Issue - meetings

REPORT OF  THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - RESOURCES

To consider and approve the accounts and annual reports for each of the four Charities/Charitable Trusts administered by the Council prior to submission to the Charities Commission, if a return is required.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the information required by the Charities Commission for the four registered charities be approved, so that the returns can be submitted prior to the 31st January 2021 deadline.

(2)       That the requirement for those charities with gross  income of more than £25k in their financial year to have their accounts independently examined be noted and, as this applies to King George’s Field and Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workmans Hall, instructs this to be undertaken for those accounts for 2019/20. This will be undertaken by the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS).

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To facilitate the submission of approved returns to the Charities Commission.

Audio recording – 2 minutes 37 seconds

The Service Director – Resources presented the report entitled Annual Reports and Accounts for Council Administered Charities together with the following appendices:

·                Appendix 1a - Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workmans Hall Trust – Accounts;

·                Appendix 1b - Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workmans Hall Trust - Draft Annual Return;

·                Appendix 2a - King George V Playing Fields – Accounts;

·                Appendix 2b - King George V Playing Fields - Draft Annual Return;

·                Appendix 3a - Smithson Recreation Ground – Accounts;

·                Appendix 3b - Smithson Recreation Ground - Draft Annual Return.

In response to a question asked by Councillor Judi Billing, the Service Director - Resources advised that the manner of the bequest of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry Collection to North Hertfordshire District Council meant that it was part of the sub-committee’s remit.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the information required by the Charities Commission for the four registered charities be approved, so that the returns can be submitted prior to the 31st January 2021 deadline.

(2)       That the requirement for those charities with gross  income of more than £25k in their financial year to have their accounts independently examined be noted and, as this applies to King George’s Field and Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workmans Hall, instructs this to be undertaken for those accounts for 2019/20. This will be undertaken by the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS).

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To facilitate the submission of approved returns to the Charities Commission.