Trustees Annual Report
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
For the year ended 31[st] March 2021
MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR
The Wyre Forest Scout Council (The Council) is the governing body of the Scout Association for the Wyre Forest Scouts and it provides leadership, advice and support for the Scout Groups and District Explorer Scout Units and Scout Network in the Wyre Forest area; it elects and appoints members of the District Executive Committee, which manages the District (POR 4.19b).
The aim and method of the Scout Association, and the object and description of the Charitable Trusts are well known and are set out in the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of the Scout Association.
The Council organises a sponsored walk known as the Pledged Plod held each October and Christmas post but both were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Council owns and manages the freehold of its own camping grounds and site at Rhydd Covert, together with a modern Activity Centre. The original campsite, some 20 acres, was conveyed to us by a Deed of Gift in 1977 from the Webb family and is subject to restrictive covenants: to use the land for Scouting and ancillary purposes. We have subsequently purchased circa 23 acres in 3 plots, Top Field, Ebury Rise and the Chestnut Wood. The campsite itself was valued in 1996 at £80,000. The site buildings, site maintenance equipment, site activity equipment and the Activity Centre are all insured for their replacement value. This figure is £380,000.
The site is now circa 43 acres of land comprising of mixed copse with some cleared areas, together with the Activity Centre, Scout HQ building to the rear of the Activity Centre and other buildings and structures (containers/shop/toilet blocks and shower blocks). They valued the land and capitalised value on the Activity Centre at £269,000. (Split up as £120,000 for the Activity Centre, £35,000 for Ebury Rise and the remainder of land at £114,000.) They agree with our insurance figure of £380,000 on the buildings and tower, which includes £200,000 for our Activity Centre, an additional figure was added to cover the cost of our new dormitories.
The District Executive granted an initial 3year licence to Acorn Venture, a holiday company which this District has in fact used. In 2019, a further 4 year licence with additional campsite was negotiated and signed upon. However, due to Covid-19, site preparation has been delayed and opening has been pushed back but this will resume as soon as go ahead is given.
As previously reported, The Council is still involved in negotiations with English Nature, in connection with a small area of the campsite which has been
designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These discussions have fallen silent. However, The Council remains hopeful that in due course, this designation may be lifted, but there is a significant backlog with English Nature in the assessing of sites and there is no guarantee that it will be resolved in any event.
The Council pays substantial running costs for the District, which includes administration and training costs, for DCs, DDC’s and ADCs includes expenses and the like.
As with recent years, to have been able to keep the running costs for the District under control and this year it resides at circa £3,000. This is less than the 2019 - 2020 year but it is predicted to cost circa £4,500 to run the District in 21-22. The District Executive has fixed its reserve at £20,000 again this year; this is to enable the Council to fulfil its obligations, work effectively and supply financial support to the District Executive and its sub-committees. The reserve is also required to meet any contingent liabilities and fixed costs.
The District Executive have retained the levy at £4.50 per person, in line with last year. As previous reports, small incremental rises may inevitably have to follow in future years but the District Executive Committee will continue to manage its costs as efficiently as possible, to ensure that vital financial resources can remain within individual groups wherever possible.
The campsite at Rhydd Covert retains a separate independent reserve of £2,000. The figures of £20,000 and £2,000 are not fixed amounts and may fluctuate on review, but the District Executive committee do not propose reducing the reserve lower than £20,000 and £2,000 respectively at this stage. The income at Rhydd on an annual basis is circa £50,000 per annum and it roughly costs this to run the site in normal times. The Trustees have looked at these costs to satisfy themselves that the site will make a surplus year on year.
Other than financial activities, numerous Scouting and training activities have been undertaken by the District, providing support and training for leaders and young members, and activities for all sections in the Groups. These are too numerous to mention individually; details will be given by the members at the Annual General Meeting on 15[th] June via Zoom.
The Trustees have identified the major risks to which they believe the District is exposed; they have reviewed these and continue to do so, on a regular basis, and have established ongoing systems and plans to mitigate them. Importantly, throughout this year, the Trustees have considered their continuing liability at Rhydd Covert Scout Campsite in respect of falling and dangerous trees and Covid 19 infection control. Significant consideration and actions have been put in place to mitigate such risk, and ensure that our liabilities are managed accordingly. Risk and safeguarding is a standard agenda item at the District Executive Committee meetings.
The District is a Trust established under its rules which are common to all Districts, and Trustees are appointed in accordance with POR. There have been seven ordinary meetings of the Trustees (sitting as the District Executive Committee) since the last AGM. There are three formal sub-committees of the District Executive (Rhydd Covert Management, Appointments Advisory Committee and Explorer Scouts), as well as a number of informal sub-groups.
The attached accounts have been drawn up on a receipts and payments basis, which is consistent with the previous year and have been approved by the Trustees at the Financial Review Meeting on 24th May 2021. The Trustees have authorised the Annual Accounts to be signed on their behalf by the District
Chairman, Chris Reynolds and the District Treasurer, Sarah Bennett, and the Annual Report by the District Chairman. They are both for the financial year ended the 31[st] March 2021. On a personal note, I would also like to place on record my thanks to Judith Stevens who has decided to stand down after a number of years’ service with Stourport / Severn – Teme District. My thanks to all of my other fellow Trustees for their continued support and dedication to The Council. Without them our continued success would not be possible. During these unprecedented times, the District Trustees envisage the next 12 months to be a difficult and challenging time for everyone involved in Scouting, and the Group Trustees will need our full support.
Chris Reynolds
Chair Wyre Forest Scout Council
Approved by the Executive Committee and signed below by the Chair on
24[th] May 2021
Chris Reynolds - Chair Kidderminster and District Scout council
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Wyre Forest District Scout Council Notes to the attached accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2021 Note I In lifie wfth the need io show fees outshle income. as the DiStrt is only the agent for the monies cOle. They have been separated from Income Note 2 County didn't want 2019 rweytsntil after 1stApril 2019 50 thls i$ 2 yea¢s*xsrth was paid for in 2020 Note 3 These are the other accounts within the DtriCt ¥¥hich are produced sepaTatety from the Disiritt Accounts but do fomi part of the LX"stritt Asse Note 4 This was Loaned in year end 2019 Note 5 Thiswas Loaned in yeorend 2020 Note 6 WFDC Comd Grant
Wyre Forest Scout Council Receipts for the year ended 315t March 2021 General Fund 2021 2020 Membershi HQ&County Fees Note i £ 40.357.50 £ 36.298. É S16.64 E 5.816_64 £ S,688.IK) E 5,688.(KI InVtstnnt IrKome Received OUts5hort Tem14)ves¢me 103A3 £ 101.83 £ 105.01 £ ios.oi Donations & Grants ReceThd VariousdoDations & 5pon50r5hip Next Generaln Appeal 240. 20.(I) 240.0) £ 6,927.25 £ 6.947.25 tivities & Fundraisi Plod Contribution from Guides St George'5 contribLrtD GuKie5 Christmas Po# Pk)d Ll¢aatVJD5fr0rn drinks £ 191.75 £ 293.33 £ 2.778.86 38.26 41.34 41.34 £ 3.302.20 Badge Sa$ WF20 Loan repaid WFIO Loan Epi Cap[atn0Ve1payrnent St George's DayColrtion Ikoutstsxpl a0Ofa¢COunI ScoutArtNities (Hi1{alki) Wyre Forest thStrKtCouniil Grant Exploret Hub Ublity Refund Mis NeNork 2051 Note 5 £ 2.(.( Noie4 £ £ 592.50 39 17.( 76.40 £ 217.51 £ i.coJ.fy) Note6 E 16.(X)l.(K) 15.76 o.oi E 376.43 51.50 £ 3.231.34 É I9j•.77 fjrandTotalof I1Orne E 25262_58 £ l9.273_80
Wyre Forest Scout Council Payments for the year ended 3tst March 2021 Gen 2021 2020 Fees HQ& County 34.412. 79,471 25 min Appointment5Éxper¢e5 Insurance Lottery LinCe Appointm&15 ComrNLtee Room Hlre countaTht nkClr8e5 District Web5ile Distrirt B5 304 75.00 312 115.74 3(.rI) 65.00 240.(M) 2SI.99 582.00 19S.95 Postaee Statery Wreath Ne%t GenwatKm Ap1 Networ ExpfjDier Hub uti1ti5 Mlrn Bu5 PeFmits 43.51 2041KI 45.(YJ £ 11,625.63 124.08 146.87 25.LK 52.95 43.02 827A3 E 1.935.65 15.00 £ 13.982. tlUeS Cost Pby Expenses si rwe¥ Day Expenses StGe&eS Expenses StLYPOrt Post- Otri1jted to Grr Xmas pt- Printing ScoutAttfvlt¢s (hilalkI} 575.25 £ 905.80 171. É 2,394.92 828.LK) É £ 5.874.97 Grants Donatbn5 & Made Grant- Callurn Thompso Grant- A1eBurf0rd Grant- WF14 Inewgroupl Loan-WF20 Bewd 2Y).00 732.00 £ 29Th).00 £ 4.282.( Gt•rtdTOtsI of Eyrendiiure É 1.935.65 £ 24.139.87
Wyre Forest Scout Council Balance Sheet & Statement of A%sets & Liabilities as at 31st March 2021 Monetary Assets General Fvt AccufflL4ated fvnd forward Svrplus Ioeficitl foryèar Cawtark)n rlote i CapitatK)n Pd for ihe ar Note 2 Receipts Short Posted. NextGen Ap1 Transfer RestrKied Ftsnd kcunTrulatd totsl £ 24326.56 E 72.265.13 £ 23326.93 4 4.866.07 £ 4OJ57.Y) £ 36.298.75 4 34,412.50 -£ 79.471.25 £ 53.498.49 £ 24,226.56 Other Funds ReStrted Fund DistrirtAccounts £ 40.299.62 f 39.271_58 Total of mone1Ats £ 93,798.11 É 63.498_14 1 Allocation of Assets outs ShortTerm Investments Bank CwrÈt)t Accounts DistriCiAouts 16,4(X).(Xl £ 16.4lW.Cfl 37.098.49 £ 7.826.% É 40.299.62 £ 39.271.58 É 93.798.11 £ 63.498.14 Non MonetaryAsseis New RIYrf4hJ Buildirqatcost Rhydd Co¥ert Str1caMp Sit £ 3&).(KX).IK> É Z8Q.(KK>.fy) £ 149.rxx).rx) £ 149.10).(X) £ 529.LXYJ.rx) £ 529.IXK).(KJ Barclays cutyentalcat31st March CAF Currpnt alc 31st Marth sh ui Harml Le55 theque5 ed butnot pTesented 885.IXI f 766.17 £ 36.201.99 É 7.048.89 11.50 É 11.50 £ 37.098.49 £ 7.826_56 ustheques reNed bui rboi paid in £ 37.09849 E 7.82656
Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlnerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of re Forest Scwt Cwncl On a¢counts for the year èndèd 31st March 221 Charity no {if anyl 508005 Set out on pages 2to7 Respective The chanvs trustee5 are respsIble for the preparation of the accounts. sponsibilities of The charrty's trustee5 consKler that an audit i8 not required for thi8 year trustees and examiner under sectw)n 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Charrties Act) and th an independent examination is needed. 11 is my resFonsibdity to". examw the accounts uThaer Sed1 145 of th• Charities A¢t, to Id1 the procedwes laid dcrwn in the general Directions given by the Charity CcMnmis$ion {uThler seclion 1451Sllbl of the Chanties Ad. and to state knthether patbcular rnattets have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examinth.c was carried out o) accordarte with general DirethorKs gNen examlnerfs ststement by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review ofthe accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison ofthe aCcnts psented wth those records. It a150 indudes consideration ol any unusual iterns or tii5d¢)gJre$ in the accoLmts. arKi seeking explanabons from Ih8 trustees ¢xJne£ming any such matters. The wocedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden that woukl be required in an audit. and consequently no ts10n is gwen as to whether the accounts psent a 'true and frair. view and the EpKJrt is limited to those maiters strt out in the statemènt lOw. Independent In conne(knn my examination. no material matteTS have corTE lo my examinerfs statement attention gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. a¢counting records were not kerA In a(zordan wth setkn 130 of tl* charit&S Aet or th• accounis do not accord wilh the acccyjnting recLJrd$ I have oyne awss rK) Other [lerS in connedion with the examination to which attenti( slK)uld drawn in order to enabk a PToper understandtr¥J of the accounts to reached. Signed= Date: May 21r21 Namè: Charfes A. Sherw F. Relevant professional qualificatioirfsl or body lif any): Chartered AcCntant Address- Falcons Rest. Faiffjeld Lane. Wolverlty. lfj"ddeminster, WorcEstershwe DY11 SQJ IER