The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements for the 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The Trustees confirm that the annual report of the charity complies with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (Effective 1 January 2015).
Since the company qualifies as small under section 383, the strategic report required of medium and large companies under The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Director's Report) Regulations 2013 is not required.
The principal objects of the Charity are to advance such exclusively charitable purposes for the benefit of the public (and in particular the communities of the Manors of Austwick, Newby (Higher and Lower Division) and Clapham in North Yorkshire). This includes the preservation for the benefit and education of the public of buildings of architectural and historical merit and the conservation of the natural environment (particularly in the designated conservation area of Clapham in North Yorkshire), the promotion of social inclusion within the area and the provision of facilities for recreation in the interests of social welfare.
Strategies for achieving objectives
The Trustees strategies are formulated for the benefit of the communities of Austwick, Clapham and Newby.
Activities for achieving objectives
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The activities undertaken for the objectives of the Charity have been the renting out of properties to the inhabitants of Clapham and surrounding area and this has raised £214,072 (£199,111 - 2022). During the year the charity reported a loss of £7,783 (2022: profit £112,395).
Main activities undertaken to further the charity's purposes for the public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit reporting in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. The remainder of this periodic report explains the charity's work during the year and how it has been carried out for the public benefit.
Key financial performance indicators
The key financial performance indicator is the receipt of rental income to a similar level of the previous year, along with management of the assets owned by the charity and distribution of surplus income in accordance with the charity's policies and objectives.
Review of activities
The Trustees held two formal meetings during the year however they have been in regular contact during the course of the year.
The residential portfolio of The Farrer Family Trust is currently all let.
During the year investment has been made into properties for energy efficiency improvements and to ensure compliance with current MEES Regulations including the upgrading of heating systems and boilers and the installation of double glazed windows. Whilst it has not yet become law the Trustees remain concerned about the current proposals for raising the minimum EPC rating from an E to a C from 1 April 2025 for new lets and by 2028 for all tenancies.
A major re-roofing project was completed on the Village Store and Fountain House and upgrades have been made to the bathrooms and kitchens of two let residential properties.
Tenants vacated 1 Gildersbank in July 2022 and this has been successfully re-let in August 2022 to a couple relocating to the area. Beckside Barn, a retail space in the village, also became vacant in January 2023 and this was re-let to a local horticulturist and garden design business. They are using the premises for the retail of plants, garden supplies and gifts as well as running flower arranging and wreath making workshops to local people. It is hoped the business will bring "value" to the village.
The garages and stores owned by the Trust continue to be let to tenants and local organisations and the Village Park remains leased at a nominal rent to Clapham Play Park Association, offering open space for local families and visitors to the area.
The trust continues to ensure investment is made to maintain and upgrade the housing stock and further works and projects have been planned and budgeted for.
Going concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies.
Reserves Policy
The reserves policy of the Trustees is to ensure that the Charity safely commits as much as possible to furthering its objects whilst retaining financial stability and the potential to respond to new opportunities. At the balance sheet date there was £64,828 in cash reserves which the Trustees consider to be adequate for the running of the charity, a lot of which is held for the necessary repairs and compliance with statutory requirements. The total funds held at the balance sheet date amount to £4,710,217 and the majority of the funds is held in property. All of the funds are unrestricted.
The Trustees have monies held in bank accounts. These have yielded interest of £580.64 (£nil - 2022) during the period. In addition interest of £6,654.74 has been received from Dr J A Farrer Discretionary Trust in respect of the loans advanced during the year. The amount owing at the year end was £124,215.10.
Risk management
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Future developments
Going forward the Trustees are resolved to seek to improve the property whilst continuing to maintain the open spaces within Clapham village and further pursue generally the charitable aims of the Company.
Constitution
The company is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Deed of Appointment on 5 October 2015. It is a registered charity number 1162782.
The principal objects of the company are as described in policies and objectives.
Method of appointment and election of trustees
The trustees who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:
The Lord Bridges KCVO Chairman
Beatrice Farrer (appointed 24 April 2023)
John Philip William Farrer
Ann Elizabeth Frances Farrer (Resigned 24 April 2023)
Maria Jane Margaret Farrer
Policies adopted for the induction and training of trustees
New trustees are advised on their legal obligations under Charity Law, the Deed of Appointment, the committee and decision making processes, along with the objects of the charity and it's recent financial performance. No trustee has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Organisational structure and decision making
The Farrer Family Trust's assets were managed by Knight Frank LLP, 24 Albert Street, Harrogate. HG1 1JT.
There are no funds held as custodian.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Farrer Family Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Farrer Family Trust (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2023.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Farrer Family Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Ingleborough Estate Office, Hall Garth, Riverside, Clapham, Via Lancaster, LA28DR.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party. It is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the company and include support costs split between all the related trusts. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the company and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the company's educational operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the company apportioned to charitable activities.
Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional , such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.
All resources expended are inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost, which includes the purchase cost and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in profit or loss.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
Trade debtors, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as 'loans and receivables'. Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.
Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial.
Repairs and renewals
Accountancy fees
Insurance
Motor expenses
Office expenses
Subscriptions
The Independent Examiner's remuneration amounts to an Independent Examination fee of £7,225
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Investment property comprises property in the Clapham area The fair value of the investment property has been arrived at on the basis of a valuation carried out by Ingham & Yorke Chartered Surveyors, The valuation was made on an open market value basis by reference to market evidence of transaction prices for similar properties.
Unrestricted Funds
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).