CHAIRMAN’S REPORT - AGM 14[th] August 2025
It has been a relatively quiet period since the last AGM, however, the committee have been busy with maintenance issues and improvements to ensure that the hall remains a facility that the village can be proud of.
Early in 2025 four external CCTV cameras were installed to provide security to the building and to give confidence to Committee Duty Officers having to attend the hall alone, sometimes late into the evening. It also allows the monitoring of the grounds to identify any unwarranted presence or activities. During the same period , the main hall and stage area flooring was completely refurbished which improved its appearance and provided extra surface protection. We are grateful to Councillor Nicky Gribble for the contribution she made from her ward fund towards the cost of both of these projects.
Presently the committee are in the process of trying to convince BT to provide a full fibre WiFi service to the hall. This will involve a lot of engineering works since the hall has never had a landline service and we are hoping the costs to the hall will be minimal. There will be additional monthly costs for the WiFi service but it will allow remote control of the CCTV and Solar Panel systems as well as giving us the ability to control any proposed upgraded hall heating system.
We are actively progressing a kitchen extension project to provide more storage and preparation space as well as incorporating the mower shed into the shell of the building. The Parish Council have generously donated £3000 towards the cost of contracting an architect to draw up plans for planning permission. Once we have planning permission we will be able to investigate the availability of grants towards the building costs.
The Management Committee have commenced the process of formally amending the charity status of the village hall to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This has several advantages in the administration of the day to day affairs of the hall but importantly, removes personal liability from individual trustees for debts or liabilities of the hall. It is a protracted exercise and will include the transfer of assets and property to the new organisation. Our thanks go to Ebb Smith for all the work she has put into the research and strategy that have got us to the application stage.
The Hawthorne whips planted at the beginning of 2023 after the fire in 2022 are doing well and are managing to compete with the weeds encroaching from the neighbouring field. Another year should see them blocking out the view of the fencing.
Increased day to day maintenance and running costs, together with the hall improvements, have put pressure on the hall’s finances but the reduced electricity costs, due to the payback from the solar panels, has helped to ensure that the hall maintains a healthy contingency reserve but more about that from our Treasurer.
The Hallmaster online booking system is working well and is appreciated by our users. We are, as ever, grateful to Mike Hudson for being our liaison man with Hallmaster and for fighting our corner in getting tweaks and improvement introduced into the system.
Our association with the North Beds Village Hall Network is proving a useful source of information and ideas. The 3 monthly meetings are a good means of finding out what is happening at other halls and for discussing any problems particular halls may be experiencing.
Two fundraising events were held during the past year, a Race Night and Quiz Evening, both of which were well attended and raised much needed money for the hall and for nominated charities. It is intended to repeat these later this year. We will have to think about more fund raising events if we are to pursue any major improvement projects.
We have welcomed a new committee member in Clive Dean who is keen to get involved with the day to day management of the hall. This will make the shared load of the committee a little easier to carry and introduce some new eyes to the way the hall is run.
In common with most charitable bodies we rely on the goodwill of the community to help out and we are grateful for the volunteers who give their time to cut the hall grass and keep the grounds looking so nice. It is a big selling point for the hall that it has such nice surroundings and a child friendly area for play.
The village owes a debt of thanks to Phil Mullis and Ebb Smith who, as Treasurer and Secretary respectively, put in so much time in carrying out their duties.
Finally, I wish to sincerely thank all the serving committee for the time and effort they have put in to keep the hall operational and in a condition that the village can be proud of and also for their help and advice to me over the past year. It has been, and I am sure will continue to be, an interesting and rewarding time.
Thank you.
David Bottomley
Chair – Ravensden Village hall
| RavensdenVillageHall lncome and Expenditure Account Yearended31March2025 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| lncome | ||
| HireofHall | 7t,872 | 9,835 |
| Surplusonevents | 763 | 20 |
| Grantsfor floorrefurbishmentand CCW | 4,252 | |
| GrantsforsolarpanelsandLEDlights | 10,628 | |
| Donation | 100 | |
| 27,515 | 9,855 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| FloorrefurbishmentandCCTV | 4,254 | |
| Solar panels andLEDlighting | 2L,256 | |
| Cleaning costs(including extra bin hireandwindowcleaning) | L,529 | 1,519 |
| Electricity | 1,020 | 2,675 |
| Water | 333 | s33 |
| lnsurance | 1,580 | 1,538 |
| Repairs,renewals, maintenance,stationery | 3,556 | 3,424 |
| LegalfeesreTitledeeds | 9L4 | |
| Redecorating Hall | 5,469 | |
| Drainsurveyandnewliner | L,705 | |
| Online bookingsystem | 253 | 227 |
| Web-sitecosts | 115 | 8 |
| PerformingRightsfees(2years in 2025) | 2L4 | |
| Donations | 97 | |
| Dataprotectionregistration | 35 | |
| 34,346 | 18,208 | |
| Net income/(Expenditure) | (6,732) | (8,354) |
| Fundsbroughtforward | 23,28]. | 31,635 |
| Fundscarriedforward | 16,550 | 23,287 |
| Chair | DBottomley | |
| Treasurer | PPMullis | |
| Secretary | ESmith |
| RavensdenVillageHall Balancesheet At31March2025 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Bankaccount | 15,973 | 22,78L |
| Prepayments | 976 | 800 |
| .,16,950 | ||
| Acciuals | ||
| Deposits heldfromhirers | 400 | 300 |
| Net Assets | 16,550 | 23,28L |
| Fundsinhand | L5,550 | 23,281 |
| 16,550 | 23,28L |