Lytham St. Annes Civic Society Contents of the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 30[th] April 2025 ||Page| |---|---| |Reference and administration details|2| |Report of the Trustees|3 to 4| |Independent Examiners Report|5| |Receipt and Payment Account|6| |Statement of Assets and Liabilities|7| |Accounting Policies|8| 1 Lytham St. Annes Civic Society Reference and Administrative Details For the Year Ended 30[th] April 2025 Charity number: Principal office: Bankers: Trustees: Chair: Other Trustees: 243629 23 Commonside Lytham St. Annes Lancashire FY8 4EX Handelsbanken Fylde Coast Branch First Floor, Beckett House Wyrefields Poulton le Fylde FY6 8JX Mrs. S Cornah Mr. A. Carr Mrs. M. Coupe Mr. P. McNeill Mrs. M. Tonge Mr. S. Rigby 2 Lytham St. Annes Civic Society ## Report of the Trustees For the Year Ended 30[th] April 2025 The trustees are pleased to present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30[th] of April 2025. The financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and a Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities. ## **Governing Documents** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity. The governing document is the Constitution as adopted on 12[th] of July 2007. ## **Purpose and Objectives** The charity is established for the public benefit for the following purposes in Lytham St. Annes and its environs comprising: 1. To promote high standards of planning and architecture in or affecting the area of benefit 2. To educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area of benefit 3. To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the area of benefit. ## **Appointment of Trustees/Officers** In accordance with the governing document, the charity shall have at least three Trustees, however there is no maximum. A Trustee must be a member of the Charity or the nominated representative of an organisation that is a member of the Charity. Trustees are elected in general meeting of the Trustees may appoint any person who is willing to act as a Trustee. Each of the Trustees shall retire with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting after their appointment, but is eligible for re-election at that annual general meeting. ## **Trustees’ responsibility for the accounts** Charity law requires the trustees of the charity to prepare financial statements each year which show a true and fair view. In addition the trustees are responsible for selecting suitable accounting policies and applying them on a consistent basis, to make judgements on estimates that are prudent and reasonable, to keep proper accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taken reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Risk Management** The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risk to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. ## **Achievement and Performance** Details of achievements and activities during the year are contained within the 2024/25 Annual Report. When planning activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 3 Lytham St. Annes Civic Society Report of the Trustees For the Year Ended 30[th] April 2025 ## **Financial Review/Reserves Policy** An analysis of the financial activities in the 2024/25 highlights the following: - The Society has benefited from significant legacies and donations amounting to over £87,000, the most significant received from the Thomas Blasson Charitable Foundation, a restricted legacy for the protection and preservation of the natural and build environment of Lytham. Donations were also received from residents to fund legal action to protect Lytham Green and specifically Granny’s Bay along with very welcome grant from Lancashire Environmental Fund for Witchwood. Membership income has remained consistent with the prior year - There is a recorded surplus of the year of £63,813 - Cash funds held on the 30[th] of April 2025 total £121,554 The funds generated by the charity shall be applied solely in furthering the object of the charity. The Board of Trustees review the level of cash funds on an ongoing basis and consider the risk associated with the various income sources and expenditure plans for the next year. Under the requirements of Charity Law, the Trustees are obliged to define the charity’s policy for holding reserves. The intention in establishing this policy for Lytham St. Annes Civic Society is to secure continuation of its activities. The policy will: 1. Preserve the visibility of the charity 2. In doing so, underwrite existing services against periods of deficit 3. Enable the charity to meet its legal objects 4. Provide confidence to supporters and donors seeking to give financial support to a prudently controlled charity 5. Ensure that, consistent with objects, mission statement and values of Lytham St. Annes Civic Society, proper ethical consideration be afforded to all matters of investment 6. Ensure that the reserves are at a level sufficient to discharge all the charities obligations should the charity cease its operations Current levels of cash funds are deemed sufficient to meet the above obligations. By order of the trustees S Cornah Chairman ………………………………… 31 October 2025 Date ………………………………… 4 Lytham St. Annes fjvic Soaety 14ySI Ibl l Thea(COuntsaEccrfd totkde recoros. FY8SEX Lytham St. Annes fjvic Soaety 53 irn Im 1355 914 5tt 237 171 J64 oj 35T T#i*l Lytham St. Annes fjvic Soaety Chvfty rwfflb•r 243629 C•#h F￿dI 157 2755 *c EwiFIr¢Dt.Or¥*￿(u￿l IU71 376 Jxi Lytham St. Annes Civic Society ## Accounting Policies ## Basis of accounting These accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis. ## Income All income is included in the accounts when received and is classified under headings that aggregate all income related to a category. ## Payments All expenditure is accounted for when paid and is classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to a category. ## General fund General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees and the furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. ## Designated funds Designated funds are set aside by the Trustees out of general funds for specific purposes or projects. ## Restricted funds Restricted funds that can only be used for particular restrictive purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or by the specific terms of the appeal under which the funds are raised. Restrictions are binding upon the Trustees of the charity. ## Value added tax VAT is not recoverable by the charity and as such is included in the relevant costs. ## Depreciation All equipment retained for the charities use is depreciated utilising a reducing balance methodology which expenses a higher portion of an asset's cost in its early years and progressively lower amounts as it ages. 8