CITYWATCH CCTV NORTHERN IRELAND
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
Citywatch CCTV Northern Ireland's objectives are to;
Prevent crime, fear of crime and anti‐social behaviour.
Promote good citizenship within Lisburn and Castlereagh Council Area and other dedicated areas, Enhance liaison between the business community sector and the Police in crime prevention and detection, Provide a secure and safe environment in public areas.
Significant activities
Key achievements in the year included;
Citywatch CCTV Northern Ireland dealt with a total of 3,476 incidents. These included 720 anti‐social behaviour incidents, 650 alcohol related incidents, 295 drug related and 307 mental health related incidents, all of which resulted in 173 arrests.
Citywatch continues to work with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to provide a vital service in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area and our partnership continues to grow year on year. Their sites across the council area are part of the Citywatch radiolink and this enables us to provide assistance as soon as incidents occur. Throughout this year Citywatch have worked closely with PSNI in local businesses promoting retail crime. Our work with staff at a children's home in Lisburn continued to grow during this year, building on the good relationship already established.
In November 2022, Citywatch carried out annual anti‐shoplifting visits alongside Police, to various retailers across Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area. These visits provide businesses with crime prevention advice and reassurance in the run up to Christmas when theft offences increase.
Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duties to have due regard to the Charity Commission Northern Ireland guidance on public benefit.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
During this year, we have observed a net decrease in funds amounting to £57,023, which is an increase on the £33,395 decrease in funds recorded last year. The board of trustees is committed to addressing this situation and will make every effort to balance the operating surplus/deficit while also working towards achieving the company's objectives.
Reserves policy
The Trustees carry out a detailed review of the reserves of the charities activities and produce a comprehensive strategic plan for the Charity. The Charity has reserves of £139,372 in the restricted fund, which relate to the CCTV equipment. The Unrestricted reserves of the Charity are £176,885 these reserves are being used to fund the day to day running of the charity and are required to fund the increase in monitoring hours and administration involved with regulatory compliance.
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CITYWATCH CCTV NORTHERN IRELAND
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Going concern
The company incurred a loss in the sum of £57,023 for the year ended 31 March 2023 and had net assets in the sum of £316,257. The company is heavily dependent upon funding from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, at the date of signing this report funding for the next financial year has not been confirmed. The company does not have sufficient cash reserves to continue for 12 months should the funding not be secured. The details are set out in note 13 to the financial statements.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 15 January 2020 (previous document dated 14 January 2000), and constitutes a limited company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Membership is open to other individuals and organisations who apply to the charity and are approved by the Executive Committee.
Organisational structure
The Charity's decisions are made by the board of directors, which meet on a regular basis. The CCTV control room has a manager whom reports directly to the board of directors.
Induction and training of new trustees
New trustees undergo an orientation day to brief them on their legal obligation under company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision making process, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. During the induction day they meet key employees and other directors. Directors are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
NI037932 (Northern Ireland)
Registered Charity number XR46049
Registered office
15 Barrack Street Lisburn Co. Antrim BT28 1TJ
Trustees
M Busch P A Dean E J Morton Ms K Marshall G H Macdonald (appointed 13.9.22)
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CITYWATCH CCTV NORTHERN IRELAND
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Auditors
KGA Accountants LLP Building 2 The Sidings Antrim Road Lisburn Co. Antrim BT28 3AJ
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of CITYWATCH CCTV NORTHERN IRELAND for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
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there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and
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the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
AUDITORS
The auditors, KGA Accountants LLP, will be proposed for re‐appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 13 December 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
P A Dean ‐ Trustee
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