HLS statement of accounts 2020

Summary

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Financial statements for the Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Scheme for the year ended 31 December 2020. The scheme is delivered through a partnership of the Verderers, the New Forest National Park Authority, and Forestry England under an agreement with Natural England to carry out environmental land management and capital works. Total income was £2,124,646 and total project and administrative costs were £1,856,233, resulting in a surplus of £268,413 (2019: £505,792). Net scheme assets at year end were £1,656,432 (2019: £1,388,019), including cash of £561,021 and accrued income of £2,030,710, offset by current liabilities of £983,810. Notes describe accounting policies, accruals treatment, and related-party transactions, including amounts payable to Forestry England (£914,328) and the National Park Authority (£107,529). Independent accountants compiled the information without providing an audit opinion.

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Contents

2 Income and expenditure account
3 Balance sheet
4 Notes to the accounts
5 Independent accountants’ report

For the year to 31 December 2020

Board

Voting Members

  • Verderers of the New Forest
  • New Forest National Park Authority
  • Forestry England

Non-voting Members

  • Natural England Hants & IOW
  • Commoners Defence Association

The Verderers of the New Forest have entered into an agreement with Natural England to carry out environmental land management and capital works in the New Forest.

The objectives of the HLS scheme will be implemented by a partnership of the Verderers of the New Forest, The New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England.

Financial Review

The Scheme has an excess of income over expenditure for the year of £268,413 (2019 : £505,792).

The Scheme’s assets and liabilities are reflected in the balance sheet on page 3.

Income and expenditure account

2020 2019
Commons payments to 2019 VGS
Wellow PC 2,493
Minstead Estate 2,909
National Trust 38,552
43,954
Commons payments to 2020 VGS
Wellow PC 2,493
Minstead Estate 2,909
National Trust 38,552
43,954
Total income 2,124,646 2,085,076
Expenditure
Forestry England managed project expenditure
Annual programme 887,828 667,566
New Forest National Park Authority managed project expenditure 107,529 97,176
Verderers managed project expenditure 791,085 744,745
Verderers managed project expenditure – Commons 41,041 41,047
Total project costs 1,827,483 1,550,534
Administrative costs
Administration charge from Forestry England 26,500 26,500
Independent Accountant’s Fee 2,250 2,250
28,750 28,750
Surplus for the year 268,413 505,792

Balance sheet

2020 2019
Accrued income from Natural England 2,030,710
Commons contributions due 41,461
Other monies due 7,050
Cash at bank and in hand 561,021 1,814,040
2,640,242 1,814,040
Current liabilities
Accruals 2,250 2,250
Due to Verderers of the New Forest 582,163 12,294
Due to National Park Authority 102,029 97,176
Due to Forestry England 297,368 314,301
983,810 426,021
Net scheme assets 1,656,432 1,388,019
Represented by:
Funds
Brought forward 1,388,019 882,227
Arising in the year 268,413 505,792
Funds 1,656,432 1,388,019

The notes on page 4 form part of these financial statements.

Approved on 9 July 2021 and signed on behalf of the Board of the Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme by

Lord Manners

Official Verderer

Notes to the accounts

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

Income from Natural England is recognised in the year to which the Scheme relates. Grants received after the year end that relate to the scheme year are reflected in income as accrued income. Any income (allocated from the year’s grant) that relates to project expenditure incurred after the year end is included in creditors as deferred income. Any unallocated income is carried forward in accumulated fund. Any other income is recognised when receivable.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on the accruals basis and is recognised in the year the costs are incurred by the scheme and the project partners. Any costs not paid or paid to third parties or reimbursed to the partners before the year end are accrued and included in creditors and accruals.

2  Related party transactions

New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England are partners to the Scheme. Each partner manages a number of projects and is reimbursed by the Verderers for the expenditure incurred. Amounts paid or payable to the parties were as follows:

2020
£
2019
£
Forestry England 914,328 694,066
New Forest National Park Authority 107,529 97,176

The amounts payable included in the above are separately disclosed in the balance sheet.

Amounts paid to individual Verderers from the Verderers’ Grazing Scheme totalled £2,446 in the year.

Independent accountants’ report

The financial information has been compiled on the accounting basis set out in note 1 and is not intended to achieve full compliance with United Kingdom generally accepted accounting policies.

Our report has been prepared under the terms of our engagement with the Board of HLS and for no other purpose. No person is entitled to rely on this report other than the Board of HLS or any person expressly authorised to do so by our prior written consent. Save as above, we do not accept responsibility for the report to any other person or for any other purpose and we hereby expressly disclaim any and all such liability.

We have carried out this engagement in accordance with technical guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and have complied with the ethical guidance laid down by the Institute.

You have approved the financial information and have acknowledged your responsibility for it, for the appropriateness of the accounting policies adopted and for providing all information and explanations necessary for its compilation.

We have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the financial information.

PKF Francis Clark
Towngate House
2 – 8 Parkstone Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 2PW

Date ....................................................

PKF Francis Clark is the trading name of Francis Clark LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC349116)