Agenda and minutes

 To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Clark, Edmonds, D’Arcy, Floyd-Douglass, Henry, Howard, Hunt, Knowles, Peter Marriott, Michaela Martin, Merryweather, Potts, Rosoman, Sadler and Wilson.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Trust held on 14 December 2021 (herewith).

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2021 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive from members, declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

This report seeks approval of the Annual Trustee’s Report and Accounts of the Ewart Bequest for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Annual Trustee’s Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 are approved.

The Leader presented the Annual Financial Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 and the independent examiners report which had been circulated separately.

Waverley Borough Council, as sole Trustee of the Joseph Ewart Bequest, was required to approve the Annual Financial Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022. The Trust owned a number of houses in the Farnham area which were held principally for elderly people with limited financial resources. The Trust operated these through Waverley's Housing Management Team. In December 2011, the Council as sole Trustee approved a delegation to the Waverley Executive acting as Trustee to make all decisions on behalf of the full Trustee, the only exception being the approval of the annual report and financial statements because it was a requirement of the Charity Commission that this be approved by the Council acting as Trustee.

The accounts had been prepared in accordance with the Charities Code of Practice and had been externally examined by Azets Audit Services Limited, and their report was attached to the supplementary papers. The reserves level was healthy and much of this was earmarked for further development which had been approved by the Trust and the council. There were no specific matters to report to the Trustee and the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 were recommended for approval.

Councillor Hyman spoke on the report, seeking clarification on why the independent examiner’s report was unsigned.  The Executive Head of Finance and s151 officer clarified that the report would be signed following the Council approval.

RESOLVED that the Annual Financial Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022, be approved.