REGISTERED NUMBER: 06314891 (England and Wales)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FOR

NW FIRECONTROL LTD

Page

Company Information

1

Statement of Financial Position

2

Notes to the Financial Statements

3

DIRECTORS:

Cllr S Nelson

Miss K Green

Cllr G L Lewis

D M Allen

Cllr J S O'Neill

M U S Arif

G X Mirfin

SECRETARY:

Miss J A Cooper

REGISTERED OFFICE:

North West Fire Control

Lingley Mere Business Park

Lingley Green Avenue

Warrington

Cheshire

WA5 3UZ

REGISTERED NUMBER:

06314891 (England and Wales)

AUDITORS:

Fairhurst Audit Services Ltd

Statutory Auditor

Chartered Accountants

Douglas Bank House

Wigan Lane

Wigan

Lancashire

WN1 2TB

FIXED ASSETS

Intangible assets

4

402,695

767,780

Tangible assets

5

47,908

55,096

450,603

822,876

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

6

614,544

948,454

Cash at bank

2,099,200

235,355

2,713,744

1,183,809

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

7

2,781,444

1,651,030

NET CURRENT LIABILITIES

(67,700

)

(467,221

)

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

382,903

355,655

RESERVES

Income and expenditure account

9

382,903

355,655

382,903

355,655

The financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

In accordance with Section 444 of the Companies Act 2006, the Statement of Comprehensive Income has not been delivered.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 21 October 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Cllr S Nelson - Director

1.	STATUTORY INFORMATION

NW Firecontrol Ltd is a private company, limited by guarantee , registered in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Company Information page.

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).

2.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" including the provisions of Section 1A "Small Entities" and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Going Concern

The impact of disclosure requirements of the Retirement Benefits Scheme in the comparative year (2024) the pension cost was less than the contributions made resulting in a surplus before actuarial losses . During the current year (2025) the pension costs were less than the contributions made resulting in a further surplus before actuarial losses. The company has an agreement with each of the authorities (who jointly control the company) that contains obligations about the ongoing funding of the company, including pension contributions.

The company has net current liabilities of £67,700 (2024: £467,221), the directors do not consider this an indication of going concern issues as included in creditors amounts falling due within one year is a capital grant of £450,603 (2024: £822,876) relating to intangible fixed assets which is being released to the income and expenditure account in line with the depreciation of the asset.

After making enquiries and consideration of the points above, post balance sheet events and future developments the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, being a period of twelve months after the date on which the report and financial statements are signed. For this reason, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in the financial statements.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The directors consider there to be no items in the financial statements where they have had to make significant judgements in the process of applying the group's accounting policies or key sources of estimations uncertainty, other than as stated below:

The present value of the defined benefit pension scheme liability depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a variety of assumptions. The assumptions used in determining the net cost for pensions include the discount rate. Any changes in these assumptions, which are disclosed in note 12 will impact the carrying amount of the pension liability. Furthermore, a roll forward approach which projects results from the latest full actuarial valuations performed at 31 March 2022 has been used by the actuary in valuing the pensions liability at 31 March 2025. Any differences between the figures derived from the roll forward and approach and a full actuarial valuation would impact on the carrying amount of the pension asset/(liability).

Turnover

Service charges represent costs recharged to the member authorities in accordance with contracts in force.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are initially measured at cost. After initial recognition, intangible assets are measured at cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.

Patents and Licences are being amortised evenly over their estimated useful life of five years.

Computer software is being amortised from 1 June 2014 as the software was brought into operation during May 2014. Computer software is being amortised evenly over its estimated useful life of seven years.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its estimated useful life.

Fixtures and fittings

-

25% on cost and 4% on cost

Computer equipment

-

20% on cost

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to surplus or deficit on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

Employees of NW Firecontrol Limited participate in the Cheshire Pension Fund which is a defined benefit pension scheme. The scheme is a Local Government Pensions Scheme managed by Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council. The assets of the scheme are invested and managed independently of the finances of the company.

The operating costs of providing retirement benefits to employees are recognised in the accounting periods in which the benefits are earned. The related finance costs, expected return on assets and any other changes in fair value of the assets and liabilities, are recognised in the accounting period in which they arise. The operating costs, finance costs and expected return on assets are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income with any other changes in fair value of assets and liabilities being recognised in other comprehensive income.

A pension scheme surplus is recognised as an asset in the balance sheet to the extent that the employer can recover a surplus through reduced contributions or refunds in accordance with paragraph 28.22 of FRS 102.

Financial instruments

The company only enters into basic financial instruments transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities such as trade and other accounts receivable and payable. Basic financial instruments are recognised at cost.

3.	EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS

The average number of employees during the year was 81 (2024 - 83 ) .

4.	INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Patents

and

Computer

licences

software

Totals

£

£

£

COST

At 1 April 2024

15,000

4,159,305

4,174,305

Additions

-

254,247

254,247

At 31 March 2025

15,000

4,413,552

4,428,552

AMORTISATION

At 1 April 2024

15,000

3,391,525

3,406,525

Amortisation for year

-

619,332

619,332

At 31 March 2025

15,000

4,010,857

4,025,857

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2025

-

402,695

402,695

At 31 March 2024

-

767,780

767,780

5.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Fixtures

and

Computer

fittings

equipment

Totals

£

£

£

COST

At 1 April 2024

and 31 March 2025

250,601

652,353

902,954

DEPRECIATION

At 1 April 2024

215,937

631,921

847,858

Charge for year

2,080

5,108

7,188

At 31 March 2025

218,017

637,029

855,046

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2025

32,584

15,324

47,908

At 31 March 2024

34,664

20,432

55,096

6.

DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade debtors

27,092

168,930

Other debtors

723

142,492

VAT

88,396

129,560

Prepayments

498,333

507,472

614,544

948,454

7.

CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade creditors

69,922

4,081

Taxation and social security

6,392

1,178

Other creditors

2,705,130

1,645,771

2,781,444

1,651,030

Other creditors

2025

2024

£

£

Grants

Capital grants

450,603

257,298

ESMCP Capital grant

-

565,578

Income received in advance

Contributions received in advance from Fire and Rescue Services (FRS)

952,328

405,969

ACT Funds received for CAD M1 hardware costs

284,441

-

Network Infrastructure Upgrade

200,000

-

ISDN /SIP/Link Changes

65,000

-

Building Refurbishment

87,000

-

Accrued expenses

Accruals

665,758

416,926

2,705,130

1,645,771

8.	LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

Within one year

1,734,343

1,532,901

Between one and five years

7,005,395

6,131,605

In more than five years

6,222,106

7,940,824

14,961,844

15,605,330

The lease is for a term of 25 years with effect from 14 July 2008. The rent is subject to a review on each fifth year of the term when the rent will increase by a multiple of 1.025. The company currently pays rent of £433,584 per quarter.

From 1 April 2014 there is a grant in place from DCLG which will provide an ongoing contribution of 66% of the rental costs for the duration of the lease. The disclosures above are disclosed gross of the grant.

9.

RESERVES

Income

and

expenditure

account

£

At 1 April 2024

355,655

Surplus for the year

178,348

Actuarial surplus/(deficit)

(151,100

)

At 31 March 2025

382,903

10.	DISCLOSURE UNDER SECTION 444(5B) OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

The Report of the Auditors was unqualified.

Louise Webster Bsc BFP ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Fairhurst Audit Services Ltd

11.	EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

The Pension Scheme had a surplus at the balance sheet date of £4,119,100 (2024: £1,267,100). Due to the significant increase in the asset the directors have applied FRS 102 section 28.22 and assessed the maximum amount of asset that should be recognised to be equal to the discounted value of the economic benefit available as a reduction in future contributions, being £Nil (2024: £Nil).

These restrictions have resulted in a charge to other comprehensive income of £2,791,100 (2024: £1,267,100).

The amounts recognised in the balance sheet are as follows:

Defined benefit

pension plans

2025

2024

£

£

Present value of funded obligations

(10,958,900

)

(13,010,900

)

Fair value of plan assets

15,078,000

14,278,000

4,119,100

1,267,100

Present value of unfunded obligations

-

-

Effect of asset ceiling cap on net pension scheme asset

(4,119,100

)

(1,267,100

)

Deficit

-

-

Net liability

-

-

The amounts recognised in surplus or deficit are as follows:

Defined benefit

pension plans

2025

2024

£

£

Current service cost

459,000

447,000

Net interest from net defined benefit asset/liability

(65,000

)

(15,000

)

Past service cost

-

-

394,000

432,000

Actual return on plan assets

706,000

628,000

Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation are as follows:

Defined benefit

pension plans

2025

2024

£

£

Opening defined benefit obligation

13,010,900

12,697,900

Current service cost

459,000

447,000

Contributions by scheme participants

191,000

161,000

Interest cost

641,000

613,000

Benefits paid

(220,000

)

(207,000

)

Remeasurements:

Actuarial (gains)/losses from changes in demographic assumptions

(22,000

)

(81,000

)

Actuarial (gains)/losses from changes in financial assumptions

(2,985,000

)

(1,015,000

)

Other experience remeasurement

(116,000

)

395,000

10,958,900

13,010,900

Changes in the fair value of scheme assets are as follows:

Defined benefit

pension plans

2025

2024

£

£

Opening fair value of scheme assets

14,278,000

12,985,000

Contributions by employer

606,000

511,000

Contributions by scheme participants

191,000

161,000

Expected return

706,000

628,000

Benefits paid

(220,000

)

(207,000

)

Return on plan assets (excluding interest income)

(483,000

)

200,000

15,078,000

14,278,000

The amounts recognised in other comprehensive income are as follows:

Defined benefit

pension plans

2025

2024

£

£

Actuarial gains/(losses) from changes in demographic assumptions

22,000

81,000

Actuarial gains/(losses) from changes in financial assumptions

2,985,000

1,015,000

Other experience remeasurement

116,000

(395,000

)

Return on plan assets (excluding interest income)

(483,000

)

200,000

Effect of asset ceiling on net pension scheme asset

1,328,000

(1,267,100

)

3,968,000

(366,100

)

The major categories of scheme assets as a percentage of total scheme assets are as follows:

Defined benefit

pension plans

2025

2024

Equities

49%

50%

Bonds

38%

36%

Property

12%

12%

Cash

1%

2%

100%

100%

Principal actuarial assumptions at the balance sheet date (expressed as weighted averages):

2025

2024

Discount rate

5.85%

4.85%

Future salary increases

3.40%

3.45%

Future pension increases

2.70%

2.75%

12.	CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The Manchester Arena Public Inquiry in respect of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack commenced on 7 September 2020. The Inquiry was established on 22 October 2019 by the Home Secretary as an independent public inquiry to investigate the deaths of the victims of the attack.

To date, there are currently no claims against NW Fire Control Ltd in relation to the Inquiry. The costs of legal representation have been met by the company and recharged to the Fire and Rescue Services on the same basis as other company costs.

During the course of the Inquiry, NWFC provided the necessary updates and a witness statement in accordance with the recommendations. The Inquiry formally closed and was handed over to the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 1 August 2023. Responsibility for ongoing monitoring of the Inquiry's recommendations has been passed to the Director of Prevent and Protect, Homeland Security UK. The most recent joint GMCA/NWFC update report was submitted on 8 December 2023.

13.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Lead authority for North West Region

S31 Funding is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHD) previously ; Home Office ,Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLR) , Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), annually to cover 66% of the building lease. This is paid to GMCA from DLR as the lead authority for the North West region .In the period under review, the required grant was £1,143,392 (2024 £1,112,700) the company received £1,144,666 (2024 £1,109,699) leaving a cumulative balance owing of £3,514 (2024 £4,789).

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Subscriber member

During the year amounts were received and receivable from this subscriber member as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

Total received in year per budget

3,472,781

3,084,411

Less capital allocation

(110,216

)

(77,116

)

Less received in advance

(389,402

)

(61,675

)

Service charge recognised in year

2,973,163

2,945,620

Use of facilities

-

132

Recharge of exceptional costs

-

45,032

Total received

2,973,163

2,990,784

2025

2024

£

£

Amount due from related party at the balance sheet date

2,442

2,442

Purchases of £395,620 (2024: £478,339) were made from this subscriber member.

2025

2024

£

£

Amount due to related party at the balance sheet date

119,709

-

2025

2024

£

£

Cumulative service charges received in advance at the balance sheet date

586,297

196,895

Cheshire Fire Authority

Subscriber member

During the year amounts were received and receivable from this subscriber member as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

Total received in year per budget

1,586,184

1,144,730

Less capital allocation

(50,341

)

(28,621

)

Less received in advance

(177,859

)

(22,890

)

Service charge recognised in year

1,357,984

1,093,219

Use of facilities

3,972

860

Recharge of exceptional costs

-

16,713

Total received

1,361,956

1,110,792

2025

2024

£

£

Amount due from related party at the balance sheet date

2,554

1,229

Purchases of £Nil (2024: £Nil) were made from this subscriber member.

2025

2024

£

£

Amount due to related party at the balance sheet date

65

-

2025

2024

£

£

Cumulative service charges received in advance at the balance sheet date

250,933

73,074

Lancashire Combined Authority

Subscriber member

During the year amounts were received and receivable from this subscriber member as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

Total received in year per budget

2,247,178

1,621,701

Less capital allocation

(71,316

)

(40,546

)

Less received in advance

(252,051

)

(32,428

)

Service charge recognised in year

1,923,811

1,548,727

Use of facilities

270

-

Recharge of exceptional costs

-

23,677

Total received

1,924,081

1,572,404

Purchases of £Nil (2024: £Nil) were made from this subscriber member.

2025

2024

£

£

Amount due from related party at the balance sheet date

1,602

1,602

2025

2024

£

£

Cumulative service charges received in advance at the balance sheet date

355,573

103,522

Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority

Subscriber member

During the year amounts were received and receivable from this subscriber member as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

Total received in year per budget

704,971

508,769

Less capital allocation

(22,373

)

(12,720

)

Less received in advance

(79,049

)

(10,173

)

Service charge recognised in year

603,549

485,876

Use of facilities

-

-

Recharge of exceptional costs

-

7,428

Total received

603,549

493,304

Purchases of £Nil (2024: £Nil) were made from this subscriber member.

2025

2024

£

£

Amount due from related party at the balance sheet date

7,495

158,906

2025

2024

£

£

Cumulative service charges received in advance at the balance sheet date

111,527

32,478

14.	FRC ETHICAL STANDARD - PROVISIONS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL ENTITIES

In common with many other businesses of our size and nature we use our auditors to prepare and submit returns to the tax authorities and assist with the preparation of the financial statements.

15.	ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY

The controlling parties are the four subscriber members being Cheshire Fire Authority, Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Lancashire Combined Fire Authority each with 25% control and as such there is no singular ultimate controlling party.

16.	LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

The Company is limited by guarantee and does not have any share capital. The liability of the four subscriber members is limited. Each member of the Company undertakes to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 in the event of a winding up.