation was to change and the Trust’s level of income significantly increased the Trust would need to adopt a policy on an appropriate level of reserves. 

**Details of any funds materially in deficit** 

No funds are materially in deficit. 

## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to  include additional information, where relevant about: 

- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); 

- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; 

- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. 

Income from activities for generating funds is earned from the hire of the Workman’s Hall and Gymnasium.  The Trust received a contribution from North Hertfordshire District Council to cover all resources expended. 

Expenditure incurred during 2020/2021 was general running expenses of the Workman’s Hall and Gymnasium. 

The income and expenditure in 2020/21 was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Trust does not have any significant assets or liabilities other than the tangible fixed asset. 

## **Section F                     Other optional information** 

## **Section G                    Declaration** 

**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** 

Page 28 



## **HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM & WORKMAN’S HALL TRUST** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31st March 2021** 

|**Notes**<br>**INCOMING RESOURCES**<br>Contribution from North Herts District Council<br>Grants and Donations<br>Sales<br>Rents Income<br>Museum Talks and Events<br>**Total Incoming Resources:**<br>**RESOURCES EXPENDED**<br>1<br>Charitable Activities<br>Governance Costs<br>**Total Resources Expended:**<br>**Net Incoming Resources for the year**<br>**before Transfers.**<br>Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets<br>**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**<br>**Total Funds B/Fwd**<br>**FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD:-**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>42,968<br>6,676<br>58<br>473<br>917<br>51,092<br>51,092<br>-<br>51,092<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|**Restricted funds**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>60,793<br>-<br>60,793<br>60,793<br>-<br>349,811<br>289,018<br>2,446,689<br>**2,735,707**|**Total Funds 2021**<br>42,968<br>6,676<br>58<br>473<br>917<br>51,092<br>111,885<br>111,885<br>60,793<br>-<br>349,811<br>289,018<br>2,446,689<br>**2,735,707**|**Total Funds**<br>**2020**<br>13,067<br>22,625<br>4<br>-<br>3,669|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||39,365<br>109,270|
|||||109,270|
|||||69,905<br>-<br>-<br>69,905<br>-<br>2,516,595<br>**2,446,689**|





## **HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM & WORKMAN’S HALL TRUST** 

|**Notes**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**Fixed Assets**<br>Tangible Fixed Assets<br>2<br>2,735,707<br>**Total Assets less Current Liabilities**<br>2,735,707<br>**Reserves**<br>Restricted Funds<br>2,735,707<br>Unrestricted Funds<br>-<br>**Total Funds:-**<br>3<br>2,735,707<br>**Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2021**|**2020**<br>**£**<br>2,446,689<br>2,446,689|
|---|---|
||2,446,689<br>-<br>2,446,689|





## **HITCHIN GYM AND WORKMAN'S HALL NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st March 2021** 

|**1 RESOURCES EXPENDED**<br>**Direct Costs**<br>Rates<br>Utilities<br>Repairs and Maintenance<br>Museum Exhibition and events<br>Equipment Purchases and Repairs<br>Fixture and Fittings<br>Stationery<br>Hired Services<br>Depreciation|**2021**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>2,025<br>54,143<br>-<br>22,034<br>16,711<br>11,126<br>5,496<br>6,553<br>28,743<br>7,383<br>40,873<br>1,002<br>127<br>252<br>96<br>717<br>1,463<br>60,793<br>69,905|
|---|---|
||111,885<br>109,270|



## **2 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

|**_Hitchin Town Hall Gym and Workman's Hall_**<br>Carrying Value b/fwd at 1st April<br>Revaluation<br>Depreciation Charge for Year<br>Net Book Value at 31st March|2,446,689<br>2,516,595<br>349,811<br>-<br>60,793<br>-<br>69,905<br>-<br>2,735,707<br>2,446,689|
|---|---|



_* Revaluation as at the 22nd February 2021 undertaken by the Chartered Estates Surveyor at North Hertfordshire District Council.  The valuation is a depreciated replacement cost, and it is sensitive to build cost volatilities.  As build costs have been fairly volatile over the last year or so,it was deemed prudent to undertake a further valuation of the property rather than wait for the residue of the 5-year cycle to expire._ 

|**3 FUNDS**<br>Balance at Start of the Year<br>Net Incoming (Outgoing) resources for the Year<br>Depreciation of Fixed Assets<br>Net Movement in Funds<br>Reserves at the end of the Year.|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>2,446,689<br>349,811<br>60,793<br>-<br>289,018<br>2,735,707|**General**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|**Total**<br>**£**<br>2,446,689<br>349,811<br>60,793<br>-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||289,018<br>2,735,707|





## **Independent Examiner’s Report for the Hitchin Town Gymnasium & Workman’s Hall Trust** 

I report on the accounts of Hitchin Town Gymnasium & Workman’s Hall Trust for 2020/21. 

## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** 

The Trusts transactions run through the North Herts District Council’s bank accounts.  My examination includes a review of the accounts prepared, considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations concerning any matters arising. 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 by the accounts. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

I have obtained all the information and explanations I consider necessary to complete the statement below. Further, I have not identified any significant concerns regarding these accounts which remain either unresolved or undeclared in the accounts themselves or this report. 

I certify that the accompanying final accounts (summary income and expenditure account and balance sheet) present an accurate picture of the activities and transactions undertaken through this account and of the financial position at the end of the year. 

Examiner’s / Auditor’s signature 


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Date: 26 January 2022 

Name (please print): Mark Chalkley 

