Charity Committee minutes

Committee minutes · Charity Committee · Mon 21 Sep 2026 · Hastings Borough Council · the whole meeting

Item by item

13. Apologies for absence
14. Declarations of interest
15. Minutes of previous Charity Committee
“RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2026 be approved.”
16. Minutes of Coastal Users Group
“RESOLVED – that the tabled unapproved minutes of the Coastal User Group meeting held on 17 September 2026 be noted.”
17. Foreshore Trust Finance Monitoring Report to Period 4 2026/27
“RESOLVED (unanimously): that the Foreshore Trust’s current financial position for 2026/27, as set out in the report and the accompanying appendices, be approved. Reasons: 1. The Council is responsible for making sure the Trust’s finances are managed properly and in line with the relevant financial rules and requirements for managing public money. 2.”
19. Appointment of Grant Advisory Panel Members
“RESOLVED (unanimously): to appoint Phillipa Boyle and Terry Adams to the Grants Advisory Panel for a period of 3 years with effect from 19 August 2026. Reason: On 13 January 2011, the Charity Commission for England and Wales approved Hastings Borough Council as trustee for the Hastings and St Leonards Foreshore Charitable Trust.”

In plain English

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Decided · A decision has been taken.

The report said the Trust's income was forecast to exceed budget, mainly because of greater than anticipated parking income, higher investment income and compensation for damage to play equipment, while expenditure was broadly in line with budget and cash balances stood at around £2.3 million at the end of July 2026. p6

The Trust is expecting a surplus of £21,427 for 2026/27 excluding depreciation, which includes £228,836 of grant payments; excluding those grants, the expected surplus would be £250,263. p7

The Committee also resolved unanimously to appoint two new members to the Grants Advisory Panel for a period of three years from 19 August 2026. p8

1 further sentence of this summary was held back by verification and is not shown. We only publish claims that survived checking against the cited passages.

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p617. Foreshore Trust Finance Monitoring Report to Period 4 2026/27 Rita O'Mahoney, Chief Accountant, introduced the report which summarised the financial position of the Trust for the first four months of 2026/27 to 31 July 2026. The Committee was advised that income was forecast to exceed budget, primarily due to greater than anticipated parking income, particularly at Pelham Place Car Park, increased investment income, and compensation received for damage to play equipment. Expenditure was reported to be broadly in line with budget, with only minor variances relating to car parking operations, public convenience cleaning costs and the timing of grant payments. The Trust was forecasting a surplus before grant distributions, with a smaller surplus remaining after grant allocations had been taken into account . The Committee heard that the balance sheet remained healthy, with cash balances of around £2.3 million at the end of July 2026. Asset values had increased following improvements to Pelham Playground and the overall financial position of the Trust remained positive, with income ahead of budget, expenditure under control and a surplus forecast for the year. The Chair invited questions from Members. Councillor Hilton sought clarification on the position regarding large grants, noting that there had previously been delays to the programme and asking when the next round of large grants would be undertaken. Officers advised that large grants had been approved on a two-year basis in March 2026, covering both the current and following financial years. A further application round would therefore be undertaken after that period. Councillor Hilton asked whether the maintenance budget expenditure was on track, as that would demonstrate whether maintenance works were being delivered during the year. Officers advised that their understanding was that expenditure was progressing as expected, however a detailed response would be provided following further checks.
p7The Committee were reminded that some maintenance projects required lead-in time before expenditure could be incurred. At the invitation of the Chair, a member of the public referred to the reported cash balance of approximately £2.3 million and asked how those funds were used by the Trust. The Committee was advised that the Trust was required to maintain reserves to meet unexpected costs and fund ongoing operational activities such as maintenance, repairs and staffing. It was further explained that any surplus generated by the Trust was used to support grant funding for organisations and projects benefiting Hastings and the surrounding area. There being no debate, Councillor Walker proposed approval of the recommendation, duly seconded by Councillor Hilton whereupon the Committee RESOLVED (unanimously): that the Foreshore Trust’s current financial position for 2026/27, as set out in the report and the accompanying appendices, be approved. Reasons: 1. The Council is responsible for making sure the Trust’s finances are managed properly and in line with the relevant financial rules and requirements for managing public money. 2. This financial monitoring report gives the Committee an update on the Trust’s current financial position and highlights any differences between actual income and spending and the approved 2026/27 budget. 3. The Trust is expecting to make a surplus of £21,427, excluding depreciation, for 2026/27. This includes £228,836 of grant payments. If these grants are excluded, the expected surplus would be £250,263.
p819. Appointment of Grant Advisory Panel Members The Monitoring Officer advised that although 28 days’ notice of the proposed decision had not been fulfilled, as the decision was not a key decision, sufficient notice had subsequently been provided on the Forward Plan for the Committee to receive the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda. Having outlined the panel's role in assessing Foreshore Trust grant applications, the Monitoring Officer briefly explained the recruitment and interview process which led to the recommendation before Members. In response to questions from Councillors Hilton and Walker, the Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that previous issues relating to the quoracy of panel meetings would be mitigated by the recruitment, and that future recruitment needs would be considered again if necessary. Councillor Walker proposed approval of the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Hilton, and the Committee RESOLVED (unanimously): to appoint Phillipa Boyle and Terry Adams to the Grants Advisory Panel for a period of 3 years with effect from 19 August 2026. Reason: On 13 January 2011, the Charity Commission for England and Wales approved Hastings Borough Council as trustee for the Hastings and St Leonards Foreshore Charitable Trust. The scheme required that the trustee must appoint members of the Grant Advisory Panel on the basis of their knowledge and experience of the voluntary and charitable sector and in particular their knowledge of the voluntary and charitable sector in the area of the Borough of Hastings.

Places and organisations it names

Hastings Borough Council
Pelham Place (named in passing; not checked that it's about here)

Other papers for this meeting

Charity Committee agenda · Committee agenda
Appendix 1 to “FST Finance Report to Period 4 with exec summary 2026” · Committee report
Appendix 2 to “FST Finance Report to Period 4 with exec summary 2026” · Committee report
Appendix 3 to “FST Finance Report to Period 4 with exec summary 2026” · Committee report
Appointment Of Grant Advisory Panel Members Sept 2026 · Committee report
CUG Meeting Minutes · Committee report
FST Finance Report to Period 4 with exec summary 2026 · Committee report
FST SAE R11 GAP Report 02 09 26 With Appendix A All applications · Committee report
FST SAE R11 GAP Report 14 09 26 Appendix A Reccommended · Committee report
FST SAE R11 Supporting Report 14 09 26 · Committee report
GE RULE 26.20 NOTICE- Appointments to GAP · Committee report
Minutes Public Pack, 22/06/2026 Charity Committee · Committee report

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