Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

This report includes the returns required for each of the Charities/Charitable Trusts administered by the Council. The four Charities/ Charitable Trusts are; Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workmans Hall Trust, King George’s Field Hitchin, Smithson Recreation Ground and Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery Collection. The Charities Sub-Committee approve the accounts and annual reports prior to submission to the Charities Commission, if a return is required.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Sub-Committee (Council Charities):

(1)   Approved the information required by the Charities Commission for the four registered charities, so that the returns can be submitted prior to the 31st January 2025 deadline.

(2)   Notes the requirement for those charities with gross income of more than £25k in their financial year to have their accounts independently examined 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 2023/24. This will be undertaken by the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS).

(3)   Delegated to the Service Director: Resources, in consultation with the Chair of the Sub-Committee, authority to provide the required information to the Charity Commission to rectify the position in relation to the Mrs Howard Memorial Hall charity.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   To facilitate the submission of approved returns to the Charities Commission.

(2)   To rectify the position in relation to the Mrs Howard Memorial Hall Charity.