In the light of the latest Government guidance about social gatherings, we have decided to cancel our Annual General Meeting. This was originally scheduled for 25th March, then rearranged for 7th October.
Instead, we have reproduced our Annual Report below. This covers our financial year 1st October 2018 to 30th September 2019. To see the full report, including the accounts, click here.
To see the minutes of our last A.G.M., click here.
To see a video presentation by Peter Hardy, our Chair, please click here.
If you would like to ask a question about the presentation or the Annual Report, please email secretary@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019
The Directors’ present their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2019. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 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 published on 16th June 2014 (as amended by Update Bulletin 1 published on 2nd February 2016).
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 14th July 1977 and registered as a charity on 7th September 1998. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objectives and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount per member not exceeding £1.
Directors and Trustees
The Directors of the company are also charity Trustees for the purpose of charity law and are elected after the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Constitutionally one third of the Trustees stand down each year and shall be eligible for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting. The Trustees to retire shall be the longest in office since the last election. New Trustees may be nominated by the members and if there are more nominations than positions then an election by members present is held at the AGM.
In 2019, Mr M P Edwards retired by rotation and, being eligible, offer himself for re-election. Mr J A C Bower, Mr R D Auton, Mrs B A Hunt and Mr R Breese are also due to retire by rotation but do not wish to offer themselves for re-election and resigned on 20 March 2019.
Directors Induction and Training
The Directors try to ensure that Directors appointed have the necessary skills to further the Trust’s objectives. The Directors are regularly informed of training and development opportunities which arise that could be of benefit to the Trust. The Directors are aware of the policies and procedures that cover the day to day work of the Trust.
Organisational Structure
The Trust Board is responsible for the ultimate management and direction of the Trust. The Trust Board concentrates on strategic decision making.
The Trust has 6 sub-committees led by a Chair who is also a Director. The sub-committees report to the Trust Board. The sub-committees are: Restoration, Trip Boats, Publicity and Promotion, Sales, Membership and the ‘Hollingwood Hub’.
The sub-committees have some autonomy allowing decisions without reference to the Trust Board if decisions are in line with Trust objectives and do not exceed approved budget limits. The sub-committees meet regularly and report back to the main Trustee Meetings which are held every 4-6 weeks.
The Trust has one employee (Development Manager) and about 200 volunteers.
The Trust also has strong partnership links with many organisations, most notably with Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council and the Canal and River Trust. We value and thank these organisations for their help and co-operation.
As the restoration moves into other areas, we hope North East Derbyshire District Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council will work with us to achieve full restoration.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Trusts objectives and principal activities are:
- To promote the restoration to good navigable order of as much as considered possible of The Chesterfield Canal and to maintain and improve the Waterway for the use and benefit of the public.
- To promote the construction of the ‘Rother Link’.
- To promote the fullest use of the Waterway for the benefit of the public.
- To promote, and educate the public, in the history, use of and associated wildlife of the waterway.
Public Benefit
When planning activities for the year, the Directors have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
- Restoring and maintaining tow paths for the benefit of walkers, cyclists and fishing
Our Historic British Waterways workboat ‘Python’ has, with the guidance of The Canal and River Trust, helped to maintain and improve a number of sections of the canal and towpath both for the benefit of boaters and also people using the tow path. In doing so over 68 new volunteers were introduced to the canal environment.
The workboat ‘Python’ received a commendation from the Inland Waterways Living Awards scheme for the work done and introducing members of the public to the canal.
The Trust’s volunteer work party cleared undergrowth on Staveley Puddlebank and maintained it, so more walkers could easily use it.
Our Maintenance Volunteers clear sections of the towpath several times a week. - Walking Festival
A walking festival this year proved very popular with 680 participants taking part in 51 walks – a 25% increase over the previous year. Many organisations supported the festival with sponsorship, help with the organisation and leading walks. - Retford Heritage Day
We played a major role in the popular Retford Heritage Day. - Hollingwood Hub
A meeting place, café and shop which again achieved the ‘Green Flag Award’ in July 2019. We have successfully applied for brown tourist signs. - Media Coverage
We get regular coverage of all our activities in all forms of media, including local TV news and a 2hr slot on BBC Radio Sheffield. The highlight this year was our appearance on BBC ‘Countryfile’, which devoted most of its programme to the various activities and events happening along the canal. - Public Trip Boats
The Chesterfield Canal Trust operates 4 trip boats along the length of the Chesterfield Canal. They carried 6,631 passengers during the year. - Volunteering
The Chesterfield Canal Trust is dependent on its many volunteers to whom it is greatly indebted. Their enthusiasm, dedication and hard work make our organisation the envy of so many others.
Volunteer hours.
Promoting, improving and protecting the Canal – 25,478
Restoring and maintaining the canal – 13,084
Member support and Trust administration – 3,207.
Our 200 volunteers contributed over 41,769 hours towards the restoration of the canal and the Trust’s other activities.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable Activities
- The Trust has employed, on an initial two-year contract, a Development Manager. He has much experience of civil engineering and, in particular, of the restoration of canals around the country. The Development Manager is revising and reworking the existing restoration plans for the canal and is working with Local Authorities, statutory agencies and experts to prepare a fully costed scheme for the restoration of the nine remaining derelict miles of the Chesterfield Canal. A number of volunteers, both at an office level and at expert level, are assisting the Development Manager.
- Dawn Rose, our replica ‘cuckoo’ boat; unique to the Chesterfield Canal and built by our volunteers has provided a number of demonstrations involving pulling the boat by a horse, as would originally have been done. This proved very popular with the public.
- The Trust recognises the hard work of our volunteers and provides, free of charge, First Aid Training to all the volunteers and for those on boats the ability to achieve the Royal Yacht Association or National Community Boat’s Association Helmsman’s Certificate.
- The Trust continues to update and publish an annual visitor guide of which 25,000 copies were distributed free of charge during the year. It also publishes other books and leaflets to promote the restoration of the canal and the use of the waterway.
- The Trust, through a number of its volunteers offers talks to small and large groups or organisations about the Chesterfield Canal and the Restoration we are doing. Forty talks were given this year to over 1,900 people.
Fundraising
- The Trust’s four Trip boats remain an extremely popular means of promoting the canal and over the year volunteers spent over 10,500 hours taking 6,631 members of the public, many of whom had never seen the canal before, onto the canal for celebrations, trips, and experiencing Santa on a boat.
- The shop and information centre at Hollingwood, with its associated café, continues to contribute to the funds of the charity.
- Gift, legacies and donations also continue to help us achieve our ambition of restoring the Chesterfield Canal.
- During the year membership of the Trust increased from 1,806 to 1,911 (6% increase), thus providing a reliable income.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
- Total Income increased in the year from £256,970 to £318,346. This is due to an increase in Legacies received of £146,755 offset by decreases in donations of £35,000; no Canal Festival Income £30,000; lower Gift Aid recovered £9,000 and lower shop sales of £11,000.
- Expenditure decreased in the year from £214,050 to £158,168. This is due to reduced spending on materials; £12,000, repairs and renewals; £10,000, easements; £20,000, festival equipment; £7,000 and office refurbishment/relocation; £9,000. The net movement in funds was £160,178 (2018: £42,920).
- The Trust had funds carried forward at 30 September 2019 of £565,987 (2018: £405,089) of which £143,730 (2018: £173,693) are restricted funds and £422,257 (2018: £232,116) are unrestricted funds.
Reserves Policy
At the Trust Board meeting in January 2020 the Trustees approved a Reserves Policy which calculated a low reserve value of £71,000 and a high reserve value of £500,000. Current free reserves held are £342,460. Reserve levels will be monitored to ensure they remain adequate to cover anticipated future requirements. The policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it is fit for purpose.
Investment Policy
The Trust is building its cash reserves in line with the Reserves Policy. In view of this the Trustees have agreed to share cash reserves around financial institutions operating within the Financial Conduct Authority’s remit and to restrict investment levels to the financial limits in operation from time to time.
FUTURE PLANS
- Our overall aim is to complete the restoration of The Chesterfield Canal by 2027 – the 250th anniversary of its opening.
- We will continue to engage or employ expert help, to help our Development Manager succeed in grant applications.
- The next year will see us apply for grants to restore two sections of canal.
- Renishaw – A one mile section that is partially restored.
- Kiveton – A reopening of the Historic Norwood tunnel and the building of 3 locks to bring the canal into Kiveton Waters which are a number of small lakes that will be converted into a Marina.
- Doe Lea Valley – The priority for this section of the Chesterfield Canal is to gain full planning permission to build an aqueduct over the valley.
- We will continue purchasing land and property along the line of the canal enabling the continued delivery of strategic objectives.
MAJOR RISKS
- HS2
Although progress has been made in discussions with HS2 staff there remains uncertainty about the position of the route of the train line and its effects on the restoration of the canal. However following questions raised in Parliament, we have received assurances that the integrity of the canal will not be affected. We are working to turn these assurances into legal guarantees. - Brexit
It is unknown how this will affect the position of major funders and their ability to fund Restoration and Heritage schemes. - Other Risks
Perceived negligence by the Trust or volunteers – Public liability insurance. Training of volunteers.
Accidents to visitors, volunteers and the public – Risk assessment for all major activities. Health and safety policy for all volunteers. Monthly review of any incidents/accidents.
Failure of income streams – Careful financial management and maintenance of a reserve fund.
APPROVAL
Approved by the Board on and signed on their behalf by:
Dr P G Hardy
Chair