Audit Committee

15 December 2025

Charter Trustees – Year-end Finance Report for 2024/25

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 Following dissolution of the Charter Trustees for Harrogate and the Charter Trustees for Scarborough, on creation of the two new town councils, this report seeks approval of the final accounts of both sets of Charter Trustees for the financial year 2024-25 and to approve exemption from the limited assurance review.

2.0 SUMMARY

2.1 The Committee are asked to note the expenditure incurred to the end of March 2025 and approve the attached financial returns.

3.0 BACKGROUND

3.1 This is the final year of the Charter Trustees. The budget and precept were set at the meeting of the Charter Trustees on 11 December 2023 for Harrogate and 15 December 2023 for Scarborough. A breakdown of each budget is set out at Appendices 1a and 1b respectively.

3.2 This report presents expenditure incurred to the end of March 2025.

4.0 EXPENDITURE AGAINST BUDGET

4.1 For the Charter Trustees of Harrogate, as at the end of March a total of £12,800 has been expended – in summary:

Summary	Budget £	Spend to March 2025 £	Comments
Officer Support	£10,600	£8,392	Recharge of costs from North Yorkshire Council
Auditors	£500	£210	Estimated fee based on scale fee
Other Costs	£1,700	£3,101	Events, civic collection insurance

Carried forward		£1,097	Total amount held in reserve at NYC £1,537.17 (£440 from 2023/24)
Total	£12,800	£12,800

4.2 For the Charter Trustees of Scarborough, as at the end of March a total of £22,900 has been expended – in summary:

Summary	Budget £	Spend to March 2025 £	Comments
Events	£1,700	£1,232	PA System Flag raising, AFD Refreshment charge, Community Tea 2024, PA System Memorial Service
Allowances	£1,200	£1,200	Charter Mayor & Deputy
Officer Support	£18,600	£18,100	Incl. Principal Democratic Services Officer and Leadership Support Officer, Finance, ICT, Comms
Other /General	£1,400	£1,579	Insurance, printing, Auditors, Regalia, Mayor Profile picture, Mayor making and Chamber pictures
Income		£ (50)	Civic engagement
Carried forward		£839	Total amount held in reserve at NYC £1,252.04 (£413 from 2023/24)
Total	£22,900	£22,900

4.3 Veritau have carried out an internal audit of both sets of figures.

5.0 YEAR-END ACCOUNTS

5.1 The formal year end accounts are also attached. Because the expenditure levels for both sets of Charter trustees fall below the de minimis limit they are not required to pay for a limited assurance review. To confirm this requires a declaration of exemption from the committee.

6.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

6.1 N/A

7.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1 As set out above.

8.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

8.1 There are no legal implications.

9.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

9.1 There are no equalities implications.

10.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

10.1 There are no climate change implications.

11.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

11.1 To inform the Charter Trustees of the in-year budget position to the end of March 2025 and seek approval of the year-end returns and exemption from a limited assurance review.

12.0

RECOMMENDATION

That the Audit Committee:

i) note the expenditure incurred to the end of March 2025 by both sets of Charter Trustees, and;

ii) approve the year-end returns for the Charter Trustees of Harrogate and the Charter Trustees of Scarborough.

iii) Certifies the Charter Trustees for both Harrogate and Scarborough as exempt from the requirement for a limited assurance review.

APPENDICES:

Appendix 1a – Charter Trustees of Harrogate – Budget breakdown 24/25

Appendix 1b – Charter Trustees of Scarborough – Budget breakdown 24/25

Appendix 2a – Charter Trustees of Harrogate - Annual Governance and Accountability

Return 24/25

Appendix 2b – Charter Trustees of Scarborough - Annual Governance and

Accountability Return 24/25

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

None.

Karen Iveson (Former RFO to the Charter Trustees)

Assistant Director Resources

County Hall

Northallerton

15 December 2025

Report Author – Karen Iveson