CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's . report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tha trusteesl members of Abbots Langley Community Centre On accounts for tho year ended 31".March 2024 Charlty no (rf any) 302321 Sot oui on pages I report to the tnjstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charsty Trusfi for the year ended 3110312024 Rasponslbllttles and As the chanty trustees of the Trus( you are responsible for the preparatlon basls of rowt of the accounts in acc¢)rdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe A¢r). I report in respsct of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act and In car.ng out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commisslon under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attentlon (other than that disclosed below ") in connection wlth the examination whith gives me cause to belleve that in, any material Independent examlnerfs statement acc¢JJntiw rerS were not kept In accxthnce wrth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not actx)rd wlth th8 accounllng records I have no conM8 and have Gome across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn In order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please de16te the in the brackets rfthey do not 8ppIy. Slgned: Date: Name: Michael Thomas Morton Relevant professlonal quallfi¢atlon{s) or body (If any): Chartered A(x>)untant, FC Insttiute of Chartered Ac£ountants in England and Wales Address: 'Strathmore" The Nap Kings Langley Hertfordshire. WD4 8ES IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty ac)unts. directlons and guidance for examiners). Glve here brief detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018
Abbots Lan Communi Centre Mana ement Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Reglstered Charlty No 302321
Abbots Lan 2024 2023 RecelptsfortheYEar 27.443.05 23.548 payments forthe Year 29 161.31 Net IPaymentsllRKdptsforthe Year -1,71826 -1.638 Bank Balartes asat Isi Awfjl 2023 31349.32 337 Bank BalarKe5 a5at 31 March 2024 30231. 31,949 Strn•nt ofAM•ts and U•blllths•s•131 M•h 2024 2024 2023 8ank Account Balances 9.759.39 20A71.67 30.231ffj6 21.627 10,322 31,949 Cher Assets Hlre feesowlr 2.1626 2,906 UabllStle5 parrydeposlts held Cal¥er aean1Co EI*trKIty 1750 1.(6im 549 2318 2,867 1.96850
Abbots Lan Proceeds, Grants and tnatIOnS 2024 2023 Camival Autumn Fest 15336 233.(Kl 135 213 Tradlw ktlvlt HFreofCommunity Cejrtre Less Refunds 269)6A4 -224.IKI 23.762 447 Investment Income 8ank Interest 149A5 20 26832.69 27.219.05 23.548 pm•nts Dlrea Charltable Expenditufe Water Charges Non-oomestic Rate5 Repaln and •Aalrten Waste OisrK)sal Uaht and Heat Insurdrte Cleanirl and Caretskl 1.22230 212.48 6.37334 1.32753 6,935.92 2.553.78 7533AI L336 425 5.378 1,420 3,628 2.308 7,812 Z6.15&95 22,307 Other ExDendf(ure GWts Teleplne.P0St8ge. Printi Wtbsitècost & ertIsIn8 33.rKI 1.661.88 170 1,675 PRS Lkkn*¢ 425.02 2,77836 2179 28.93731 25,186
Fees Owing 31 March 2024 Date paid A L orchestra ja March 551.50 ALYG March 144.39 Annle Farr Acadamv March 70.IX) Apl Boxerclse Marth 57.97 Celtic Hearts Irish Dancers Jan-Feb Marth 175.IX) 140.00 Awll Creative Dance March 52.50 EVer8en$ Fel March 108.75 145.00 parent and toddlers March 217.50 TKD March 516.25 Slimming World- Overpaent -16.IXI Total 2,162.86 Deposlts held 31 Marth 2024 L)ate Dep tsken 0810212024 0810212024 2310212024 2910212024 1310312024 Ref E Reese K Lcommunity One Worbd Animals A L Gardening Soc S Greenidge Partv date 14 Apl 2024 I(K).) 23June 2024 212.50 31 May 2024 370.LM) 13114 Sept 2024 125.LKI 4 Apl 2024 Total 907.50 Trade Credltor 31 March 2024 Cafver for March 2024 1.061. 313
ABBOTS LANGLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE Report of the Management Committee for the year ended 31 March 2024
Bookings The Centre has been well supported by its regular users during the year but the level of weekend party bookings is still below pre-pandemic levels.
There have been the usual bookings from local community organisations: the Tough Ten Race Day in October, the Gardening Society’s autumn show and concerts from Abbots Langley Orchestra. The year closed with bookings in prospect for concerts from the Orchestra and the Watford Accordion Band at the Abbots Langley Festival in the summer.
The Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service has continued to make regular bookings. One World Animals held an all-day event at the Centre in August. The Centre was also used as a stop-off point for a charity cycle race in April.
The Committee has considered whether Saturday evening parties might be feasible to generate extra income but decided not to pursue this. The Parish Council confirmed that an alcohol licence could not be granted to the Centre.
Finances Following a review of hire charges the fees for all user groups were increased from 1 September 2023. The main factors underlying this decision were the steep increases in electricity prices (foreshadowed last year); the immediate need for substantial electrical and plumbing work (carried out this year at a cost of £4,371); and the continuing need to restore our reserve fund to cover possible loss of income from any future pandemic and to keep the building in good repair now that it was showing its age.
Notwithstanding this increase the Centre has recorded an excess of expenditure over income of £2,254. Compared with the previous year income from hire rose from £23,315 to £26,683 but expenditure rose from £25,186 to £28,937. (These figures are subject to audit.)
Cleaning and maintenance Our cleaners (Callver Cleaning) provide a dedicated cleaner who cleans the Centre three times a week; she also provides caretaking for weekend parties. The arrangement continues to work very well; floorcleaning is now much improved after the repairs last year to the floor-washing machine. Callver have continued to provide gutter cleaning and sanitary cleaning.
The above-mentioned electrical and plumbing work - the five-yearly electrical wiring review (with consequent remedial work) and the updating of the water heating systems - were carried out during the year.
Because of other commitments Andy Hodge was unable to continue as our maintenance manager and stood down at the AGM in July 2023. In the absence to date of anyone willing to join the Committee in this capacity we are using an external maintenance manager to keep an eye on the building and carry out routine repairs and improvements. These have included the installation of solar lighting panels above the outside notice boards.
Events and Publicity We ran a tombola and lucky dip stall at both the main village events: the Carnival in June 2023 and the AutumnFest in September 2023. However we did not repeat the “Prince and Princess” competition at the Carnival as it was becoming increasingly difficult to generate enough interest when set against the effort required. These events generated useful publicity and fundraising for the Centre, including a visit to the Carnival stall from the local MP, Dean Russell, who subsequently visited the Centre to see more of what we did and if he could help us.
These and other events have highlighted that many people in the locality were unaware of the Centre, due partly to its location. We are therefore looking into the possibility of improving signage to the Centre.
Abbots Langley Youth Project Agreement was reached in March 2024 with Three Rivers DC to transfer the remaining funds in the Project’s bank account to them to pay the Project’s hire charges and to fund its activities. The bank account has been closed and the Centre now has no responsibility for organising the Project.
Management Committee At the Annual General Meeting in July 2023 Andy Hodge stood down as maintenance manager and Ruth Clark and Elinor Gazzard were confirmed as the Parish Council representatives. During the year Eryl McNally was co-opted on to the Committee .
Finally, I would like to thank everyone on the Committee and in the user groups for all their hard work in keeping the Centre running smoothly..
Richard Kennell Chair 11 July 2024