Snodland Community Association —Treasurer’s Report — Year to 31st March 2024
independently prepared and scrutinised by Mr. T. Aylward, accountant of Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone. The last financial year has been busy with the community centre continuing to be a popular venue for a wide range of activities and events. This has resulted in a surplus of £15,788, a considerable increase on the £1148 of the previous year. This has been achieved without any government grants, but by increased hire fees, lower expenditure in some areas and the ability of the Downsview Bar company to pay its annual rent of £5000 for the first time in some years.
Fundraising: a number of events were organised over the year, including a Christmas quiz and several Musical Nights. As well as this, catering was provided for a number of wrestling events and one boxing show. While overall £1971 was raised over the year through these activities, it was a mixed year with only the quiz night and boxing show yielding good profits, while the musical nights usually only breaking even because of the raffle, as insufficient tickets were sold. Much discussion has ensued concerning the lack of desire to attend what are enjoyable evenings, but so far all attempts to increase ticket sales for these events have failed. As was said last year, for events like the music nights to be good fundraisers, it is important that members support them actively by either spreading the word to others, buying tickets themselves or offering prizes for the raffles. Many thanks as ever to those volunteers, who plan and organise these activities.
Centre Operation: the amount of money raised from hall hire increased again last year and totalled £60,621, which was an increase of £4128 on the previous year. While a few of the clubs and groups have folded, they have generally been replaced by new ones. By the end of this financial year there was something like 27 groups meeting regularly at the centre.
The fees raised from one-off events, such as parties, were also healthy. Children’s parties in particular continue to be very popular in both halls. Hirers are continuing to come from farther afield. Feedback is always very positive and many comment on what an asset Snodland has with its community centre. Adult parties on the other hand are still not as popular as they were, which has meant that bar takings over the period have not been as good as we would like. However, things had improved sufficiently for the decision to be made to charge the Downsview Bar Company its annual rent of £5000. The introduction of the Sum Up card reader has been a success and most payments at the bar are now made through it. It is planned also to acquire another one so that the public can pay if they wish for other services run by the Association (e.g. hire fees, catering events etc).
The Centre have has always been reluctant to raise fees, but it did increase them by £1 an hour in July 2023. The Centre has benefitted over the past three years from fixing its electricity fees at pre-Ukrainian War prices. With the special rates due to end in early 2025, it is clear from initial investigations that the new rate will be at least 40% higher than what has been paid. This will sadly mean another increase in rates of perhaps £3 an hour from this July. While the Association is still committed to providing a good quality facility at a fair price, it is a difficult time and with the centre also having to increase what it pays to its staff to £11.50 an hour, it has become unavoidable. However, having surveyed other halls and centres in the area, we are still very competitively priced and will always strive to offer value for money.
Electricity usage continues to be a major expense, although slightly reduced from the £9,788 of last year to £9336. Thanks to all users for being vigilant in their use and avoiding waste wherever possible. Water on the other hand has increased considerably over the year from £1712 to £2653.
Vandalism has not been a major issue this year, although it is frustrating when it does occur. Over the year when youths were going around the town with slingshots breaking windows, the Centre also suffered breakages to two high level windows facing Cemetery Road. These have yet to be repaired, as the Association is still looking for the cheapest way to get a repair done, having been told that scaffolding at a cost of £1600 would be needed. There have also been issues with youths climbing onto the Centre’s roof via the air con unit at the rear of the changing rooms, putting themselves at risk and also at times breaking tiles. The police have not been very supportive, as climbing on roofs uninvited is a civil rather than criminal matter. The Association have therefore invested £3470 in a better quality CCTV with more cameras to protect the building and its users.
viewpoint, the fire alarm is tested weekly and serviced each year along with the fire extinguishers and the PAT testing of
A number of repairs were required over the year. Six taps, for example, were replaced (£526) as well as various lights and sensors around the building (£335). Some areas seemed to require more attention than others with the air con system requiring several visits for servicing and repairs (£2134). The changing rooms also developed a number of issues, including the need to repair leaks and a failing toilet among other things, which amounted to £2966. The floor cleaner, which is vital for keeping the main hall floor in good order needed a thorough overhaul (£1065) as did the water heater in the kitchen (£178).
On a more positive note, the conversion of the original changing rooms into an office and additional storage for the Centre was completed with paint, floor coverings, a laptop/printer and office furniture (£2202). Both changes of use have proved a very useful addition to the building.
Downsview bar accounts are available for the year ending 2023.
Summary: It has been pleasing to see how strongly the Community Centre has continued to perform over the last year and how it continues to fulfil its vital role in the community. The Association remains financially viable with sufficient funds to meet all future commitments. As was highlighted last year, the Association does need more volunteers to keep the Centre’s costs to a minimum. Whilst the Association has attracted a few keen volunteers, there is still a need for more and it is planned to employ a part time admin assistant in the near future to support the running of the community centre.
Chris Howick (Treasurer)
SNODLAND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31" MARCH 2024 The following accounts have appnNed by the Trustees on Date: 29th Jul 2024 and signed on their behalf by: C ,j,th",1. ACCOUNTANfs REPORT I certlfy that the accounts overleaf show a true and fair view of the Snodland Community Association's affairs for the year ended 31" March 2024 and the Balance Sheet as at that date and are in accordance with the books and records fw that year. All funds are unrestricted. T.GAylward FAIA FMAAT
Balanc Shegt AS at 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Fsxeil 85g8ts (48.161) 48.687 (48.029) 48.029 2,162 Bank Buiidiru ac¢trturt 2 CJJrrent alc 17.554 17,393 139,304 124,878 Alxal3 12.4W) 11.080) (2.679) 11,727) (3.S70) 14.406) Gengral FuThl 120.472 15.788 119.324 1.148 Excess to Fund 136,260 120.472 Genard FLmd Page1of1
Income & Expenditure Account For the year 8nded 31 March 2024 Income DepDsit aUnt Irrtergst Du•msvtaw Rental Fundralsi 162 1.971 917 H811 Hwe Membership Fees 170 59270 (7? Adv8rllsiThJ Well* (1.) {8.5S8) (1321 {9.6) 11.451) (2.932> (1258) {61) 120.742) (3111 (2.653) (1.380) (8.766) (1.931) 19.7881 ClÈaning & L8uIMJry Fundraising evwrts Housekeeping Insurances & Littan (2.8921 12.939) 16611 127,440) (79) {1.712) Repairs & Renewals Sundrles PNET Wat8rlSèwage 152.3B2) {58.121) Exc•s5 to Fund Page1of1
SNODLAND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION YEAR E14DED 31st MARCH 2024 2022123 Excess of Income over Expendtture 1148 INCOME Higher booking fees Lower membership Fees Lower Grants Higher Rents Equal payphone Higher Interest recelved Ltr*er fts & Donatlons LÉMer Fundraisin8 4128 -182 -828 -749 TOTAL 7452 EXPENDITURE Higher Caretskerwage5 Higher Services Equal Rates Higher Insurance Lower aeaning Higher HouSekP[n8 Lower Repalrs & Malntenance Equal Legal expense5 Higher Audit & Accounts Lower Stationery Hither Advertising Higher Sundries PNET Lower Depreciation -526 -319 -240 47 -264 -232 1799 TOTAL 7188 2023124 Excess of Income o¥er Expendittsre 15788