## **THAKEHAM VILLAGE HALL** ## **Registered Charity No 279177** The Management Committee presents its report for the year 2022/23 ## **Registered Office:** The registered office is 1 Abingworth Crescent, Thakeham, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 3GW. ## **Trustees at the date this report was approved:** Official Custodian for Charities (Custodian Trustee) Mr John Bearman (Chairman---Elected) Mr John Instance (Secretary/Treasurer-----Elected) Mr Norman Prince (Representative of Thakeham Short Mat Bowls Club) Mr Barry Laker (Representative of Thakeham Parochial Church Council) Mr Steve Watkins (Representative of Thakeham Parish Council) Mrs Cecily Linfield (Representative of Thakeham Bridge Club) Mr Dave Kirkwood (Representative of Thakeham Gardeners Club) Mr David MacEachern (Elected) Mr Derrick Randall (Elected) ## **Structure, Governance, and Management** - a) The Conveyance and Trust Deed setting up the Charity is dated 12th October 1979, for land at Greendene Farm. Thakeham Parish Council was the original Custodian Trustee, replaced in November 2018 by the Official Custodian for Charities. The land at Greendene was leased in May 1989 for 35 years, with due authority from the Charity Commission, to the Pulborough Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In July 1980, alternative land for a village hall at Abingworth was acquired by way of a Lease from A G Linfield Limited, and a building erected as a Village Hall. This building and land were handed over to Abingworth Developments in December 2018, when a new Village Hall was completed as a Community Benefit on the Abingworth Meadows housing development. In January 2020, a 99 year Lease for the new Village Hall and Sub-Lease for the use of the Parish Office were signed with the Parish Council, along with a Financial Agreement. In October 2022 the Freehold of the Greendene land was transferred to the Pulborough Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses through an agreed compulsory purchase. Details of all Leases, Conveyances, and Transfers are available in the Village Hall records. - b) Committee of Management: the original Conveyance and Trust Deed provides as follows: The Committee shall consist of Three members elected at the Annual General Meeting, - at least Five representative members, and not more than Two co-opted members. One representative member shall be appointed by Thakeham Parish Council, Thakeham Parochial Church Council, Thakeham Women’s Institute (now defunct), Thakeham Community Committee (now defunct), Thakeham Gardeners Club, and/or such other community organisation as the Committee shall determine. Thakeham Bridge Club and Thakeham Short Mat Bowls Club are now included as hall users representatives. The original Trust Deed was amended in April 2017 to permit 5 elected members and 4 co-opted members. All members of the Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the Annual General Meeting next after the date on which they came into office, but they may be reelected or re-appointed. There are further detailed provisions dealing with co-options, casual vacancies, and dates of appointment. New Trustees are sought from the community as the need arises, and Derrick Randall joined in September 2022. ## **Objects:** The objects of the Charity are to hold the Trust Property for the purpose of a Village Hall for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Thakeham, including use for meetings, lectures, and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. ## **Financial Review, Achievements, and Performance** The result for the year was a small deficit of £1417, compared to a surplus last year of £10,731. This was in part due to an increase in expenditure on Equipment and Cleaning costs. Our income included Grants of £2900 from Thakeham Parish Council. The overall assets were slightly reduced to £389,053 from £390,955. The Liabilities were reduced to £3022 from £6,595, due to a reduction in Hire Fees in advance and Booking Deposits. The actual Letting income increased to £44,043 from last year’s £31,036. The Hall charges were increased from April 1[st] and the Covid charge maintained but renamed as a Standard Charge. The Charity has no specific reserves policy except to maintain sufficient funds to meet contingencies, such as unexpected structural repairs, and to meet its service to the community. The Hall Managers continue to look for new classes and regular users, and Storrington Camera Club now meet regularly at the Hall. The Police and the NHS both regularly use the Hall for training purposes. The Main Door has now been replaced and the system updated, with agreed funding of 50% from the Parish Council. Subsequently the Fire Exit doors have now been alarmed and are for emergency use only. The heating system has again given us some problems due to some faulty original installation, so further repairs have been made. A new dishwasher has been installed to replace the original inefficient one, a new coffee machine installed, and new white tableware for 120 settings purchased. Three Robot cleaners have also been purchased, in order to save on our contract cleaning costs. The Fire Alarm system developed a fault, again due to poor installation, and needed upgrading and expanding. The Main Hall floor still had problems, and it was decided to bring forward the first scheduled sanding and sealing to December 2023. Together with the Parish Council we have been looking at quotes for solar panels systems for generating and storing our own electricity. The Hall Managers Amanda and Carolyn have worked hard to run and maintain the Village Hall, and to increase its use. We are very grateful for their vital contributions. Issued and approved by the Management Committee at the Annual General Meeting held on the 5[th] June 2023. Signed: Date: John Bearman (Chairman, Thakeham Village Hall Management Committee) THAKEHAM VILLAGE HALL Re81stered Charlty Number 279177 RECEIPTS AND PAYMEpifs ACCOUP4T FOR THE YEAR Ef40ED 31st MAROI 2023 UrYe5trfrt•d Rèstrf¢ted Totsl 2023 Toul 2022 Re¢elpts Donations Grants Hall hire fees Deposits Interest KingdLNn Hall rent Other Income Tirtal RK•Srts for th• Yur 18 15,367 31,035 1,158 1431 1,699 127 1,118 49.845 1431 1,699 127 1.118 49.845 779 48.366 Paym•nts Employment costs Telecoms/intemet Subscrlptlons Other runnln8 costs Insurance Equipment Electrlclty G35 aeanlng and materfals Water Mcn-d￿ne5tIC rates Repalr5 and maintenance Refuse collertlon Professlonal fees Tot•1 Payments f5e names are sh¢y44n at the fri￿1 of the flnanclal statements. Pa8e 5 **Brenda Peers-Ross 29 Drift Road Selsey Chichester West Sussex PO20 0PW** To the Trustees: **THAKEHAM VILLAGE HALL Registered Charity Number: 279177** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS** ## **Responsibilities and basis of report.** I have Independently Examined the Financial Statements on Pages 1 -5, for the financial year ending 31[st] March 2023. ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparations of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). The charity’s Trustees consider an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed. I report on my examination of the Charity’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. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report** My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission and in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you and the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement. ## **Independent Examiner’s Statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act: or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. 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. ## Brenda Peers-Ross Brenda Peers-Ross FMAAT ACIE Date: 29[th] January 2024