Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

This report includes the returns required for each of the Charities/Charitable Trusts administered by the Council. The five Charities/ Charitable Trusts are; Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workman’s Hall Trust, King George’s Field Hitchin, Smithson Recreation Ground, Mrs Howard Memorial Hall 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:

(1)   That the Charities Sub-Committee approved the information required by the Charities Commission for the five registered charities, so that the returns can be submitted prior to the 31st January 2026 deadline.

(2)   That the Charities Sub-Committee noted 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 2024/25. 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 – 3 minutes 20 seconds

The Director – Resources presented the report entitled ‘Annual Reports and Accounts for Council Administered Charities’ and advised that:

·       This report detailed the returns required for the five Charities/Charitable Trusts administered by the Council.

·       This Sub Committee was required to approve the accounts and annual reports prior to them being submitted to the Charities Commission.

·       There was a verbal update in relation to the progress on the internal audit of the charities as outlined in paragraph 8.9 of the report, as a draft report was still in progress. 

·       The number of volunteers for King George V Charitable Trust was still yet to be confirmed as outlined in Appendix 5, but this number was anticipated to be similar to last year.

In response to a question from Councillor Ian Albert, the Director – Resources advised that these assets were restricted funds which could not be dispersed and that the Council used the standard accounting policy to depreciate these assets over their lifespan. 

Councillor Ian Albert proposed and Councillor Amy Allen seconded, and following a vote, it was

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Charities Sub-Committee approved the information required by the Charities Commission for the five registered charities, so that the returns can be submitted prior to the 31st January 2026 deadline.

(2)   That the Charities Sub-Committee noted 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 2024/25. 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.