Kent Area 41st Annual General Meeting
Saturday 1 February 2025, 10:30 am Wye Village Hall, Bridge St, Wye, Ashford, TN25 5EA
Agenda
- Welcome and Introduction -- Colin Sefton, Area Chairman
- Welcome from the Hosting Group -- John Pye, Chairman, White Cliffs Group
- To approve Minutes of the 40th AGM held on 10 February 2024
- To receive the Annual Report
- To receive and approve the Annual Accounts and Treasurer's Report for the year ended 30 September 2024
- To consider any Motions of which due notice has been given
- To elect the Honorary Officers and other Members of the Area Council
- To appoint two delegates to the Ramblers' General Council at NEC Birmingham on 5 April 2025
- To appoint an Independent Examiner
- Talk by Catherine Bradley, Kent Downs National Landscape, on "Putting Down Routes"
- Addresses on topical issues
- Open Forum/Questions
Timetable
- 10.00am Tea & Coffee
- 10.30am Annual General Meeting
- 12.30pm Lunch
- 1.30pm Walk: 4 miles
- 3.15pm Walkers return/tea
Area Treasurer's Report
for the year ending 30 September 2024
As you can see from the accounts, our income has increased by 3,879 pounds and our expenditure increased by 4,323 pounds leaving us with a surplus of 5,092 pounds.
The major income variation for the year was the increase in funding requested from Head Office. The major variations in expenditure were due to the publication of a new book, the replacing of signboards on named paths and an increase in funding to groups.
We also hold "restricted funds". These are amounts which have been given for specific purposes and which cannot be used for anything else. We currently have two restricted funds. The Canterbury Rambler fund is for the repair and replacement of gates and stiles across the Kent area. The West Kent Walking Group fund is for the "Named Walks Project". The movement on these funds is shown at the bottom of the statement of financial position.
We have allocated the surplus on our book sales to the "Named Walks Project".
Our funds at the end of the year are:
| Fund | Amount |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 17,936 |
| Designated | 26,506 |
| Restricted | 4,375 |
The budget request to Head Office for the groups and area for 24/25 was 19,691 pounds and has been agreed.
My thanks, as always, to all the group treasurers whose prompt responses to my emails have made my life so much easier.
Hilary Adams
Receipts and Payments Account
for the year ending 30 September 2024
Part 1 -- Unrestricted
Receipts
| Item | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Area Funding from Central Office | 17,297 | 15,419 |
| Donations | 0 | 200 |
| Publication Sales | 5,945 | 3,964 |
| Advertisement sales | 220 | - |
| Total Income | 23,462 | 19,583 |
Payments
| Item | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Website | 440 | 243 |
| SE Walker | 2,355 | 2,382 |
| Publicity Materials & Expenses | 4,746 | 3,683 |
| Publication Costs | 622 | 3,593 |
| Vegetation clearance | 1,682 | 998 |
| PROW | 0 | 2,190 |
| Lost Ways | 272 | - |
| AGM | 620 | 498 |
| Volunteers footpath meeting | 1,118 | 755 |
| Area Meetings | 184 | 288 |
| Annual review | 500 | 500 |
| Officers' Expenses | 362 | 461 |
| Subscriptions | 106 | 106 |
| Group Funding | 5,347 | 6,919 |
| Total Expenditure | 18,370 | 22,693 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for year | 5,092 | (3,110) |
Part 2 -- Restricted
| Item | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Income (Canterbury) | 1,000 | - |
| Total Expenditure | 0 | 0 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for year | 1,000 | 0 |
Statement of Financial Position
as at 30 September 2024
| Item | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Unity Trust Bank Account | 48,817 | 42,725 |
| Total Funds | 48,817 | 42,725 |
Main Fund
| Item | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Brought forward | 17,392 | 19,363 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 5,092 | (3,110) |
| Movements (to)/from designated | (4,548) | 1,139 |
| Carried forward | 17,936 | 17,392 |
Designated Funds
| Fund | Amount |
|---|---|
| Named Walks Project 2024/25 | 7,000 |
| Named Walks Project 2025/26 & future | 19,506 |
Restricted Funds
| Item | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Brought forward | 3,375 | 3,375 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 1,000 | 0 |
| Carried forward | 4,375 | 3,375 |
| 2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Funds | 48,817 | 42,725 |
| Total Assets | 48,817 | 42,725 |
Accounts presented by Hilary Adams, Hon Treasurer
Having carried out procedures in accordance with the Area and Group independent examination guidelines, I consider the Kent Area accounts to have been properly prepared and give a true and fair representation of the Area's finances for the year ended 30 September 2024.
Faye Clarke FCA, Independent examiner -- 18 November 2024
General Council 2025
If you are interested in being one of Kent's two delegates to General Council, the Ramblers' national annual meeting to be held at NEC Birmingham on 5 April 2025, then please contact the Area Secretary (page 2) to register your interest or seek more information. You can also find more information at www.ramblers.org.uk/about-us/how-we-are-run/about-general-council.aspx