## **EYNSFORD VILLAGE HALL** (Registered Charity No 302737) ## **ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2020** ## **Object of the Charity** The provision and maintenance of a Village Hall for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Eynsford without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including use for meetings, lectures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. That public benefit was delivered in 2020. ## **Management Committee** As at 31 December 2020 the members were: Chairman: Mr M C Richardson Hon Secretary: Mrs L Breare Hon Treasurer: Mr R Viner Other Members: Mrs S Anderson, Mr J Cairns, Mr J Mesnard, Mr J Staniland, Mr M Physsas and Mr D Ketley. ## **Charity Correspondent** Mr Malcolm Richardson 31 Pollyhaugh Eynsford DA4 0HE. Tel: 07753 572542 ## **Governing Document** A Scheme for the regulation of the Charity sealed by the Charity Commissioners on 27 March 1997, as amended in October 2015. ## **Governance** The Charity is governed by a Management Committee consisting of Trustees elected annually by local residents at an Annual General Meeting, and of Representative Trustees appointed by regular user groups which hire the Hall. Day-to-day management is delegated to the Officers (Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary), all trustees, who report to the Management Committee at its meetings, usually ten times a year. ## **Finance** 1 Details of the financial activities are summarised in the attached accounts. During 2020, letting income of £8,364 which exceeded the cost of running the Hall which was £12,972.. However a grant of £10,000 was received from Sevenoaks District Council in respect of Covid so as a result, there was a surplus of income over expenditure of £5,392 . The Rescue and Renewal fund increased by £77,301, mainly due to a donation of £75,000 with a result the closing balance stood at £352,091. The policy on financial reserves is to aim, normally, to hold a minimum cash balance equivalent to twelve month of letting income. This is to guard against the risk of an event that requires the hall to be closed temporarily. ## **Bankers** Main account: Santander UK plc, BBAM, Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside L30 4GB No 2 account: The Co-operative Bank (Rescue and renewal) 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP Rescue and Renewal funds are also held in deposit accounts with the Shawbrook, Virgin, United Trust and Julian Hodge banks. The balances are spread to keep each account within the FSCS compensation limits. ## **Independent Examiner** Mr Thomas J Phillips B.Sc. FCA Station Road Eynsford Kent DA4 0ER ## **Serious Incidents** There were no serious incidents during the year. ## **Transactions with Trustees and Payments to Connected Persons** None. ## **Chairman’s Review of the Year’s Activities** This year has been dominated by the Covid pandemic when the hall has had to be closed and thus produced no income. The hall was initially 2 closed from 24th March to 31st August and again from 5th November until 1st December, although in accordance with Government regulations, a number of users were allowed to make limited use of the hall during this latter period, predominantly those involving children. The hall however, adapted in line with regulations – hand sanitisers were provided throughout, social distance markings were applied to the floors and more structured cleaning took place. The Terms of Hire were also amended, outlining what hirers were, and were not, allowed to do and each hirer was made responsible for the safety of their participants. The number of lets during the year thus fell from some 837 in 2019 to 281 in 2020, a fall of some 66%, with a commensurate loss of income. However this was offset to a large extent, by a grant of £10,000 received from Sevenoaks District Council which, together with a reduction in operating expenses (cleaning, energy etc), resulted in only a marginal effect on income. The other focus for the Trustees during the year has been the continuing effort to get planning consent for a new hall on Harrow Meadow and for housing on the existing site. It is pleasing that consent was granted for the new hall in July 2020 although the planners have been quite demanding with regard to their requirements for the current hall site. They were not happy with the design despite the hall’s architects taking into account their recommendations, although following a meeting with the planners in December 2020, we are now hopeful that they are satisfied with the latest drawings and we hope that consent will be received in the near future. If this is the case, then the trustees will then have a viable project and fundraising will begin in earnest. I would also like to take this opportunity to thanks our hirers for their perseverance and patience during the year and their willingness to adapt to changing regulations; to Wendy Jackson, our Letting Secretary, for her mastery of the Government recommendations and for liaising with all hirers; and to Julie Lovelock for keeping on top of the cleaning regime, which was a large part of keeping the hall secure. While it is likely that there will continue to be some restrictions on use over the coming months, nevertheless, now that consent has been granted for a new hall and with hope that consent will be obtained for the redevelopment of the existing site, we look forward with confidence to 2021 and beyond to what, hopefully, will be a new and exciting chapter for our hall. ## **Malcolm C Richardson Chairman** **26.10.2021** 3 EYNSFORD VLLAGE kLIRÉo. J02737) Ac¢oupif¥ lor th• YMrend•d ¥1 Dvthkn202 2•1• 2120 knjlil 14 JMhL¥ 72£ IOA¥J Lty*ryQp•¢Tri¢s JA S,WS liMb*yrw• 12J•> •It1￿1 .91 L¥PWt(J￿•IwI C¢H*Thlt¥J41 y)Jwi 34 2021 EYNSFORD VLLAGE kLIRÉo. J02737) Ac¢oupif¥ lor th• YMrend•d ¥1 Dvthkn202 2•1• 2120 knjlil 14 JMhL¥ 72£ IOA¥J Lty*ryQp•¢Tri¢s JA S,WS liMb*yrw• 12J•> •It1￿1 .91 L¥PWt(J￿•IwI C¢H*Thlt¥J41 y)Jwi 34 2021