CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23
Report of the Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary
Date: 27 October 2023
1. Overview
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1.1 The City of Westminster Charitable Trust was established in January 1987 for the purpose of allocating income received for charitable purposes directed wholly or mainly to the benefit of the City of Westminster or for charitable purposes in any other part of the world as the Trustees shall from time to time decide.
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1.2 The charity's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in July 2014.
Full Name of Charity: City of Westminster Charitable Trust Registration Number: 296091 Date of registration: 20 January 1987 Main communication address: City of Westminster, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP
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1.3 The Trustees comprise of members and officers of Westminster City Council. The current Trustees are:
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Cllr Patricia McAllister, Lord Mayor, Chair
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Cllr Caroline Sargent
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Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg
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Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis
-
Cllr Iman Less
-
Gerald Almeroth (Honorary Treasurer)
-
oParveen Akhtar (Honorary Secretary)
-
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1.4 Councillor Hamza Taouzzale became Mayor on 18[th] May 2022 and will continue to be the mayor for the 2022-23 Financial Year. ‘The Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund’ supports the Lord Mayor’s charity Westminster Befriend a Family.
1
- 1.5 Independent Examiner: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Internal Audit Service, 3[rd] Floor, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX.
2. Financial Review
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2.1 The Trust is made up of two separate funds, namely the Community Contribution Fund and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund. This is the fifth financial year of the Community Contribution Scheme and like previous years, the account has been prepared on an accrual basis.
-
This is also the fifth year for which a statement of cash flow (Table 3) has been prepared for the Trust. All large charities, donations above £500k, are required to produce a cashflow. Though not a requirement for this financial year, the cashflow has been included.
-
2.3 As with the previous year, the total income of the charity in 2022/23 has exceeded the £25,000 threshold set by the Charity Commission, rendering the accounts subject to independent examination. This will be carried out by RBKC Internal Audit prior to the submission of the accounts in December 2023.
3. Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund
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3.1 The expenditure for the Lord Mayor’s appeal fund, totalling £6,155 in 2022/23 (compared to £1,319 in 2021/22), comprised grants made in-year.
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3.2 The total funds available within the Lord Mayor’s account as at 31 March 2023, which relates to more than one financial year, is £24,864 which will be disbursed as agreed by the trustees, to the chosen charities of the relevant Mayors in 2023/24.
4. Community Contribution Fund
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4.1 The community contribution donations totalled £421,859 in 2022/23. This balance comprises £374,311 in-year community contributions, £46,389 gift aid, and £1,159 of council tax payments made in error which are due to be transferred to Westminster City Council in 2023/24.
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4.2 The total expenditure in 2022/23 was £419,246 made up of Board approved grant payments of £417,554 and bank charges for statements and use of WorldPay / Bankline services of £1,692.
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4.3 Total fund available within the Community Contribution account for distribution as at 31/03/2023 is £362,343.
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4.4 Throughout the year monthly reconciliations are completed for the Community Contribution Fund against the bank account and agreed donations. This reconciliation process ensures that accurate record keeping is maintained throughout the year and supports the completion of the annual accounts.
2
5. Community Contribution Scheme Background
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5.1 Following a consultation with Band H properties between November and December 2017, the Westminster City Council Cabinet recommended to Council that a voluntary Community Contribution scheme be introduced. The scheme invites Band H council taxpayers to make a voluntary contribution to fund discretionary local services.
-
5.2 The consultation also highlighted that a significant number of respondents wanted to be able to make their contribution as a charitable donation as well as direct it towards specific priorities. The Council recommended, and the Trustees of the charity have agreed, that any funds raised through the scheme should be paid into the charity, and should be used to support three priorities:
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Extra support for people who find themselves sleeping on Westminster’s streets
-
Helping to tackle isolation and loneliness – not just amongst the elderly but across all age groups, including children
-
Helping young people – investing in youth support
6. Recommendation
- 6.1 That the Trustees approve the Annual Accounts and Annual Report 2022/23 for submission to the Charity Commission.
3
CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2022/23
Income and Expenditure – Table 1
Balance Sheet – Table 2
4
CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST Balance Sheet 31 Maich 2023 31 March 2023 31 March 2022 31 March 2022 Lord Mayor'5 Communlty Appèal Fund tonttlbutltsns Fund Lord Mayor's Communlty Appè41 Fund Contrfbutlons Fund Currént a$sots Debtor- We5ttninStÈr lity Council contribution to Independent Examiner's Fee and Bank Char8es Gift Aid Cash at bank and in hand 2,275 44.254 362,343 1,152 12.454 394,471 24,864 31,018 Total current ay&ets 24,864 408,872 31.018 408,078 Credkors.. amounts falllnKdue wlthln one yeir Expense accru31- IndepeDdent Ex3Tniner'5 Fee Tvtal Llablllty 24.864 407.131 31.018 4103.983 24.864 407.131 31.018 403.983 Crodkots.. amDunts fallIn¥dU after¢Xyear Netassetsl Illabllhle51 24,864 407,131 31,018 403,983 Fua5 ofthe Chartty 124.8641 1407.1311 1403,9831 Cashflow- Table 3
City of Westminster Charitable Trust 2022123 2021122 Cash flows from operating activities Operating profit/llossl Interest / Bank Charges paid Depreciation Ilncreasel/Decrease in receivables and debtors Increase/lDecreasel in payables and creditors Net cash inflowl{outflowl generated from operating artivities 11,3151 1335,0761 11,6921 16221 132,9231 12,5941 12,3531 11,0891 138,2831 1339,3811 Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of non current assets Interest received Net tash flows from investing activities Cash flows from financin8 artivities Net Idecreasellincrease in cash and cash equivalènts 138,2831 1339,3811 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginnin8 of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 425,490 387,207 764,871 425,490 Balance Sheet 387,207 425,490
CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23
Report of the Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary
Date: 27 October 2023
1. Overview
-
1.1 The City of Westminster Charitable Trust was established in January 1987 for the purpose of allocating income received for charitable purposes directed wholly or mainly to the benefit of the City of Westminster or for charitable purposes in any other part of the world as the Trustees shall from time to time decide.
-
1.2 The charity's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in July 2014.
Full Name of Charity: City of Westminster Charitable Trust Registration Number: 296091 Date of registration: 20 January 1987 Main communication address: City of Westminster, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP
-
1.3 The Trustees comprise of members and officers of Westminster City Council. The current Trustees are:
-
Cllr Patricia McAllister, Lord Mayor, Chair
-
Cllr Caroline Sargent
-
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg
-
Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis
-
Cllr Iman Less
-
Gerald Almeroth (Honorary Treasurer)
-
oParveen Akhtar (Honorary Secretary)
-
-
1.4 Councillor Hamza Taouzzale became Mayor on 18[th] May 2022 and will continue to be the mayor for the 2022-23 Financial Year. ‘The Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund’ supports the Lord Mayor’s charity Westminster Befriend a Family.
1
- 1.5 Independent Examiner: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Internal Audit Service, 3[rd] Floor, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX.
2. Financial Review
-
2.1 The Trust is made up of two separate funds, namely the Community Contribution Fund and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund. This is the fifth financial year of the Community Contribution Scheme and like previous years, the account has been prepared on an accrual basis.
-
This is also the fifth year for which a statement of cash flow (Table 3) has been prepared for the Trust. All large charities, donations above £500k, are required to produce a cashflow. Though not a requirement for this financial year, the cashflow has been included.
-
2.3 As with the previous year, the total income of the charity in 2022/23 has exceeded the £25,000 threshold set by the Charity Commission, rendering the accounts subject to independent examination. This will be carried out by RBKC Internal Audit prior to the submission of the accounts in December 2023.
3. Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund
-
3.1 The expenditure for the Lord Mayor’s appeal fund, totalling £6,155 in 2022/23 (compared to £1,319 in 2021/22), comprised grants made in-year.
-
3.2 The total funds available within the Lord Mayor’s account as at 31 March 2023, which relates to more than one financial year, is £24,864 which will be disbursed as agreed by the trustees, to the chosen charities of the relevant Mayors in 2023/24.
4. Community Contribution Fund
-
4.1 The community contribution donations totalled £421,859 in 2022/23. This balance comprises £374,311 in-year community contributions, £46,389 gift aid, and £1,159 of council tax payments made in error which are due to be transferred to Westminster City Council in 2023/24.
-
4.2 The total expenditure in 2022/23 was £419,246 made up of Board approved grant payments of £417,554 and bank charges for statements and use of WorldPay / Bankline services of £1,692.
-
4.3 Total fund available within the Community Contribution account for distribution as at 31/03/2023 is £362,343.
-
4.4 Throughout the year monthly reconciliations are completed for the Community Contribution Fund against the bank account and agreed donations. This reconciliation process ensures that accurate record keeping is maintained throughout the year and supports the completion of the annual accounts.
2
5. Community Contribution Scheme Background
-
5.1 Following a consultation with Band H properties between November and December 2017, the Westminster City Council Cabinet recommended to Council that a voluntary Community Contribution scheme be introduced. The scheme invites Band H council taxpayers to make a voluntary contribution to fund discretionary local services.
-
5.2 The consultation also highlighted that a significant number of respondents wanted to be able to make their contribution as a charitable donation as well as direct it towards specific priorities. The Council recommended, and the Trustees of the charity have agreed, that any funds raised through the scheme should be paid into the charity, and should be used to support three priorities:
-
Extra support for people who find themselves sleeping on Westminster’s streets
-
Helping to tackle isolation and loneliness – not just amongst the elderly but across all age groups, including children
-
Helping young people – investing in youth support
6. Recommendation
- 6.1 That the Trustees approve the Annual Accounts and Annual Report 2022/23 for submission to the Charity Commission.
3
CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2022/23
Income and Expenditure – Table 1
Balance Sheet – Table 2
4
CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST Balance Sheet 31 Maich 2023 31 March 2023 31 March 2022 31 March 2022 Lord Mayor'5 Communlty Appèal Fund tonttlbutltsns Fund Lord Mayor's Communlty Appè41 Fund Contrfbutlons Fund Currént a$sots Debtor- We5ttninStÈr lity Council contribution to Independent Examiner's Fee and Bank Char8es Gift Aid Cash at bank and in hand 2,275 44.254 362,343 1,152 12.454 394,471 24,864 31,018 Total current ay&ets 24,864 408,872 31.018 408,078 Credkors.. amounts falllnKdue wlthln one yeir Expense accru31- IndepeDdent Ex3Tniner'5 Fee Tvtal Llablllty 24.864 407.131 31.018 4103.983 24.864 407.131 31.018 403.983 Crodkots.. amDunts fallIn¥dU after¢Xyear Netassetsl Illabllhle51 24,864 407,131 31,018 403,983 Fua5 ofthe Chartty 124.8641 1407.1311 1403,9831 Cashflow- Table 3
City of Westminster Charitable Trust 2022123 2021122 Cash flows from operating activities Operating profit/llossl Interest / Bank Charges paid Depreciation Ilncreasel/Decrease in receivables and debtors Increase/lDecreasel in payables and creditors Net cash inflowl{outflowl generated from operating artivities 11,3151 1335,0761 11,6921 16221 132,9231 12,5941 12,3531 11,0891 138,2831 1339,3811 Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of non current assets Interest received Net tash flows from investing activities Cash flows from financin8 artivities Net Idecreasellincrease in cash and cash equivalènts 138,2831 1339,3811 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginnin8 of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 425,490 387,207 764,871 425,490 Balance Sheet 387,207 425,490
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust (registered charity number 296091)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust (the Trust), it is your responsibility to ensure the preparation of accounts is in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) and you are satisfied that the accounts are not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence, which is normally required in an audit, and does not cover all of the matters that an auditor considers when giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit go beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the consolidated accounts presented are ‘true and fair’ and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
All examiners must follow the Directions below. The Directions have legal force as they are made by the Commission under section 145(5) b of the 2011 Act which places three specific duties on the examiner:
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They must carry out the independent examination in accordance with the Commission’s Directions.
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They must make their independent examiner’s report to the charity’s trustees.
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They must consider if matters of material significance have come to their attention during the independent examination which give rise to a legal duty to report direct to the Commission
Independent examiner’s statement
Since the Trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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Accounting records, with respect to the Trust, were not kept as required.
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The accounts do not accord with those records.
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The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts.
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The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities.
I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Moira Mackie
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Date: 14 November 2023
This report is prepared solely for the use of the Trustees of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust. Details may be made available to specified external agencies, including external auditors, but otherwise the report should not be quoted or referred to in whole or in part without prior consent. No responsibility to any third party is accepted as the report has not been prepared, and is not intended for any other purpose.