**Charity Number 290637** **FLEET POND SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2021** ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2021** ## **CONTENTS** ## **Pages** - 1 Independent Examiner's Report - 2-4 Annual Report of the Executive Committee 5 Receipts and Payments Account 6 Statement of Assets and Liabilities ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS** ## **Report to the Trustees and Members of Fleet Pond Society on the accounts for the year ended 31 January 2021** ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's Trustees consider that an Independent Examination of the accounts is required, as its gross income was more than £25,000, as per Charity Commission brochure CC31 and the Charities Act 2009. It is my responsibility to: (1) examine the accounts under Part 8, Sections 145 and 152 of the 2009 Act, (2) follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission in their brochure CC32 (3) state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's statement** My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any 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 statement below. ## **Independent Examiner's Statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention : (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with Part 8, Sections 145 and 152 of the 2009 Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2009 Act have not been met, or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ## **Signed** ## **Date** **Name** NIGEL J WOOD **Relevant professional qualifications or body** (if any ) FCA **Address** 3 WOODSIDE GARDENS WOOD LANE FLEET, GU51 3EZ Page 1 ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2021** ## **PRINCIPAL ADDRESS** The principal address of the charity is 40 Fir Tree Way, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 7NB. ## **MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE** The following have served on the committee since 1 February 2020 or later date if shown and act as Trustees of the charity and as such, manage the charity on a daily basis : **Dates acted if not Office held for the whole year** Jim Storey Chairman John Sutton Katharine Higgins Treasurer Frances Bonnington Secretary resigned 31/12/20 Jane Pango Secretary 01/1/21 but not trustee Colin Gray Nick Keeley Terry Austin Geoff Dee Cathy Holden Michelle Salter David Pottinger Mandy Saxby Carol Dunford Wolfgang Hamann ## **GOVERNING DOCUMENT** The charity is governed by the constitution adopted on 5 September 1984, as amended subsequently on 26 February 2005 , 23 February 2008 and 20 February 2010. ## **CONSTITUTION** The charity is an unincorporated society. ## **CHARITY TRUSTEE SELECTION METHODS** Members of the executive committee are elected from the members of the society. Members wishing to join the committee during the year must be co-opted by the existing committee by a majority vote. All members of the executive committee are required to stand down before each Annual General Meeting and must be nominated for re-election. Page 2 ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ( continued )** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2021** ## **OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY** The main charitable objects of the charity are to stimulate public interest and appreciation for Fleet Pond and its surroundings, to promote the preservation and maintenance of Fleet Pond and promote its use as a public amenity and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and local nature reserve and to encourage the harmonious and sensitive use of Fleet Pond and its surroundings by all users, commensurate with its status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and local nature reserve. ## **MAIN ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING THE YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN RELATION TO THESE OBJECTS** The work of the Society was severely curtailled by the various Government restrictions on public activities that were put in place this year to tackle the Coronovirus pandemic.When possible the Society has continued the voluntary management activity at Fleet Pond, including habitat management and repair and upgrade of paths and protective fencing. The new team also continued to tackle the scrub growth on the new islands that were created by the dredging a few years back. Care has been taken that maintenance of islands, reedbeds, marshland and heathland does not impede access or obstruct visitors' views. In fact the work has opened up new vistas across the open areas to the Pond, attracting positive responses from the public. The new protective fencing we sponsored along the higher path along the eastern side of Fleet Pond continues to deliver futher recovery of bluebells along this section. We continued to look at the state of the aquatic plants in the Pond and recovery continues since the dredging finished a few years ago. Some of our volunteers underwent training for the use of herbicides so we can treat small saplings when we carry out scrub clearance. Covid 19 restrictions have meant our Sunday monthly tasks have had to be cancelled and so it was not possible for young people to do community work for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award or for Venture Scouts to earn conservation badges. Volunteer support from visiting groups such as Southampton University Conservation Volunteers and also corporate volunteer groups from local businesses has not been possible either. August proved to be a disasterous month for our fish population when a combination of low water flows, very high temperature, algal bloom and its subsequent crashing caused a major fish kill in the lake. We estimate that tens of thousands of fish from large to small were killed in this incident. Illustrated talks for groups from neighbouring parishes and community groups for people with special needs have not been possible because of Covid 19 restrictions. Similarly the physical Wildlife Day in June 2020 had to be cancelled. However we organised a virtual event that drew over 700 new visitors to our website that week, a great success for something completely new to us. Prior to the pandemic we attended Hart Voluntary Action's 'Community Day' day in our local library in February. The Society has continued to encourage public awareness by various articles in the local press and on social media and has gained a significant number of new members. We continued a dialogue with Hart Council and the development company on potential impact of the new settlement of 1,500 houses in process of being built on an adjacent disused site. This year has been quite unusual for the amount of donations we received which totalled roughly £23,000. This has been received as a result of bequests and money in lieu of flowers at funerals of our members and donations from the Co-op and the Virgin Money Foundation. Also a local young lady did a sponsored cycle ride for us. However the biggest source was a bequest of £20,000 from the estate of Patsy Welford. We have agreed with her executors that a new path will be built down a particularly awkward slope to improve accessibility. Page 3 ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ( continued )** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2021** ## **RESERVES POLICY** It is the policy of the charity to ensure at all times that they have sufficient reserves to meet all expected day to day expenditure for a period of twelve months ahead. ## **APPROVAL** This report of the Executive Committee was approved at the committee meeting held by Zoom on 16 March 2021 and signed on it's behalf by - Jim Storey (Chairman ) John Sutton (Vice Chairman) Page 4 ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2021** |**RECEIPTS**
Memorial Donations (2021 - Pat Welford)
Co-op Donations
Virgin Money Grant
Collection Boxes Cash per HMRC
Small Cash Donations per HMRC
General Donations
Subscriptions (incl member donations)
Coral Stevens Sponsored Bike Ride
Christmas Lights Donations
Booklet Sales / Promotional Goods
AGM Income
Miscellaneous
Interest Received
HM Revenue & Customs Gift Aid
**PAYMENTS**
Chairman's Leaving Party
Surveys
Memorial Picnic Tables
Tractor
Reserve Management
Materials & Equipment
Workshop Costs
Stationery & Postage
Newsletter Costs
Insurance & TCV Fees
Training
Website Costs
Booklets & Educational Material
AGM Costs
Hall Hire
Miscellaneous
**NET SURPLUS / (DEFICIT ) FOR THE YEAR**
Transfers between funds
Surplus brought forward
**SURPLUS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
20,000
-
20,000
750
-
750
485
-
485
53
-
53
55
-
55
800
-
800
4,892
-
4,892
740
-
740
165
-
165
-
-
-
90
-
90
67
-
67
12
-
12
1,169
-
1,169
29,278
-
29,278
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
656
-
656
102
-
102
1,864
-
1,864
81
-
81
156
-
156
447
-
447
1,204
-
1,204
690
-
690
184
-
184
-
-
-
20
-
20
68
-
68
183
-
183
5,655
-
5,655
23,623
-
23,623
-
-
-
27,595
27,595
51,218
-
51,218|**Total**
**2019/20**
**£**
3,974
9,504
-
147
80
991
4,618
-
991
19
120
-
30
757| |---|---|---| |||21,232| |||292
1,180
2,090
478
175
1,120
83
352
983
1,228
764
774
237
13
80
392| |||10,241| |||10,991
-
16,603| |||27,595| Page 5 ## **FLEET POND SOCIETY** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **AS AT 31 JANUARY 2021** |**BANK BALANCES**
Barclays Accounts
Barclays Deposit
**LIABILITIES**
**NET FUNDS**
Represented by:
**ACCUMULATED FUNDS**(page 5 )|**2020/21**
**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Total**
£
£
£
36,167
-
36,167
15,050
-
15,050
51,218
-
51,218
-
-
-
51,218
-
51,218
51,218
-
51,218|**2019/20**
**Total**
£
12,556
15,039| |---|---|---| |||27,595
-| |||27,595| |||27,595| Signed by the following on behalf of the Executive Committee : Jim Storey (Chairman ) John Sutton (Vice Chairman) Date of approval 02/02/21 by email Page 6