Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To 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):

      i.        approves the information required by the Charities Commission for the four registered charities, so that the returns can be submitted prior to the January 2019 deadline; and

     ii.        notes the requirement for those charities with a 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, instructs this to be undertaken for those accounts for 2017/18. This will be undertaken by the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS).

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 2 minutes and 30 seconds

The Cabinet Sub-Committee considered a report presented by the Service Director, Resources, which included the returns required for each of the Charities/Charitable Trusts administered by the Council.  The four Charities/Charitable Trusts were Hitchin Town Hall Gymnasium and Workmans Hall Trust, King George’s Field Hitchin, Smithson Recreation Ground and Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery Collection. 

It was noted that the annual return referred to three charities, the Hertfordshire Yeomanry  and Artillery Collection was not included as there was nothing significant to report and therefore did not require the same level of return.

It was explained that the Charities Sub-Committee approved the accounts and annual reports prior to submission to the Charities Commission.

The following responses were provided to questions from the Sub-Committee:

·                In regards to King George’s Charitable Trust, surveyors had in the past overvalued the land as it did not reflect the  various restrictions and covenants on the land and the valuation should reflect these. There were no future plans for the asset but it was a requirement that it was valued each year.  The building itself was a valuation adjustment. 

·                Regarding Hitchin Town Hall, to calculate the depreciation figure on Hitchin Town Hall it was first necessary to apply the revaluation figure prior to depreciation.

Having considered the report, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Sub-Committee (Council Charities):

i.             approved the information required by the Charities Commission for the four registered charities, so that the returns could be submitted prior to the January 2019 deadline. 

ii.             notes the requirement for those charities with a 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, instructs this to be undertaken for those accounts for 2017/18. This will be undertaken by the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS).