ASTON CANTLQW VILLAGE HALL CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024 Aston Canllow Village Hall, Bearley Road, Aston CantSow is a registered charity Ino. 5228521 govemed by a scheme devised L)y The Minister of Education under the Charitable Costs Act 1853-1925 and revised by the Charity Commissioners in 2002. Honorary Offlcers as at thè 31st December 2024 Ciaran Aldiidge David Hannaford Sally Bevan Nick Isaac Chair Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Elected Members: Ciaran Aldridge Sally Bevan Nicklsaac Co-opted Members: Helen Douglas Mark Dunsby Representatlve members: Local History Society Parish Council Porochial Church Council Tenn55 Club Aslon Cantlow Club Ann Platt - None appointed None appointed Iminut8s circulaled for Informalionl Anlonla Pearton - Down Deakin Objectlve of Ihe Vlllage Hall Charlty The objective of the Foundation shall be the provision and mointenance of a village hall for the use of the inhabilonts of the Parish of Aslon Cantlow ond the surrounding district without distinction of sex or of polilical, religlous or other opinions; and in particular for the use of meetings, leclures and classes and for all olher forms of recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants. The Commlttee and Meetlngs 2024 ho5 brought conslstency to the meeting cadence and attendees of the Commlttee. I would Ilke to thank all Commitlee Members for their support. We have welcomed Nick Isaac as our new treasurer. who is doing an excellent job in this role. We also have a new Committee Member, Mark Dunsby, who has brought a wealth of local knowledge and expertise in the building Irade, which hos been invaluable as we look to maintain our buildings and surroundings for the benefit of the village.
Regular meetings have been held throughout 2024, generally on a bimonthly basis, both in person and remotely. Malntenance and Refurblshment In 2024 there has been ongoing maintenance of the building and associated areas. A report has been commissioned to more formally review the requirements for the hall from a maintenance perspective. These actions will be reviewed ond budgeted for future anticipated expenditure. The plants around the hall continue to be maintained by Mick Walker and Helen Douglas and the village is grateful of their contribution to keeping the village a5 an attractive place to be. Mark Holland is also noted in his conlribution to maintaining the hedges. Health and Safety There have been no significant Health and Safety issues throughout 2024. Propertles and Tenancles Positively all three properties are now fully let, with good, long-lerm tenanls. There ore ongoing challenges with damp and some other associated workwilh Corner Coltage that havé come to light since the property has been occupied. The Committee are committed lo working with the tenants and managing agents to get these issues rectified. Caretaker and Cleaner Our Caretaker Eltzabeth Leedham has continued to be a vltal part of the successful running of the hall. I would like to thank Lizzee for her contribution. Events A number of local organisations continue to use the Village Hall on a regular basis. These included the Farish Council and various fitness groups. including Yoga. which is well attended by the community Several external organisotions also regularly book the hall inclvdlng the Lace Maker5. The updated website and booking process has now been published for use, feedback has been positive and driven additional interest in polential users of the hall. We would also like to thank Aston Cantlow Club for their Charity Fund Raising Quiz. which was In aid of the Village Hall. Tonnls Club The Tennis Club continues in its efforts to attract new member5 from the villages within the Parish. Regularsocial tennis and competitive matches for those members who are interested are organised by the club's Committee.
ChildTen's Playground The Village Hall Committee continues to be solew responsible for the maintenance of the grounds and equipment in the playground. The Committee are continuing its maintenance programme. The annual costs of gr055 Cutting. hedge and tree maintenance are our main regular outgoing Isee Flnance report for details) and does eat into our income. The users of the playground come from bolh Aston Cantlow and adjoining villages. Villagers and other users are reminded that this facility is maintained entirely by the Village Hall Committee. with financial help from the Parish council as recorded and bolstered as and when wa can with fundratsing activities. There are other items in the park which will require replacement In the future and this will be considered going foward. Partsh Coun¢ll Emergency Equlpment and Plan The Parlsh Council has re5pon5ibility forthe5e matters but al the request of the Council various ilems of equipment including blankets are stored in the Hall. Commlttee Members 2024. I would Ilke to thank all members of the Committee for their hard work during the past year. Claran Aldrldge - Chalrman For and on behalt of the Management Commltlee - Aprll 2025
ACVH TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE 2024 FINANCIAL YEAR The Village Hall ended 2024 in a satisfactory financial position after running a surplus of £6,483 in the year. Overall income for the year of £42,431 was substantially up on 2023. Booking fees were c£IOk higher due to the BBC filming at the Hall, an event unlikely to repeat. Other bookings were at similar levels to 2023 with parish lettings up and external ones down. The rental properties were fully occupied throughout the year causing rentsl income to increase to c£24k. The Parish Council made a donation towards the playground grass cutting and fund raising rai*d £339. Without the Investment in the playground that took place in 2022 and 2023, expenditure fell back to £35,947 for the year. This remained above'normal" levels due to c£14k spend on the rental properties, completing the planned refurbishment started in 2023. Other additional costs were tree clearance work following a storm, work on a new website and compensation paid for cancelled bookings due to filming. However, elettricity costs went down due to the reclaim of overcharged VAT in prior years and lower contratt prices. We continued to benefit from Charity Mandatory relief of 800/0 on business rates and the Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme, which together saved us around £3,000 on Councll Tax in the year. These schemes have been contlnued for 2025 but are not guaranteed in perpetuity. The Village Hall's cash balance at the end of the year was up from £12,659 to £29,143, split between an instsnt access saver account and the current account. The increase was driven by the c£6k surplus in the year plus a withdrawal of £10,000 from the COIF Accumulation Fund. It is intended that the cash balance will be used for a signlficant programme of refurbishment in the Hall itself, ongoing expenditure in the rentsl properties and a planned maintenance programme on the outside of all the buildings. The latter was created by a survey commissioned for the Hall. Despite the £IOk withdrawal, the Accumulation Fund held with the Charlties Commlssion was valued at £188,153 at the yearend, almost the same as last year. At the end of the financial year, we had minimal liabilities, and £887 of outstsnding hire charge payments due to us, all of which have now been paid. The Village Hall is therefore in a good financial state and so should be able to continue to operate and maintsin the Village Hall, playground and rental properties as planned over the coming year. However, without the BBC booking, it will be more challenging to generate a surplus, so, particularly with the maintenance spend planned, it is likely that there will be some reduction in reserdes during 2025. The purpose of the work on the Hall is to generate additional bookings to help re-balance the accounts in future. I wish to thank all of the committee members and also the Parish and Distritt Councils for their support in the past year and look forward to the challenges of the coming one. Nick Isaac - Aston Cantlow Village Hall Treasurer - March 2025
ASTON CANTLOW VILLAGE HALL FOUNDATION Accounts for the year to 31st De¢ember 2024 Registered Charity no 522825 General 2023 Re*ipts & Payment Accounts Income Receipts General 2024 Grants & Donations Parish Council Grant Sundry Donations Grass cutting donation 1,¢)00 375 1,375 97 997 Sub Total Trading Acaivilies Hall Lettings (includes Tennis club groun(J Tenlall Hall Lettings Village users 4,033 2,489 External users Car parking Deposits Events For Pl8yground Sundries Sub Total 12.884 85 3,934 13 Fund raising 339 1,321 Misc & refunds 17,341 7,757 Invèstment Incomè Rents Other 8ank Intsrest 24,025 19,454 195 Tre8suf8T Deposit ac Sub Total 68 24.093 42,431 19.649 28,781 Total Ro¢•lpts Dlrect Charitable Expènditure Council Tax Insur8nce Walor Rates Electricity Repoirs & M8int6nance (excl renlol prop81 Grounds I car park Maintenance Playground Igra¥$ cutting & repairs) EquipmenVFumishingslSupplles IlnGI Playground equipment) Cleaning costs Caretaking cos18 Wo$le Collection Subscrlpllons Pety expen$o8 Ev8n15 Mls¢- Inc window cleaning Building works Profossional Ch8rge3 157 3,979 161 3,670 778 4,316 5,617 2,650 5,705 630 995 23,082 1,560 3,000 160 363 1,560 3,000 263 429 83 500 189 128 756 22,064 239 43,705 Sub Totsl Olhor Expenditure Other Events Independent Examiners Fee Repairs & mainl Réntal propertles 13,833 5,066 Sub Totsl 13,883 5,116 Totsl Payments 35,947 48,821 Net Recai 19 ments for th8 Year 6,483 -20,039 Rèallgalion of Accumulation units ftom COIF Cash and Bank BalanGe¥ as a131 Dec Cash and Bank 8alanos as at 31 Dec 10,OCN) 2023 12.659 2022 32,699 2024 29,143 2023 12,659 Pagelof 2
ASTON CAFThLOW VILLAGE HALL FOUNDATION Stslemenl of Assets and Liabilittes at 31st December 2024 General 2024 General 2023 Monetary Assets Bank &Cash 8alan¢es Lloyds Bank Business Instsnt Access AJC Lloyds Bank Treasurers C Cash 20,088 9,055 20 12,605 Totsl Cash & Bank Balance$ 29,143 12.659 other CUnt Assets Hire Charges Reeelvable Autumn faif proceeds & ramble 887 454 335 Current Llabllltles MISG Creditorn Final payment for playground equipment instslled & completed. Non Mon9tary A8$0ts Permanent Endowment Land and buildings used by the Include The Village Hall, Corner Cott¥gg and the 2 Hall Flats, Childpns Playground, 2 Tennis Courts and Car Park (Freehold Title ves18d in the Official Custodian for Charili&sl 2023 General 76107 £188.746 Other A¥88ts.' 2024 General 72196 £188,153 Shas in Ch8Tilies Officlal Investment Fund No of Shares hold Valuallon of shares per 8tslem¢nl Equlpment and Fufnllure in the Hall, Playground equipment The reG8ipI8 and paymènts 8¢¢ount and thè slatsmenl of assets and Ilabililes have been prepared under seGlion 133 of Ihe Charities Act 2011 PwJe2of2
Independent Examiner's report to the c.ommittee of ASTON CANTLOW VILLAGE HALL II"OIJNDATION I report un the a¢Gounts of the TTUSt for the year ended 31 Sl December 2024, which are set out on Pages I to 2. Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner. The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. and the trustees consider that an audit is not required under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act). and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the aOUntS (under section 145 of the Charities Act ' to follow procedures laid down in the General Direction$ given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities AGt.' and , to state whether particular matters have Gome to my attention. BASIS of independent exgminer'5 Statement. My examination was carried out in ac¢ordancc with the General Dir¢¢tions given by the Charity Commission. An examination in¢lude8 a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the a¢¢ounts presented with those records. It a150 includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do noi provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent examlner's statement. In the course of my examination. no matter has rne to my attention.. (l ) which gives rne reasonable ¢ause to believe that in, any material respect, the trustecs have not met th¢ requirements to ensure that.. proper accounting records are kept ( in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act). and accounts arc prepared whi¢h agree with thc accounting records and ¢omply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act. or (2) io which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the ac¢ounts to be reached. Signed T F Clarke 59 Carol Avenue Bromsgrove Worcs B618RW 10th March 2025