Smart Metering Online LLP is a limited liability partnership incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 2 Dairy Court, Hillman Way, Ettington, Startford-Upon-Avon, CV37 7SG.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting by Limited Liability Partnerships" issued in May 2024, together with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
Turnover represents the amounts recoverable for the services provided to clients, excluding value added tax, under contractual obligations which are performed gradually over time.
If, at the balance sheet date, completion of contractual obligations is dependent on external factors (and thus outside the control of the Limited Liability Partnership), then revenue is recognised only when the event occurs. In such cases, costs incurred up to the balance sheet date are carried forward as work in progress.
Members' participation rights are the rights of a member against the LLP that arise under the members' agreement (for example, in respect of amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed remuneration and profits).
Members' participation rights in the earnings or assets of the LLP are analysed between those that are, from the LLP's perspective, either a financial liability or equity, in accordance with section 22 of FRS 102. Members' participation rights, including amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed by members, for example members' capital, are classed as liabilities unless the LLP has an unconditional right to refuse payment to members, in which case they are classified as equity.
All amounts due to members that are classified as liabilities are presented within 'Loans and other debts due to members' and, where such an amount relates to current year profits or movements in the liability to non-working members in respect of future profits, they are recognised within ‘Members' remuneration charged as an expense’ in arriving at the relevant period’s result. Undivided amounts that are classified as equity are shown within ‘Members' other interests’. Amounts recoverable from members are presented as debtors and shown as amounts due from members within members’ interests.
Where there exists an asset and liability component in respect of an individual member’s participation rights, they are presented on a gross basis unless the LLP has both a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts, and it intends either to settle on a net basis or to settle and realise these amounts simultaneously, in which case they are presented net.
Profits are automatically divided as they arise, so the LLP does not have an unconditional right to refuse payment and the amounts arising that are due to members are in the nature of liabilities. They are therefore treated as an expense and presented as members remuneration charged as an expense in arriving at the result for the relevant year. To the extent that they remain unpaid at the period end, they are shown as liabilities.
Whilst the members’ agreement does not differentiate between profits and losses for profit sharing purposes, it does stipulate that the LLP cannot demand additional contributions from members, and as a result the LLP does not have an unconditional right to demand payment from members for losses. Therefore, to the extent that losses exceed the balance on capital and current accounts, they are not recognised as a recoverable asset and so remain within equity until such time as [ profits are generated to set them against ] [ or detail other conditions as appropriate ].
Once an unavoidable obligation has been created in favour of members through allocation of profits or other means, any undrawn profits remaining at the reporting date are shown as 'Loans and other debts due to members' to the extent they exceed debts due from a specific member.
The members’ participation rights that are classified as liabilities are repayable upon demand or at short notice (eg upon termination of membership), and as such whilst they are financing transactions, the effect of discounting is considered immaterial and so they are not discounted to present value.
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 profit and loss account.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.
The average number of persons (excluding members) employed by the partnership during the year was:
Bank loans are secured by way of a government-backed guarantee.
Hire purchase contracts are secured against the assets to which they relate.
In the event of a winding up the amounts included in "Loans and other debts due to members" will rank equally with unsecured creditors.