## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 8 April 2024 Period start date To 7 April 2025 Period end date**
## **Charity name: City of Durham Trust**
## **Charity registration number: 502132**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
its governing document|Para 1.17|(1)
To preserve, conserve
and enhance for the
benefit of the public the
natural
and
built
environment of the City of
Durham
and
its
surroundings, including its
green belt, buildings and
features of architectural
and historic value, and
areas of natural beauty
and interest.
(2)
To engage and inform
communities and promote
their co-operation in the
preservation, conservation
and protection of the
natural
and
built
environment of the City of
Durham
and
its
surroundings, including its
Green Belt.
(3)
To encourage and
celebrate the highest
sustainable standards in
planning,
design,
landscape and architecture
in the City of Durham and
its surroundings.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Every week Trustees scrutinise all the
relevant planning applications validated by
the local planning authority and respond as
appropriate. We focus on ensuring|
|activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.||conformity with the policies of the_NPPF,_
the_County Durham Plan_and the_Durham_
_City Neighbourhood Plan._These are
designed to protect the historic and natural
heritage of the City of Durham and its
surroundings. We work closely with the City
of Durham Parish Council on these matters.
The Trust holds open meetings, including
an AGM, three or four times per year to
inform members of the public about
planning and heritage-related issues. We
also provide members with bulletins three
or four times per year giving details of our
activities and providing information about
the work of related bodies.
Our website durhamcity.org also contains a
great deal of current information.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees do have regard to this
guidance.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|The Trust’s responses to planning
applications have been influential in
improving some and causing others to be
refused.
The Trust works closely with related bodies
such as the Durham Museum, Old Durham
Gardens, the Wear Rivers Trust and the
National Trust which recently acquired
Crook Hall, an important heritage site in the
City.
It is also represented on the WHS Strategic
Partnership Board of the Castle and
Cathedral World Heritage Site.
The Trust has co-sponsored with the
Parish Council_The Durham City Heritage_
Trail, a walking guide for the City’s rich
heritage which is freely available to
residents and visitors.
All these activities are designed both to
raise the profile of the Trust and also to
involve as many citizens as possible in
issues that affect our historical and natural
heritage.|
|---|---|---|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The Trust’s financial position is sound as
can be seen from our annual accounts.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|It is the policy of the charity to maintain
unrestricted funds, which are the free
reserves of the charity, sufficient to cover
for approximately one year the Trust’s
management and administration and
support costs.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|The free reserves currently stand at
£16,209 (2021 £14,369) which more than
meets the criteria laid down by the
Trustees.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|N/A|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Other
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Trust deed|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Trustees are elected at the AGM in
accordance with paragraph 13 of the
constitution.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|
Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|City of Durham Trust|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|N/A|
|Registered charity number|502132|
|Charity’s principal address|Blackett, Hart and Pratt, LLP
Aire House
Mandale Business Park
Durham, DH1 1TH|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||John Ashby||||
||Sue Childs|Vice chair|||
||Tim Clark||||
||Roger Cornwell||||
||Allan Gemmill||||
||Adrian Green||||
||Chris Hugill||||
||Michael Hurlow||||
||John Lowe|Chair|||
||Matthew Phillips||||
||Francis Pritchard|Secretary/ Treasurer|||
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name N/A**
## Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|**N/A**|||
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## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
**N/A**
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Francis William Pritchard **Full name(s)** John Joseph Lowe **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair Secretary/Treasurer **Chair, etc) Date** 29th January 2026
**Charity Name No (if any) City of Durham Trust 502132 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period** Period start date Period end date **To** ~~===~~ **from** 8th April 2024 7th April 2025 **Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Receipts** Subscriptions & Donations **2,155 - - 2,155 2,385** Gift Aid **-** Legacies **500 - - 500** Publication Sales **1,250 - - 1,250 1,350** Interest **262 - - 262 125** Insurance Claim **1,870 - - - - - - - - - -** _**Sub total** (Gross income for_ **4,167 5,730** _AR)_ **[ 4,167 ]** ~~—=====~~ **A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - -** _**Sub total**_ **-** _**Total receipts**_ **4,167 - - 4,167 5,730** ~~——————~~ **A3 Payments** Cost of sales **-** Direct expenditure on charitable purposes **-** Subscriptions and grants to other bodies **640 - - 640 1,127** Management and member services **4,092 - - 4,092 2,657** Governance and professional fees **695 - - 695 341 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -** _**Sub total**_ **[ 5,427 ] - - 5,427 4,126** ~~======~~ **A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - -** _**Sub total**_ **[ - ] - - - -** ~~—~~ _**Total payments**_ ~~—————~~ **5,427 - - 5,427 4,126** _**Net of receipts/(payments)**_ **- 1,261 - - - 1,261 1,604 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 17,469 - - 17,469 -** _**Cash funds this year end**_ **16,209 - - 16,209 1,604 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period** ~~_==—~~ **Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Categories Details funds funds funds to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ B1 Cash funds** Co-operative Bank current account **2,358 - -** Virgin Money charity savings account **13,851 - - - - -** _**Total cash funds**_ **16,209 - -** ~~SEE~~ (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) OK OK OK CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 29/01/2026
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)