Chairman’s Report
2024 marks the first year with a new Chair, and thanks to the superb team and Derek’s advice, the transition has been seamless with no interruptions to hall operations. As the Barkham Parish representative on the Hall committee, I have stepped down to avoid any conflict of interest. Mike Barker has taken over this role. His experience in business, finance, and negotiation is invaluable and will continue to be so.
Despite a 5% increase in our charges, the hall continues to be heavily used. This increase was necessary due to the end of our fixed-rate utility agreement, which has tripled our gas bill. To address future price changes and manage a reserve for expected large outgoings in the coming years, we now have a standing financial sub-committee consisting of Connie, Laurie, and Mike.
The main project of installing Solar Panels stalled while we sought grants. Although none were forthcoming, we were accepted and enrolled on Wokingham Brough’s ‘Solar Together’ scheme. This has allowed us to engage with a vetted company for top-spec equipment at an affordable price. We signed the contract with ‘Sustain Homes’ on the 13[th] January for installation this Easter. This installation is expected to give us an 80% reduction to our Electricity Bills. Extra battery storage has been included in readiness for a Phase II that will address our heating bill.
Other projects completed:
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Augmented the pre-school sign with a rigid support, giving it a more professional look.
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Built an Outside store for pre-school equipment. Funded in cooperation with Pre-school and the Hall
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Replaced railings around the pre-school area, funded entirely by the pre-school.
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Replaced the gate to the field with a like-for-like gate.
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Dealt with an Ant infestation.
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Completely rebuilt a soak away to the rear of the building, which included a survey of the drains due to inaccuracies in the original site plans.
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BT line replaced by GigaClear fiber. Wi-Fi migrating from unusable to 250Mb/Sec all for the same price.
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Cleaned up the wiring in the lobby as part of the fiber project.
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Removed the commercial dishwasher, which was left in an unhygienic state by users, and replaced it with shelving.
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10.Conducted a bat survey, a prerequisite for the solar installation, valid for one year. Bats are using the weatherboarding as an overnight shelter but not the loft space where the solar installation will be done.
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11.Updated the fire assembly point location to a single location with updated notices.
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12.Repaired movement sensors, external lights, and timer override.
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13.Fixed the clock in the main hall, although it is no longer synced by radio signals.
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14.Replaced a dead cherry tree with a sapling.
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15.All Documentation and notes pertaining to the Hall uploaded to the bvhcommittee cloud.
Work outstanding or cancelled:
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It was decided not to proceed with EV charging points. The site is too isolated to be safe.
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Left the pedestrian shortcut to the hall entrance uneven but usable for another year.
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Plan to address blistering patio railings in 2025, this will include a repaint
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Need to repaint the blue/grey paint on the lower part of both the small and large halls due to damage from tables.
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Need to clear the guttering and moss on the rear slope. Clearing the front will wait until the solar installation is complete and we know which areas of the roof are still uncovered.
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Get better control of heating by installing ‘Hive’. This may be ‘Sustain Homes’ the same people that do the Solar installation.
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Install supports for the Grundon Bin. So, the lid does not fall all the way back and make it difficult to close.
In summary, the hall is in rude health, with a Phase II of our energy initiative planned for when funds become available. Phase II will aim to make us independent of gas and electricity utilities, along with the increased insight provided by the financial sub-committee, potentially allowing us to reduce our hire charges.
Allan Wrobel
Chair BVH
07912-656689 306 Barkham Rd Wokingham Berks
RG41 4DA
Income and Expenditure for Barkham Village Hall For The Year Ended 31st December 2024
DRAFT Signed Off Accounts
| Income | 2024 | 2023 Notes | Variance | Variance % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire of hall | ||||
| Overall Hires for the Year | £24,869 | £23,661 | £1,208 | 5% |
| BPC Grant | £0 | £4,770 | -£4,770 | -100% |
| Deposit Interest Earned | £304 | £222 | £82 | 37% |
| Other Income | £10 | £773 | -£764 | -99% |
| Total Income | £25,183 | £29,427 | -£4,244 | -14% |
| Less: Expenditure | ||||
| Rates & water | £1,039 | £1,312 | -£273 | -21% |
| Gas & electric | £3,473 | £2,072 | £1,401 | 68% |
| Insurance | £977 | £848 | £129 | 15% |
| Hall Maintenance misc. | £2,326 | £1,908 | £418 | 22% |
| Drainage Repair | £3,378 | £0 | £3,378 | -100% |
| Booking clerk's and Treasurer wages | £2,184 | £1,848 | £336 | 18% |
| Hall telephone & Internet | £942 | £357 | £585 | 164% |
| Postage, stationery, telephone | £7 | £0 | £7 | -100% |
| Cleaner and supplies | £4,185 | £3,340 | £846 | 25% |
| Waste disposal | £1,563 | £1,431 | £132 | 9% |
| Garden Maintenance | £3,612 | £3,246 | £366 | 11% |
| Annual Subscription for Hall Booking P | £120 | £120 | £0 | 0% |
| 50% Contribution for Shed | £220 | £0 | £220 | 100% |
| General Expenses | £0 | £48 | -£48 | -100% |
| Historical Adjustment to debtors | £0 | £453 | -£453 | -100% |
| Door Step Repair | £0 | £1,020 | -£1,020 | -100% |
| Patio Replacement | £0 | £9,600 | -£9,600 | -100% |
| Total Expenditure | £24,026 | £27,602 | -£3,577 | -13% |
| Excess Net Income Over Expenditure | £1,157 | £1,825 | -£667 | -37% |
| £1,157 | ||||
| £0 |
Draft Balance Sheet for Barkham Village Hall as at 31st December 2024 Signed Off Accounts
| Current Assets Lloyds Current Account Lloyds Savings Acount Lloyds 90 and 365 Days Savings Accounts Balance on NSB investment account Debtors Total Less Current Liabilities Creditors and Accrual |
2024 2023 Notes: £1,246 £1,143.70 £16,493 £6,506.70 £20,000 £0 £28,082.06 £37,740 £35,732 £1,964 £2,335 £39,704 £38,067 £2,712 £2,234 £36,991 £35,834 £35,834 £34,518 £1,157 £1,316 £36,991 £35,834 £0 Closed NSB acct, balance transferred to Lloyds Bank |
|---|---|
| Net Assets | £36,991 £35,834 |
| Represented by Balance brought forward Excess (or Defcit) for the year |
|
| Total Reserve | £36,991 £35,834 |
Examiner’s unqualified report (for a non-company charity preparing accruals accounts) with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year.
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Barkham Village Hall Management Committee.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Barkham Village Hall (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Steve Brown
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland – Chartered Accountant
Address: 4 Japonica Close, Wokingham, RG41 4XJ
Date: 21 September 2025