Bere Regis Sports Club Trustees Annual Report for Year Ending September 2024
Introduction
The northern part of the recreation ground in North Street, Bere Regis, Dorset, BH20 7LA, came under the ownership of the ‘National Playing Fields Association’ (now known as ‘Fields in Trust’) by means of a conveyance in 1929. That ‘conveyance’ remains the governing document of the charity, along with the current version of the ‘club rules/constitution.’ In October 2019, the three trustees became the named ‘owners’ of the southern part of the recreation ground, previously leased. Both plots of land have now been vested with the Charity Commission Official Custodian and are ‘restricted’ by the terms in a Deed of Dedication agreed between Fields in Trust and the trustees of the charity. The objects of the charity (as defined by the Bere Regis Sports Club rules/constitution) are for the benefit of the public, “the support of social, recreational and sporting activities in the village of Bere Regis and the management of the Bere Regis Recreation Ground and properties entrusted to the club.”
The current trustees are Peter Cheeseman, Alan Green and Andrew Kent. Trustees are elected by the management committee and serve for an unspecified term, while the management committee is elected at the AGM.
Statement regarding reserves
Despite the easing of inflation over recent months, overheads continue to rise. We’ve managed to increase income however, mainly through an increase in membership and consequent turnover. Experience has also shown that potential funders are more likely to fund organisations which are able to demonstrate sustainability, and mindful of that, as well as the potential costs of updating club buildings and facilities when necessary, the Trustees and Management Committee maintain the resolve to keep cash assets at a reasonably high level while, at the same time being prepared to spend as necessary in order to maintain the field and the buildings in good order. Considering the cost of some major pieces of equipment, both within the club buildings and for field maintenance, the trustees and committee continue to hold the opinion that it is prudent to keep a minimum of 4% of the value of club buildings reserved for maintenance/potential replacement purposes and current estimates put this figure alone above £30,000. Much of our hardware and equipment is reaching an age where maintenance costs will rise and potential need for replacement increases, in an economic climate where grants cannot always be relied upon as a source of finance.
The trustees remain confident that the charity is financially viable in both the short and medium-term, but any major outlay necessary as a result of the pressure mentioned in the previous paragraph, could threaten that viability.
Higher interest rates in recent years have enabled us to take advantage of our existing cash assets and even to allow some relaxation of our policy that a considerable proportion of those cash assets should maintain high liquidity, with some now placed in ‘notice accounts’. We are confident that the amounts involved still allow us to respond quickly to changes in circumstances, as well as be in an advantageous position to take opportunities to upgrade facilities further should external funding become available which requires a certain degree of self-funding. The trustees remain open minded about using other methods of investment in the future, should suitable opportunities arise.
Annual Report
The trustees once again report that the recreation ground and associated buildings have been maintained to good standard throughout the year and that regular maintenance has been undertaken.
The trustees continue to keep in mind possibilities for further developments, including the building a Multi-Use Games Area which could be used for both our own training sessions and for hire to other groups. At this point in time though, no major developments are planned for the immediate future, although some smaller projects may be possible should grants for such be awarded.
We continue to keep a close eye on the development plans submitted by Godwin Developments for the field opposite the Shell filling station, as well as potential housing development in the immediate area. The trustees objected to the initial plans for a ‘service station’ style development because of the conflict between our own objects as a charity and those of the fast-food outlets being proposed, as well as the potential car parking issues likely to be caused by local customers not wanting to drive around the by-pass and to avoid access via the roundabout and the increased security risks posed both by the increased amount of traffic to the north end of North Street and the apparent elevated position of the proposed development overlooking the recreation ground. We will look closely at any plans for housing adjacent to the ground in terms of additional traffic and potential car parking issues, as well as potential ‘ball strike’ issues from the cricket square.
A new ‘risk’ identified this year is that the trees on the highway side of the eastern boundary fence have grown into the fence itself, threatening the stability of the structure. The cost of repair, or even replacement of the fence, which protects the highway from cricket balls, will be far greater than the cost of any work to cut the trees back and this is something we’ve alerted Dorset Council/highways of and await their response.
Our role within the wider community remains an important element of our work, but a severe downturn in income generated by the decrease in use of the old clubhouse reported last year, remains a concern. The expense of maintaining the old clubhouse is currently greater than income generated from it, a situation which we must carefully consider. Attempts to rectify this by finding new regular user groups are being made, but without success to date. Should that remain the situation over the longer term, an alternative strategy may become necessary.
The trustees are pleased to report on an organisation in a healthy state and one which is continuing to achieve its aims and objectives as a community-based organisation, although a close eye must be kept on the potential risks listed above.
Andrew Kent Peter Cheeseman Alan Green
Trustees, September 2024
BERE REGIS SPORTS CLUB FIELD ACCOUNTS
Income & Expenditure a/c YEAR END 2023/2024
| INCOME Football Club Junior Football Cricket Club Golf Tournament Cricket Grant Clubhouse rental Junior Cricket Rent Bank interest Membership ROGS Membership Sundry Donations Senior Football Grant Misc Cricket Vice Presidents TOTAL EXPENDITURE Football Club Cricket Club Six-a-side Tournament Ground Maintenance Film Licence Ground Equipment Plant/equipment repairs Fuel Club repairs/improvements Membership scheme Youth Cricket Donations Website Insurance Defib Costs Land purchase Postage/stationery Sundry expenses Golf event Cleaning Junior Football Cricket Artificial Snr Football Fence Electricity Old Club TOTAL SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) |
2023/2024 £2,160.50 £8,227.08 £12,410.89 £690.00 £0.00 £1,635.00 £3,370.60 £11,250.00 £4,472.94 £1,777.09 £200.00 £0.00 £0.00 £52.00 £1,080.00 £47,326.10 £1,637.19 £8,561.38 £0.00 £5,392.93 £0.00 £470.67 £813.87 £647.01 £6,177.17 £0.00 £1,631.29 £0.00 £48.00 £2,268.18 £79.20 £0.00 £0.00 £116.16 £0.00 £1,525.00 £7,501.71 £0.00 £0.00 £50.00 £36,919.76 £10,406.34 |
2022/2023 £2,852.02 £5,916.06 £6,707.35 £2,620.00 £6,835.00 £2,185.00 £2,044.69 £4,500.00 £937.99 £1,715.69 £200.00 £40.00 £3,713.00 £24.00 £0.00 £40,290.80 - £2,420.93 £2,129.35 £0.00 £3,188.83 £150.00 £0.00 £316.31 £648.33 £5,439.88 £51.39 £874.38 £0.00 £62.40 £2,243.36 £77.99 £900.00 £29.94 £71.09 £1,489.60 £1,850.00 £4,331.61 £8,052.00 £4,950.00 £0.00 £39,277.39 £1,013.41 |
|---|---|---|
BERE REGIS SPORTS CLUB
FIELD ACCOUNTS
Balance Sheet
YEAR END 2023/2024
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30/09/2024 30/09/2023
£ £
ASSETS
Santander £15,298.79 £9,241.49
Cash £2.06 £125.96
Co Op account £5.61 £5.61
Loan to Bar acc £1,200.00 £1,200.00
United Trust Bank £84,826.33 £80,353.39
Total Assets £101,332.79 £90,926.45
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Funds
Funds brought forward £90,926.45 Surplus/Deficit £10,406.34 TOTAL FUNDS £101,332.79
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