## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1[st] April 2023 To 31[st] March 2024** ## **Charity name: HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM AND WORKMAN'S HALL TRUST** ## **Charity registration number: 233752** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The objectives of the Trust are set out as:
“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
lawfullyuse buildingand land vested in them”| |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|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 regular classes
is held during the day, from Tai Chi to fitness
classes, including those catering for older
people. In the holidays children’s discos are
always popular. On weekday nights the hall is
rented out for regular dance lessons and other
activities, including concerts and private
functions. At weekends the hall is used for
events like art and craft fairs, and private
weddings and other private parties. On
Sundays the hall is sometime used by a church
group. The museum café offers event and
exhibition themed afternoon teas eg
Halloween Teas,Mother’s Dayteas.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The charity’s purposes are in accordance with
the tests set out in the Public Benefit rules. The
trustees are aware of the Public Benefit tests,
and would apply them to any relevant
decisions. There have been no decisions
requiring Trustee consideration during the
year.| Page 17 ## **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|The Town Hall has regular hall hire events such
as dance and exercise classes including classes
catering for older people.
Visitor numbers to the museum were up, at
33,053. The museum put on a wide range of
popular exhibitions, including a_Peter Rabbit_
exhibition, and a_Diane Arbus_photography
exhibition (from the Tate)_,_both of which
attracted 8,500 visitors. The museum
celebrated Black History month with an
exhibition about the Windrush
migrants. Museum staff ran art and craft
workshops for adults and children, sessions for
schools, and monthly day and evening talks.
There were also evening visits by Brownies,
Rainbows and Cub Scouts.
There were 20 volunteers and work experience
students, who contributed a total of 750 hours
to the museum.| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Resources expended of £176k, of which £62k
relates to asset impairments and depreciation.
The charity generated £33k from grants,
donations and sales. The balance is funded
from unrestricted funds provided by North
Hertfordshire District Council.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Trust’s reserves total £2.686m at 31 March
2024. The reserves consist totally of restricted
funds. These funds represent the land and
equipment assets of the trust.
The Trust has no unrestricted funds as at 31
March 2024 that can be expendable at the
discretion of trustees in furtherance of the
charity’s objectives. The Trust’s general
expenditure is typically 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| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£2.686m at 31st March 2024, all restricted
funds relatingto the value of assets held.| Page 18 |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|The Trust’s general expenditure is typically
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.| |---|---|---| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/a| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|None, continuing financial support from North
Hertfordshire District Council covers any
shortfalls.| Page 19 ## **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|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|THE COUNCIL AS A CORPORATE BODY IS THE
TRUSTEE, COUNCILLORS SIT AS TRUSTEES AND
ARE ELECTED BY THE ELECTORS OF NORTH
HERTFORDSHIRE| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM AND WORKMAN'S HALL TRUST| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charitynumber|233752| |Charity’s principal address|North Hertfordshire District Council,
District Council Offices
Gernon Road
Letchworth Garden City
SG6 1JF| ||| Page 20 ## **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(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||North Hertfordshire
District Council|Corporate Body
(represented by Sub
Committee consisting
of the trustees named
below)||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved Councillor Amy Allen Councillor Mick Debenhem Councillor David Winstanley Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** Page 21 ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** |Description of the assets
held in this capacity|| |---|---| |Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|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 inplace to correct this omission.| |Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own
assets|THE COUNCIL’S ASSET REGISTER DETAILS THAT THE LAND IS
HELD IN TRUST.| Page 22 ## **HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM & WORKMAN’S HALL TRUST** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended March 31st 2024** |**Notes**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Contribution from North Herts District Council
Grants and Donations
Sales
Rents Income
Museum Talks and Events
Special Events Income
**Total Incoming Resources:**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
1
Charitable Activities
Governance Costs
**Total Resources Expended:**
**Net Incoming/(Outgoing) Resources for the year**
**before Transfers.**
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Total Funds B/Fwd**
**FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD:-**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
81,215
9,104
18,256
244
4,706
400
113,925
113,925
-
113,925
-
-
-
-|**Restricted funds**
-
-
-
-
-
-
62,458
-
62,458
62,458
-
-
62,458
-
2,748,165
**2,685,707**|**Total Funds**
**2024**
81,215
9,104
18,256
244
4,706
400
113,925
176,383
176,383
62,458
-
-
62,458
-
2,748,165
**2,685,707**|**Total Funds**
**2023**
70,507
9,575
7,542
107
4,056
871| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||92,658
155,116| |||||155,116| |||||62,458
-
-
62,458
-
2,810,623
**2,748,165**| Page 13 ## **HITCHIN TOWN HALL GYMNASIUM & WORKMAN’S HALL TRUST** |**Notes**
**2024**
**£**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible Fixed Assets
2
2,685,707
**Total Assets less Current Liabilities**
2,685,707
**Reserves**
Restricted Funds
2,685,707
Unrestricted Funds
-
**Total Funds:-**
3
2,685,707
**Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2024**|**2023**
**£**
2,748,165
2,748,165| |---|---| ||2,748,165
-
2,748,165| Page 14 ## **HITCHIN GYM AND WORKMAN'S HALL** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended March 31st 2024** |**1 RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Direct Costs**
Indirect Employee Expenses
Utilities
Repairs and Maintenance
Museum Exhibition and events
Equipment Purchases and Repairs
Fixture and Fittings
Stationery
Hired Services
Depreciation
**2 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
**_Hitchin Town Hall Gym and Workman's Hall_**
Carrying Value b/fwd at 1st April
Write off CRevaluation
Depreciation Charge for Year
Net Book Value at 31st March
**3 FUNDS**
Balance at Start of the Year
Net Incoming (Outgoing) resources for the Year
Depreciation of Fixed Assets
Net Movement in Funds
Reserves at the end of the Year.|**2024**
**£**
-
56,773
25,839
17,584
13,438
497
-
197
591
62,458|**2023**
**£**
45
29,136
32,894
18,136
9,738
1,527
297
885
62,458|**Total**
**£**
2,748,165
-
62,458
-
-62,458
2,685,707| |---|---|---|---| ||176,383
2,748,165
-
62,458
-
2,685,707|155,116
2,810,623
-
62,458
-
2,748,165|| ||**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
2,748,165
-
62,458
-
-62,458
2,685,707|**General**
**Unrestricted**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-|| Page 15 This page is intentionally left blank **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 2023/24. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** The Trusts transactions run through the North Herts 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 _____________________________________________________________ Date: 19 December 2024 Name: Chris Wood FCCA CMIIA – HCC Head of Assurance and CAE for North Herts Council