## 150 **Directors’ Report 2023 and AGM Notice Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society** **NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the AGM and receipt of the Directors’ Report for the year 2023 will be held in the David Sweet Hall at East Croydon United Reformed Church – Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, on Thursday 25[th] April 2024, commencing at 19:45.** **Online and postal voting will be also be available – please see page 4 for details and closing dates. In this Document Agenda for the Annual General Meeting Directors’ Report for 2023 The Society’s Accounts and Accountant’s Report** ## **For a full programme of walks and talks please visit our website on www.cnhss.co.uk** Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited A company limited by guarantee registered in London No. 922278 Registered Office: 96a Brighton Road, South Croydon, CR2 6AD Registered Email address: information@cnhss.co.uk Registered charity No. 260739 _For ways of contacting the Society online see box on back cover_ 14 ## **Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital) Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31st December 2023** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT** ## **Report to the directors, who are also the trustees, of Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society (Charity Number 260739; Company Number 922278)** I report to the charity’s directors on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31st December 2023, as set out on Accounts pp 2 to 7. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity’s directors and trustees of the Company you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** Since the company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or - the accounts do not accord with such records; or - the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or - the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102). I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed… ……………………. Date……………………. 13[th] March 2024 Donald Iain MacLeod 22 Bowes Wood FCA New Ash Green Member of the Institute of Chartered Longfield Accountants in England and Wales Kent DA3 8QJ Donald Iain MacLeod FCA Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales _CNHSS_ 15 ## **Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital) Statement of financial activities (including summary income and expenditure account) For The Year Ended 31st December 2023** |**Notes**
**Income — unrestricted funds**
Investment income
Interest income
Subscriptions
Donations
Book sales
Exhibition Grants
Bequest
[2]
Gift Aid
[3]
Lectures
Royalties
**Expenditure — unrestricted funds**
Website and computer sundries
Meetings
Postage and telephone
Printing and stationery
Rates and rent
Electricity
Depreciation
Repairs and Renewals
Proceedings
Subscriptions
Professional fees
Bank charges
Examiner’s remuneration
Insurance
Programmes
Bulletins
Exhibitions
Donations and Grants
Sundries
**Excess of income over expenditure**
Of which Legacy Fund
Of which balance
**Fund Balances**
**Balance at 1st January 2023**
Excess of income over expenditure
**Balance at 31st December 2023**
of which General Fund
of which Bennett Fund
of which Fagg Fund
of which Legacy Fund|**2023**
**Fund**
**£**
4,980
⅓G=B=F
1,160
⅓G=B=F
2,701
General
292
General
2,232
Fagg
300
General
261,447
Legacy
0
General
80
General
409
Fagg|**2022**
**£**
4,500
112
3,509
40
724
2,100
50,052
546
310
699| |---|---|---| ||**273,601**
**£**
185
General
2,337
General
881
General
276
General
424 B/L 1409/–985
3,021 B/L 2544/477
35
General
1,676 B/L 236/1440
0
Fagg
223
General
27,272 G/L 820/26452
0
General
300
General
1,905 G/L 1277/628
771
General
1,480
General
100
General
200
General
9
General|**62,592**
**£**
341
2,840
696
108
B 1,365
B 1,084
47
B 297
655
350
0

0

290

G 1,541

845

1,360

0
100
194| ||41,095
**232,506**
233,435
– 929
**2023**
**£202,165**
**232,506**
**£434,671**
£53,108
£49,812
£48,264
£283,487|12,113
**50,479**
50,052
427
**2022**
**£151,686**
**50,479**
**£202,165**
£56,583
£51,954
£43,576
£50,052| Accounts – page 2 _Directors’ Report 2023_ 16 ## **Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital) Balance Sheet at 31 December 2023** |**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible Fixed Assets
[5]
Fixed Asset Investments
[6]
**Current Assets**
Stocks
Debtors
Bank and cash
[7]
Other creditors
[8]
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**NET ASSETS**
**Financed by — unrestricted funds**
General Fund
Bennett Memorial Fund
C C Fagg Memorial Fund
Legacy Fund|**2023**
**£**
1,152
124,638
**125,790**
2,000
0
334,682
**336,682**
– 27,801
308,881
434,671
**£434,671**
53,108
49,812
48,264
283,487
**£434,671**|**2022**
**£**
1,187
74,638| |---|---|---| |||**75,825**
2,000
624
128,544| |||**131,168**
– 4,828
126,340| |||202,165| |||**£202,165**| |||56,583
51,954
43,576
50,052
**£202,165**| Accounts – page 3 _CNHSS_ 17 ## **Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital) Balance Sheet at 31 December 2023 (continued)** The company is entitled to exemption from audit for the year ended 31st December 2023 under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2023 in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP. These financial statements have been approved by Council. Treasurer ............................................................... B.J. Hawkins Company Secretary ............................................... I.G. Payne 23 February 2024 Accounts – page 4 _Directors’ Report 2023_ 18 ## **Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital)** ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## **1. Accounting Policies** The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with: Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), SORP FRS102, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006 **.** ## INCOME - i. Recognition of income – Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when: - The charity becomes entitled to the resources; - It is more than likely that the trustees will receive the resources; - The monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. - ii. Offsetting There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS102 SORP or FRS 102. - iii. Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income criteria are met. - In the case of performance related grants, income must only be recognized to the extent that the charity has provided the specific goods or services as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met. - Legacies are included in the SOFA when receipt is probable, that is, when there are sufficient assets in the estate and any conditions attached to the legacy are in the control of the charity or have been met. - iv. Tax reclaims on donations and gifts Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be a part of that gift and is treated as part of the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise. - v. Income from interest, royalties and dividends. These are included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably. - vi. Income from membership subscriptions Membership subscriptions received in the nature of a gift are recognized in Donations and Legacies. Membership subscriptions which give a member the right to Accounts – page 5 _CNHSS_ 19 buy services or other benefits are recognized as income earned from the provision of goods or services as income from charitable activities. ## EXPENDITURE - i. Liability Recognition- Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable accuracy. ## ASSETS - i. Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity – These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year. They are valued at cost. - ii. Depreciation – Depreciation is calculated to spread the cost of the following assets over their estimated useful lives at the following rates: - Furniture and equipment – 25% of written down value; - Computer equipment – 25% of purchase value. - iii. Fixed Asset Investments have been valued at cost. - iv. Stocks – Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. - v. Debtors – Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount. ## **2. Legacy Fund** During the year, the Society received monies from the bequest of Paul Sowan via the estates of his family which had hereunto not been realised. The monies less expenses are shown as income in the Income and Expenditure Account but are allocated to the Legacy Fund. Further amounts are expected from the bequest when legal ownership of various assets is settled. ## **3. Gift Aid** Gift Aid has been claimed for the year ending 31 December 2019 but has not yet been received. Gift aid has yet to be claimed for the years ending 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2021. The deadlines for making these claims are 31 December 2024 and 2025 respectively. ## **4. Related Party Transactions** Where it has proved difficult for the Society to make prompt one-off payments, some expenses have been paid online by individual trustees. All such expenses have subsequently been reimbursed upon proof of payment. There were no other related party transactions during the year (2022 – nil). Accounts – page 6 _Directors’ Report 2023_ 20 ## **Notes to the Accounts (continued)** |**5. Tangible**
Freehold 96a|Furniture and|Furniture and|Furniture and||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Fixed Assets**
Brighton Road||Equipment|||Total| |At cost Jan 1
1,046|||14,011||15,057| |Additions|||||| |At cost Dec 31
1,046|||14,011||15,057| |Depreciation at|||||| |January 1
0|||13,870||13,870| |Charge for year|||||| |2023
0|||35||35| |At 31 Dec 2023
0|||13,905||13,905| |Net Book Value:|||||| |31 Dec 2023
**£1,046**|||**£106**||**£1,152**| |31 Dec 2022
**£1,046**|||**£141**||**£1,187**| |The freehold premises are stated||at|cost as, in the directors’ opinion,||| |market value would not be appropriate.|||||| |**6. Fixed Asset Investments**||Market value||Cost|Cost| |||31|Dec 2023|2023|2022| |19913 M & G Charibond|||22,270|25,000|25,000| |8378 Charifund units|||120,221|94,638|44,638| |(3484 units purchased Dec 2023 for £50,000)|||||| |National Savings Bond|||5,000|5,000|5,000| |||**£147,491**||**£124,638**|**£74,638**| |**7. Cash at bank**|||2023|2022|| |Santander deposit account|||67,310|66,926|| |Bank current account|||185,257|20,128|| |Bank deposit account|||81,995|41,370|| |Cash in hand|||120|120|| |||**£334,682**||**£128,544**|| |**8. Creditors: amounts falling due**||**within one year**|||| ||||2023|2022|| |Subscriptions in advance|||328|352|| |Sundry creditors|||27,473|4,476|| ||||**£27,801**|**£4,828**|| Accounts – page 7 _CNHSS_