2023-12-31-accounts - Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade

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PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

Registered Charity no. 267667

ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 December 2023

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Year ended 31 December 2023

Reference and administrative information

Registered charity no. 267667

Address Fire Station Bourges Boulevard Peterborough PE1 2AF

The governing document is Rules dated 23 January 1996

Trustees A Gould Chief Officer M Addinall Second Officer (appointed xx-xx-2023) J Berrisford Treasurer J Benton Secretary T De Matteis (resigned xx-xx-2023) The trustees are elected at each Annual General Meeting Bank Barclays Bank plc 1 Church Street Peterborough PE1 1EZ

Independent Examiner K M Hilliard ACA FCCA CTA Price Bailey LLP 36 Tyndall Court Commerce Road Lynchwood Peterborough PE2 6LR

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Year ended 31 December 2023

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019.

Structure, governance and management

The trustees of the Brigade meet on a regular basis to fulfill their overall responsibility of directing the operational activities of the Brigade, to ensure all Health & Safety matters are complied with, that the Brigade’s property is properly maintained and to oversee its financial wellbeing. The Brigade endeavours to fulfill its obligation of 14 firefighters to assist their wholetime and retained colleagues and Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service. The Brigade currently has 9 firefighters.

It is the responsibility of the First and Second Officers to manage the day-to-day operational duties of the Station.

The Trustees of the Charity have given due regard and adhere to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Appointment and induction of trustees

New trustees are appointed as required and receive comprehensive induction on the activities of the charity.

Risk management

The Trustees have examined the major business and operational risks which the Brigade faces and confirm that a system is in place to ensure that reviews are carried out regularly and that steps are taken to minimise these risks.

Objectives and activities

The Brigade's objectives and activities are:

to maintain a fully operational Fire Brigade under contract to Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service;
to provide fire and rescue services in accordance with the contract with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service;
to supplement the service provided by the wholetime and retained firefighters;
to provide the necessary training and welfare facilities for the members who carry out their duties entirely on a voluntary basis;

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Contd.) Year ended 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities (contd.)

to operate and maintain the Fire Station and premises, fire appliances and equipment to a high standard of preparedness for training and operational duties;
to provide adequate third party and personal accident insurances for the protection of the Brigade and its membership.

Review of activities

During the year the Brigade exceeded its obligations under the revised contract negotiated with Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service in 2011.

The trustees have been active in ensuring prospective new members are given every opportunity to keep the Brigade up to full strength of 14 firefighters.

Financial review and reserves

The Statement of Accounts indicate a satisfactory result, with net outgoing resources for the year of £13,394.

The reserves of the Brigade at 31 December 2023 were £465,575 of which £207,701 finances the fixed assets and the balance of £257,874 represents investment funds which are necessary to provide adequate reserves for the payment of future maintenance and repair costs on the Station and premises.

Our volunteers

The charity relies heavily on the voluntary input of our Members. We wish to thank our Members for their loyal support and service, without which the service would not be able to operate.

Future plans

In 2024 the Brigade plans to:

continue to fulfill its obligations under the contract and to be proactive in ensuring new members are trained and become active firefighters as soon as possible;
ensure availability is maintained in order to fulfill our duty to the citizens of Peterborough; and
to raise awareness of the existence and work of the Brigade among the citizens of Peterborough.

Signed on behalf of the trustees

J Berrisford

Trustee

Date:

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Year ended 31 December 2023

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Year ended 31 December 2023
		General	General
		Fund	Fund
		2023	2022
	Notes	£	£
Income and endowments
Brigade retaining fee		37,345	34,903
Station rent		13,700	13,700
Donations, sales of souvenirs, etc.		9,136	2,131
Investment income	2	3,304	640
Additional Brigade income		375	-
		______	______
Total income		63,860	51,374
		______	______
Expenditure on
*Raising funds*
Public relations, social and welfare activities		13,939	7,648
		______	______
		13,939	7,648
		______	______
*Charitable activities*
Station expenses:
Telephone		360	493
Light and heat		6,737	6,421
Cleaning		3,351	3,315
Rates		3,695	3,865
Repairs and maintenance		23,766	7,091
Vehicle expenses		4,858	3,198
AGM expenses		166	211
Stationery and postage		37	21
IT and software		430	398
Insurances		6,947	6,007
Uniform replacements, cleaning and altering		2,189	1,093
Depreciation of fire station (from designated funds)		5,747	5,124
Depreciation of minibus (from designated funds)		831	1,107
Miscellaneous		1,474	471
Independent examiner’s fee		1,674	2,244
Souvenir purchases for resale		1,053	-
		______	______
		63,315	41,059
		______	______
		______	______
Total expenditure		77,254	48,707
		______	______

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023

Year ended 31 December 2023
	General	General
	Fund	Fund
	2023	2022
	£	£
Total incoming resources	63,860	51,374
Total resources expended	77,254	48,707
	______	______
Net (outgoing)/incoming resources and
net movement in funds	(13,394)	2,667
Funds balance at 1 January 2023	478,969	476,302
	_	_
Funds balance at 31 December 2023	465,575	478,969
	_	_

The accompanying notes form part of these accounts

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

BALANCE SHEET
As at 31 December 2023
			2023		2022
	Notes	£	£	£	£
FIXED ASSETS	3
Fire Station			205,210		187,905
Minibus			2,491		3,322
			_		_
			207,701		191,227
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors and prepayments	4	14,370		14,285
Inventory		1,565		-
Bank balances	5	243,498		274,692
		_		_
		259,433		288,977
		_		_
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors and accruals	6	1,559		1,235
		______		______
NET CURRENT ASSETS			257,874		287,742
			_		_
NET ASSETS			465,575		478,969
			_		_
FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General Purposes Fund			257,874		287,742
Designated Fund (Fire Station and Minibus)			207,701		191,227
			_		_
			465,575		478,969
			_		_
The financial statements were approved	by the trustees on ………………………. and signed on the
behalf by:
...............................................................	A Gould		Chief Officer
...............................................................	J Berrisford		Treasurer

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on ………………………. and signed on their behalf by:

The accompanying notes form part of these accounts

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting Policies

Basis of preparation

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice.

The charity does not include a cash flow statement on the grounds that it is applying FRS 102 Section 1A.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with sufficient accuracy.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting Policies (contd.)

Depreciation

Depreciation is provided on the Fire Station on a straight line basis to write off over its expected useful life of 60 years.

Depreciation is provided on the Minibus at a rate of 25% on a reducing balance basis so as to write it off over its estimated useful life.

Funds

The designated fund represents the reserves of the Brigade invested in the premises and other fixed assets. The general purposes fund represents the balance of reserves.

All funds are unrestricted.

Donated services and facilities

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of the Members is not recognised.

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023

2	Investment Income
			2023	2022
			£	£
	National Savings Bank interest		2,342	558
	Business Premium Accounts		962	82
			______	______
			3,304	640
			______	______
3	FIXED ASSETS
	Used by the charity
		Fire Station	Minibus	Total
		£	£	£
	Cost
	At 1 January 2023	289,632	14,000	303,632
	Additions	23,052	-	23,052
	Disposals	-	-	-
		_	______	_
	At 31 December 2023	312,684	14,000	326,684
		_	______	_
	Depreciation
	At 1 January 2023	101,727	10,678	112,405
	Charge for year	5,747	831	6,578
	Disposals	-	-	-
		______	______	______
	At 31 December 2023	107,474	11,509	118,983
		______	______	______
	Net book value
	At 31 December 2023	205,210	2,491	207,701
		_	______	_
	At 31 December 2022	187,905	3,322	191,227
		_	______	_

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023

4	Debtors and prepayments	2023	2022
		£	£
	Prepayments	1,405	2,134
	Retaining fee accrued	12,965	12,151
		______	______
		14,370	14,285
		______	______
5.	Bank Balances	2023	2022
		£	£
	National Savings Bank - Income Bond	50,000	50,000
	- Investment Account	102,227	99,886
	Barclays Bank - Current accounts	726	9,670
	- Business Premium accounts	90,544	115,136
		_	_
		243,497	274,692
		_	_
6	Creditors	2023	2022
		£	£
	Retaining fee received in advance	-	-
	Other creditors and accruals	1,559	1,235
		______	______
		1,559	1,235
		______	______

7 Staff costs

There were no staff costs in the year (2022: £Nil).

8 Trustee Expenses and Remuneration

No expenses were paid or reimbursed to Trustees in the year (2022: £Nil). No remuneration is paid to any of the Trustees or Members of the Brigade.

9 Related Party Transactions

There were no related party transactions during the year (2022: £Nil).

10 Independent Examiner’s Remuneration

The independent examiner’s remuneration constituted a fee of £1,674 (2022: £2,244).

PETERBOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Brigade for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 4 to 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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.

K M Hilliard ACA FCCA CTA Chartered Accountant

Price Bailey LLP 36 Tyndall Court Commerce Road Lynchwood Peterborough PE2 6LR