VISIT_KNOWLE_LTD - Accounts

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

Objectives and aims

The purposes of the Company are as set out in the objects contained in the Company's governing documents and are:

(a)    to promote the development of and investment in the village centre of Knowle, Solihull as a commercial and community centre, for the benefit of businesses and residents, in conjunction with other organisations, entities or public bodies with whom the Company may have relationships from time to time;

(b)    to develop strategies to support and develop businesses, stimulate co-operation between businesses and encourage both resident and visitor footfall in the village centre;

(c)    to initiate, organise and deliver projects and initiatives to increase business levels, strengthen community facilities and enhance the public realm in the village centre;

(d)    to undertake activities and run events in the village centre which benefit the community of Knowle and enhance its social, environmental and economic wellbeing; and

(e)    to do all such things as are or may be deemed incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects (or any of them).

Public benefit

Whilst the Directors have no duties under the Companies Act to deliver a public benefit, they consider that the sole focus of the Company has been to provide a benefit to the residents and commercial interests in the village of Knowle by improvement of its economic sustainability, the breadth of its offer to residents and visitors and through the quality of its public realm.

Achievements

Our primary achievements during this first operating period were:

(a)    to recruit an initial membership of local businesses and commence the building of an independent income stream;

(b)    to establish a sound working relationship with Solihull Council, which proved successful in a partnership approach to sustaining the village centre through the coronavirus pandemic;

(c)    to work in partnership with Solihull Council to deliver a promotional and signage strategy to encourage and welcome return footfall whilst maintaining public safety post Lockdown;

(d)    to secure financial support from Solihull Council in line with their priority to strengthen town and local centres;

(e)    to establish a strong social media presence to promote the village of Knowle, its businesses, its community infrastructure and its heritage to develop both sustainability and pride;

(f)    to develop a light touch initial web presence (with a simple site intended to be superseded by a more permanent solution);

(f)    to run several events and offer guidance for the benefit of local businesses to encourage skills development, new strategic opportunities and recovery from the impact of Lockdown;

(g)    to plan a substantial celebration event, to take place in the next operating year, over two weekends and multiple community venues, focused on the village heritage and involving a number of community organisations, supported by the national Time Machine initiative and Solihull Council;

(h)    to secure Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding which will, in the next operating year, deliver a Parklet style seating and planting installation to enhance the public realm of the village centre;

(i)    to publish in partnership with the local Civic Society, two Heritage Walk leaflets, on paper and online, encouraging routes which visit a host of local heritage assets; and

(j)    to collate a list of potential volunteers indicating a willingness to participate in future programmes of events and of keeping Knowle tidy.

FINANCIAL

Source of External Income

The Directors are grateful for the financial support of Solihull Council in the granting of £3,234 used in support of the activities listed above.

FUTURE PLANS

(a)    to promote and run a number of footfall developing events for the benefit of local residents and businesses including the planned Heritage Week Time Machine programme, a programme of pre-Christmas shopping events and a Platinum Jubilee celebration event;

(b)    to examine the feasibility of a regular artisan market in Knowle including the running of a pilot to test the market;

(c)    to invest in assets needed to support events programmes including a gazebo and signage etc for road closures;

(d)    to develop marketing channels and assets including further social media development and campaigns, the replacement of the light touch web site with a more penetrating permanent solution and the development of a hi-resolution image library;

(e)    to deliver significant public realm improvements through the delivery of the planned Parklet, the refurbishment of some existing street furniture and the examination of the potential for signage rationalisation;

(f)    to introduce a programme of periodic litter picking and planting maintenance through volunteer recruitment;

(g)    to examine the feasibility of a future loyalty and/or gift card programme to support local retailers;

(h)    to prepare and publish a third and final Heritage Walk leaflet in partnership with the local Civic Society;

(i)    to develop membership by further recruitment and through regular updates via communications with existing members; and

(j)    to determine an approach to establishing a sustainable financial operating model for the future.

STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Governing document

The Company is controlled by its governing document, and constitutes a Limited Company, Limited by Guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006, adopted by its initial members and incorporated on 20 June 2020.

Organisational structure

The Company is volunteer led and has no employees, engaging specialists under contractual arrangements to undertake tasks beyond the capacity of its volunteer pool.

The activities and projects are managed under four workstreams, overseen by Directors, which are Marketing and Promotion, Business Support, Events and Vibrancy and Streetscene Improvement.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies' exemption.

The average number of persons, including directors, employed by the company during the year was as follows:

Visit Knowle Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 1688 High Street, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 0LY.

For the year ended 30 June 2021 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions and in accordance with FRS 105 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro-entities Regime' and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.