It is a great pleasure for me to sit at the end of March like this, and put a few words together to crystallise the past year for us in terms of the Denbigh and Flint Show.
Before talking about the Show itself, we have to pay tribute to Mr Idris Hughes who was the Society's Treasurer for more than 30 years. When the Society loses someone like Idris, it becomes apparent how important these people have been, and how important it it for us, as those who come after to carry the baton for a little while to pass it on to those who come after us. Our deepest condolences go out to Mr Hughes' family.
How lucky we were as a Society to have a nice, sunny day for the Show in 2024. Rain was the story for many places across North Wales on this day, so we much be on good terms with him Upstairs, because the sun was shining on our little piece of land in the Vale of Clwyd Valley, and thanks be for that.
As I say every year, rain or shine, the Show happens because a team of dedicated people who pull together and work hoard to ensure a strong foundation for our annual special day. Our thanks go to Nicky, our Co-ordinator, for managing to keep us all organised. Joining the team this year is our new treasurer, Jane Griffiths. Welcome and all the best to Jane - I'm sure that you'll fit in great.
Administratively, the Association has settled in the office in Llandyrnog for around 18 months now, and there's a warm welcome to pop in for a paned with Nicky at any opportunity.
Mrs Carol Rudman was out President for the past year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her and congratulate her on a very busy and successful year. Ms Jane Davies is this year's President-Elect, and I know she will also bring her own unique contribution to the job - good luck Jane.
I was asked the other day if arrangements for this year's show have started. The answer is that is that they NEVER stop! Organising the Show is an ongoing matter, and many of the arrangements for the 21st of August, 2025 have to be in place for a while, in order to be able to welcome the public in their thousands to The Green once again.
I am personally grateful to the Griffiths Family, Plas Newydd, Trefnant, our landlord, for working with us in preparing the fields to the best possible standard for the Show, Thanks also to Carl and his team who prepare and set up the fields for the Show.
Otherwise, no matter how big for small the contribution, thank you to everyone for their willing dedication to the success of the Show. if you know of anyone else who has a contribution to make, please let the office know.
Hwyl am y tro
CS
Mae'n bleser mawr gen i estedd ar ddechrau Mis Mawrth fel hyn, i roi rhyw'chydid o eiriau at ei gilydd i grisialu'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf'ma i ni o ran Sioe Dinbych a Fflint.
Cyn son am y Sioe ei hun. mae'n rhaid i ni dalu teyrnged i Mr Idris Hughes, a fu'n Drysorydd i'r Gymdeithas am dros 30 mlynedd. Pan mae'r Gwymdeithas yn colli rhywun fel Idris, mae'n bosib gweld pa mor bwysig ydi'r bobl 'ma wedi bod, a pha mor bwysig ydi hi i ni, fel y rhai sy'n dod ar eu holau nhw i gario'r baton am 'chydig i'w basio ymlaen i'r rhai sy'n dod ar ein holau ni. Maen's cydymdeimlad dwysaf hefo teulu Mr Hughes.
Lwcus iawn oeddem ni fel Cymdeithas i gael diwrnod braf i'r Sioe yn 2024. Glaw oedd hanes llawer o lefydd ar draws Gogledd Cymru ar y diwrnod yma, felly mae'n rhaid ein bod ni ar delerau da hefo'r Bod Mawr, oherwydd yr haul oedd yn gwenu ar ein darn bach ni or dir yn Nyffryn Clwyd, a diolch am hynny.
Fel Dwi'n son bob blywddyn, haul neu law, mae'r Sioe yn didwydd oherwydd tim o bobl ymroddedig sydd yn tynnu at ei gilydd ac yn gweithio'n galed i sicrhau sylfaen gref i'n diwrnod blynyddol arbennigni. Mae ein diolch ni i Nicky, ein Cydlynydd, yn enfawr am lwyddo i gadw trefn arnom ni i gyd. Yn ymuno a'r tim eleni mae ein trysorydd newydd, sef Jane Griffiths. Croeso a phob dymunaid da i ti Jane - 'dwi'n siwr y byddi di'n ffitio i mewn yn gret.
Yn weinyddol, mae'r Gymdeithas wedi ymgartreuf yn y swyddfa yn Llandyrnog ers tua blwyddyn a hanner erbyn hyn, ac mae croeso braf i alw i mewn am baned hefo Nicky are unrhyw gyfle.
Mrs Carol Rudman oedd ein Llywydd am y flwyddyn a fu. Hoffwn gymryd y cyfle yma i ddiolch iddi hi a'i llongyfarch ar flwyddyn brysur a llwyddiannus iawn. Ms Jane Davies ydi'n Llwydyy Etholedig eleni, a dwi'n gwybod y daw hithau hefyd hefo'i chyfraniad unigryw ei hun i'r swydd - pob lwc Jane.
Gofynnwyd i mi'r diwrnod o'r blean os ydi'r trefniadau ar gyfer y Sion eleni wedi dechrau. Yr ateb i hynny ydi nad ydyn nhw BYTH yn stopio! Mae trefnu'r Sion yn fater parhaus, a llawer o'r trefniadau ar gyfer y 21 o Awst 2025 yn gorfod bod yn eu lle ers tro, er mwyn gallu croesawu'r cyhoedd yn eu miloedd i'r Green unwaith eto.
Rwyf yn bersonol ddiolchgar i'r Teulu Griffiths, Plas Newydd, Trefnant, ein landlord, am weithio hefo ni yn paratoi'r caeau i'r safon gorau posib ar gyfer Y Sioe. Diolch hefyd i Carl a'i dim sydd yn paratoi a gosod y caeau are gyfer y Sioe.
Fel arall, dim ots pa mor fach neu fawr yw'r cyfraniad, diolch i bawb am eu hymroddiad parod i lwyddiant Y Sioe. Os gwyddoch chi am rhwrai eraill sydd a chyfraniad i'w wneud, cofiwch roi gwybod i'r swyddfa.
Hwyl am y tro
CS
Clwyd Spencer
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "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 objects are to promote, improve and encourage agriculture and horticulture. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are education, scientific research, experimental work and the holding of shows and there has been no change in these during the year.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
The aims, objectives and activities of the company are reviews each year. This review looks at what has been achieved over the last year, how the activities have succeeded in achieving the objectives of the company. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
A review of the activities and achievements can be found in the Chairmans statement.
The net movement in funds for the year shows an overall deficit of £16,072 (2023 - £5,872 surplus).
Principal Funding Sources - the principal funding source for the company is the income generated by the annual show. During the year the charity sold its property. The board of Directors has considered the most appropriate policy for investing the funds and considers the return on the investments to be satisfactory. As the 2020 and 2021 shows couldn't be held due to Covid restrictions, there was not the usual level of income, but the show still incurred significant expenditure. The recent economic climate and the increasing constraints on local authority and commercial expenditure has made this even more difficult.
The directors have examined the company's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. Whilst of the view that current reserves are sufficient to meet the Society's normal expenditure, the directors also believe a higher level of reserves would be preferred, and will look to address the issue formally during the coming year, even though recognising that achieving the desired level may take a number of years.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, and is a registered charity with the Charity Commission. The company was incorporated on 16 January 2001. In the event of the company being wound up, current members, and those that were members within the preceding twelve months, are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law and are known as members of the Management Committee who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles, at the annual general meeting, Trustees/Directors are elected to serve for a period of three years, with one third of their number retiring each year. If the number of directors is not divisible by 3 , the number nearest to a third must retire. The Directors retire by rotation with those having served the longest retiring first. If directors were appointed at the same time, then the order of retirement shall be determined by lot. Any co-opted members of the board must stand for election at the first AGM after their Co-option.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees/Directors.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society Limited 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 Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society Limited (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
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.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 1, Speddyd Rural Business Units, Llandyrnog, Denbigh, Denbighshire, LL16 4LE, Wales.
The financial accounts presented are for a period of one year. The comparative period is for 15 months due to the charity extending it's year-end to tie into the calendar year in 2023. Therefore, the comparative amounts presented in the financial statements (including the related notes) are not entirely comparable.
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 or grantors 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.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
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 are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
The allocation of expenditure of the company is allocated between the various stated cost headings such that they fairly reflect the purpose for which they were incurred.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
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.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Show
Show
Hire of canvas, seating, steelwork, pens etc
Electric and water expenses
Showground rental
Hospitality
Attractions
Advertising
Security
Other expenses
Prizes, rosettes, trophies and medals
Judges fees and expenses
The holding of shows.
Rent, rates and electricity
Telephone
Repairs and renewals
Bank interest and charges
Accountancy
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Restricted funds
Clocaenog forest wind farm fund - Grant for pig pens,benches and signage.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).