Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners
Report of the Commissioners and Financial Statements
	for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

                                                       Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

	  Page

Entity Information			2
Strategic Report of the Commissioners			3
Report of the Commissioners			11
Report of the Independent Auditors			13
Income Statement			16
Other Comprehensive Income			17
Balance Sheet			18
Statement of Changes in Equity			19
Notes to the Financial Statements			20
Detailed Income and Expenditure			24

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Organisation Information
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

                 	         CHAIRMAN:	                          Mr A Scott

                                  HARBOUR MASTER:	            Mr J Thomas

	REGISTERED OFFICE:	4 Copperas Road
	Brightlingsea
	Essex
	CO7 0AP

	AUDITORS:	Tile & Co
	Warden House
	37 Manor Road
	Colchester
	Essex
	CO3 3LX

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

Brightlingsea Harbour is a trust port and as such is an independent statutory body governed by its own unique statute. There are no shareholders or owners, and any surplus is ploughed back into the port for the benefit of the stakeholders of the trust port. This annual report encompasses the advice within the Ports’ Good Governance Guidance March 2018 publication which highlights a need for a general improvement in the openness and accountability with which trust ports conduct their business. The UK Corporate Government Code sets out the purpose of corporate governance as being ‘to facilitate effective, entrepreneurial and prudent management that can deliver the long term success of a company’. This is relevant to the activities of Statutory Harbour Authorities, concerned as they are with the long term success and sustainability of a harbour.

Brightlingsea Harbour is a small mixed leisure and commercial port with a rich heritage and is within a nature conservation area of international importance. The Harbour comprises a commercial wharf, a marina and several boatyards and provides a total of about 500 berths and moorings which can accommodate boats of up to 50 feet (15m) and 8 feet (2.5m) draft. Facilities at the Harbour have steadily been upgraded over recent years and now include a water taxi, Charter service and ferry service, fuelling facilities, scrubbing posts, toilets and showers, and a laundry.
 
Brightlingsea Harbour was established by an Act of Parliament in 1927 as a Trust Port. It is an independent statutory body governed by a board of Commissioners comprising the non-executive Chairman, the Harbour Master / Chief Executive, and several other non-executive commissioners. The Chairman and non-executive commissioners are all unpaid volunteers. Their appointment is based on the skills and knowledge they bring to the organisation. They are selected and appointed, after the positions are publicly advertised, for a four-year period which can be extended to a second four-year period. They meet as a minimum on 6 occasions throughout the year. The Harbour Master / Chief Executive is a Commissioner as well as a full-time employee.

As Commissioners, Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners (BHC) have responsibilities to the Department of Transport and stakeholders to serve local and regional interests, with an ultimate goal to safeguard the Harbour and to hand it on in the same or better condition to succeeding generations. Stakeholders are not specifically defined but are considered to include harbour users, the local community, local businesses and central government. 

Trust ports are a valuable asset presently safeguarded by the existing Commissioners whose duty it is to hand it on in the same or better condition to succeeding generations. This remains the ultimate responsibility of the Commissioners and future generations remain the ultimate stakeholder.

The Commissioners, under the Port Marine Safety Code, are accountable for marine safety within the harbour and as such are required to “formally and actively consider the safety of people using the harbour and its environment”.  This responsibility includes the requirement to conduct channel surveys, maintain navigation marks and preparing for civil contingencies. 

The limits of the statutory harbour include all the waters in Brightlingsea Creek to the east of a line drawn between the Martello Tower at Point Clear and Bateman’s Tower in Brightlingsea, with the exception of the area of St Osyth boatyard. Following the closure of the port of Colchester, Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners assumed the responsibility for maintaining all the navigation marks and providing pilotage in the River Colne downstream of Roman River.  The regulation of these waters is governed by Brightlingsea Harbour Acts and Orders 1927 to 2002, and the Colchester Borough Council Act 2001. 

BHC are publicly accountable for the execution of their duties and have the power to enforce Harbour Dues to cover the costs of discharging their statutory obligations. These dues are payable by all users of the Harbour. As a Trust Port it should be run as a commercial business, seeking to generate a surplus that can be ploughed back into the port.

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

STAKEHOLDERS

It is important to understand who Brightlingsea Harbour’s stakeholders are; it is not simply the marine community. Port Users, the local Brightlingsea community of 10,000 people, local businesses, port employees, related interest groups and the national economy are also considered.  Stakeholders are the shareholders in the port so the interests of these groups will be served by the board at all times. If conflicts of interest between stakeholders occur the board will exercise its duty to strike a balance which respects the interests of all stakeholders in the light of the objectives of the port, including commercial considerations, and what constitutes the 'common good' for all stakeholders (current and future) and the port itself using the following guiding principles:

•	Ensure sufficient water depth is maintained,
•	Maintain a similar mix and number of moorings, managed by the Harbour,
•	Maintain and sustain suitable facilities for visiting boats,
•	Identify gaps in services and, where appropriate, either work with others to provide or provide ourselves,
•	Maintain our compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code,
•	Maintain current quality standards (e.g., Gold Anchors, PMSC) and identify any appropriate standards that will help further improve the harbour’s operation,
•	Operate a financial model which ensures sustainability, phased capital equipment replacement and a regular maintenance schedule,
•	Maintain and build strong working relationships with all harbour users and stakeholders,
•	Provide value for money,
•	Maintain, protect and enhance our natural environment.
•	Encourage all harbour stakeholders to appreciate the unique character of the harbour.
It was the intention to hold two public meetings with stakeholders each year. This was achieved. In addition, there were two meetings of a Leisure and Recreational Advisory Group renamed as Brightlingsea Harbour Interest Group (BHIG) as well as many engagements with stakeholders gathering feedback on the season and the plans for next year. Development of the harbour’s website, greater use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and You Tube to promulgate information, including more comprehensive minutes of commissioners’ meetings, were made. The harbour’s App continues to increase in popularity with downloads in excess of 1,000 leading to greater integration of stakeholders with the harbour. Stakeholder engagement is welcomed and opportunities for more information exchange continue to be explored. The are many ways to contact the Harbour, visit in person, email, letter, telephone call, contact us, tell us what you think button on the Website, Facebook, twitter, Instagram even Tik Tok. Although it is possible to engage anonymously, a response from the harbour is not possible.  

PORT MARINE SAFETY CODE

BHC have appointed an independent ‘Designated Person’ to advise them on compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code.  The designated person reports to the Commissioners, not the Harbour Master. 

Inspection	An Annual inspection was carried out by the Designated Person during the period, this was his first formal inspection. That report was sent to Commissioners, the Duty Holders. It has now been published on the BHC website. 

Incident/accident Investigations, Reports and Data 	There were 10 accidents logged, 1 Broken cleat, window smash, 6 collisions, 1 slip and fall, 2 falls into water. There were 8 incidents logged, 3 sinking boats, 1 damaged Navigation Buoy, 3 PWC violations and a grounding on Howlands marsh. 

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

Personal Water Craft	Once again management of Personal Watercraft within the harbour limits required an investment of approximately £10K for the deployment of security at Point Clear launch site and provision of Swimming marker buoys. Despite initial problems created by launching of PWCs at Point Clear and causing trouble upriver early in the season there was a marked improvement brought about by these initiatives. The Commissioners are working with other stakeholders to engage with the land owners, to bring about more control over who uses their land thereby removing their anonymity, improving their behaviour and reducing the problem, work continues.   
There were three prosecutions for PWC misuse within the Harbour or the River Colne.   

Safety Management System	The transfer of elements of the Safety Management System into an electronic format has been completed, and will be uploaded to our website in due course.  

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

The demand for mid-stream pontoon moorings remained high, whilst the Harbour had spare capacity in the more traditional swinging and fore and aft moorings.

Overall, the number of visiting boats remained similar with a reduction of 67 yachts bringing the figure down from 3,174 in this year compared to 3,107 in the previous year.  This data underlines a steady trend of increasing visitor numbers for example August, from an average pre-covid of 542 visitors to 732 visitors. This equates to a 35% increase in visitors. 

The water taxi revenue although much increased last year, due to wind farm vessels has returned to normal. The figure can fluctuate based on whether work is happening on the wind farm. Overall, the water taxi roughly breaks even, with income close to costs.
 
The ferry scheduled and charter passengers provided an income, before costs, of £66,000.  After allowing for costs, this activity delivered a surplus of around £30,000. It is believed that next year with the introduction of the electric ferry revenue is likely to increase. 

Oliver’s Wharf is not operated by BHC; it is independently owned and operated.  Commercial activity revenue from Oliver's Wharf and pilotage reduced by 16%. The wharf’s owners told the Harbour Master that this was mainly due to supply chain constraints. This has now been resolved, but not before year end covered in this report. 

Sales of fuel reduced slightly this year, less windfarm service vessel activity. Fuel provision remains a key service provided to Harbour users and will be retained for as long as it is viable.

The Colchester Borough Council Act 2001appointed BHC to become the ‘Local Pilotage Authority ‘and the Local Lighthouse Authority for the River Colne.  This includes responsibility for a number of specified navigation buoys in the River Colne, from Inner Bench Head buoy to Wivenhoe. An annual fee, set out in the legislation, is paid to BHC by Colchester City Council for taking on these responsibilities
.
BHC continues to be involved in charitable events and donations. BHC undertakes engagement with local schools and  supports ‘schools’ week’. The week is organised by the Pioneer Trust, with some financial support and contribution in kind from BHC.  The week engages with schools that have a close connection to the River Colne to educate and stimulate younger stakeholders. 
 
A maintenance dredging programme is now in operation where Commissioners allocate resources annually.

FINANCIAL POSITION

The budget was set for the 2022/23 financial year which aimed to achieve above 7% contribution to reserves at the end of the year. The turnover for the year ending 31st March 2023 was £766,973, with a surplus after taxation of £41,202. 

BHC remains in a sound financial position with a satisfactory level of reserves. The current Commissioners' approach to allocating these reserves is as follows: -

- To maintain a minimum of £300,000 to ensure BHC can cover a full year's operational expenditure in case of a significant issue or emergency.

- A proportion of the remaining reserves allocated on a year-on-year basis to BHC’s Capital Equipment Replacement programme.

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

EQUIPMENT

The current cost to replace or where appropriate repair all the Harbour’s operational assets would be a minimum of £1,362,819.50.  In FY 2018/19 a fully costed comprehensive repair and replacement plan was established.  With prices based on costs as of 2018, the plan requires at least £50,000 to be transferred to reserves annually.

Pilot Boat	We replaced our ageing pilot boat ‘Dracula’ with a new Seaward boat ‘Colne Leader’ at a cost of £300,000. Dracula was sold for £25,000. ‘Colne Leader’ is fully coded to MCA specification and is now in service at Brightlingsea Harbour. She acts as both a workboat and for providing pilotage transfer for both Brightlingsea and locations on the Colne. 

Electric Boat	2019 Capital Equipment Replacement strategy directed that the harbour is ‘to replace, as and when necessary, with more environmentally friendly equipment’. This strategy led to the creation of ‘Colne Innovation’, an electric powered ferry coded to transport up to 12 passengers. The new vessel was constructed by the harbour using various component parts including batteries, electric motor and a former fishing boat, at a cost of £35,000. We were able to reduce the cost with a grant of £5,000 from LoCASE, Low Carbon Across the South and East. This is very much the first stage of a migration to more environmentally friendly marine engineering.

Boat Park Fence	A new palisade fence was procured for the Town Council owned Boat Park replacing the original corrugated roofing sheets at a cost of £15,000. The Town council contributed £7,500 towards the cost.

DREDGING

The Harbour requires sufficient depth of water to maintain its commercial activities therefore a requirement to dredge frequently exists in three specific areas:

Commercial
•	The Harbour’s main channel entrance up to the town pontoon, maintaining a depth of 1m below Chart Datum (CD).
•	The Town pontoon to Oliver's Wharf and Fuel Barge, maintaining a depth of 0.75m below CD.
•	Area of the Fuel Barge, maintaining a depth of 0.75m below CD.
Leisure Harbour
•	Pontoon moorings in the South channel dredged to a depth of 0.75m below CD.
Leisure Marina
•	The Marina Depth maintained frequently ensuring that sediment is always in suspension and periodically    dredged to a depth of 2m. A comprehensive dredge of the marina has recently taken place. The Harbour master is monitoring depth and will arrange another dredge when required. 

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

MARINE ACTIVITIES

Leisure Moorings
The Pontoons out in the Creek are at capacity so the demand is high with applicants on a waiting list. The pontoons are due for replacement and refurbishment in the near future.

Marina

In 2017 we were appointed to manage the Waterside Marina facility and have developed a detailed financial plan. Some restructuring, comprehensive maintenance and an enhanced maintenance dredging programme have been developed. In addition, continued investment in showers and toilets, has delivered a much enhanced offer to visiting yachts’ crews. The provision of £40,000 annually to cover marina rental and costs, is recovered from revenues generated by residents and visitors.

Exceptionally high energy bills meant that it was no longer possible for marina berth holders to enjoy free utilities. The harbour was forced to introduce electricity meters at a cost of £10,000.  It appears that the costs of energy are only likely to increase, however we will endeavour to find cost effective suppliers. 

Demand for Waterside Marina moorings remain high, many berth holders are now opting to take out an annual, rather than seasonal, berthing contract.  A  complete dredge of the marina was carried out returning it to its original depth. It was done at a cost of £90,000 and is likely to be carried out at intervals of 5 years. 

Taxi

The water taxi facility enables resident mooring holders and visitors to cross between boats and the Town Jetty. It runs throughout the year during office hours. Taxi hours are extended into the evenings at weekends and during the main season. The Harbour wishes to maintain this subsidised service to users, working towards ‘break even’ at best. Greater use of tokens has been revenue positive, and the service now returns consistent revenues. Those using the taxi for moorings not owned or managed by the Harbour currently pay more for the service.

The drop in revenue is due to a reduction in wind farm boats using the harbour. 

Colne Pilotage and Navigation

The Harbour’s management as the Lighthouse authority for the River Colne navigation from the Bench Head Buoy to Wivenhoe continues. The inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement of buoys is carried out at regular intervals to ensure it is fit for purpose in providing safe navigation for mariners using the River Colne. The capital value of the Buoys is £141,900, whilst the cost to inspect, replace, service and maintain buoys annually is approximately £96,750. Independent inspection from Trinity House assures our work and have endorsed it with some very positive comments. In addition, the Commissioners are charged with the responsibility for Pilotage in the Colne and must ensure we have suitably trained staff, pilots and appropriate vessels to meet the requirement. 

Colne Policing
 
The Harbour committed to investing at least £5,000 annually in the education, control and policing of the Harbour and River Colne by users speeding in their vessels.  Large signs have been erected at launching locations, waterproof leaflets have been distributed to users, alongside visits to clubs and PWC launch areas.  There have also been several prosecutions. In FY 22/23 the Harbour revised its plans to manage PWC, erecting large inflatable buoys, providing a security patrol at a cost of £10,000 and attempted to establish a partnership with Colchester City Council to deliver a River Patrol using £5,000 of reserves to patrol the areas within its boundaries. To date and despite requests we have not received funding from CCC. 

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

Visitors

The Harbour has a part to play in attracting visitors. In this 2022/23 financial year we once again invested £4,000 in advertising, visited other ports, produced leaflets and continued with the Visitors’ guide. We were able to maintain the previous year’s increase.  The data underlines an observable trend of increased visitor numbers from an average pre-covid of 2159 to post covid 3140, this equates to 45% increase in annual visiting boat nights. BHC estimates that each boat has a crew between two and four on average so this indicates around approximately 9,000 people visiting Brightlingsea via the harbour. 

The Harbour continues to work with Brightlingsea Town Council’s Tourism Advisory Panel to help boost tourism in the town.  The 45% increase in visiting yacht numbers certainly suggests we are having an impact. 

Ferry

The ferry does not attract public subsidy. The Ferry to Point Clear and East Mersea, although not a commuter line, does offer passengers the ability to travel between locations which would have otherwise meant a longer journey by car or bus.  For FY22/23, the Ferry Users numbers stayed at the increased level BHC had seen in the previous year. The Harbour Master estimates that 15,000 to 17,000 ferry passengers were carried. Another significant contribution to stakeholders, increased tourism in the town.  

This year we were able to freeze fares.  We continue to seek ways of reducing costs and passing on savings to our customers.

Tourism 

We have a role as a tourist information centre for Brightlingsea, although the revenue from tourism does not directly affect the Harbour, it does the Town. 24,000 visitors into Brightlingsea were recorded this year another stakeholder benefit.  

Wharf and commercial activity

The Port of Brightlingsea’s Wharf still provides a working trade platform for import and export from the UK. The Wharf is run by Essex Cement who rely on the Harbour to maintain a channel depth of 1m below CD.  The first year of the Dredging Plan achieved this.  The Harbour continues to maintain the dredged depth. 

The Harbour continues to engage with other commercial operators to provide support where required in the same manner as it does with Orsted the largest commercial operator within its customer base. There has been an increase in short term commercial operators using the Harbour as a base for their activities.

Sponsorship and use of local services

Wherever possible the Harbour will use local service provision at the market rate to carry out its functions. It will also at times sponsor specific activities by stakeholders. An allocated contribution of £500 to the stakeholder ‘Thames Lobster Hatchery’ was one such example.

Charitable causes

Many of the projects the Harbour supports are non-profit making and in most cases are at a cost to the Harbour.  One such example is Schools’ week. The stakeholders (school children) spend a day being shown the marine environment aboard fishing vessels, ferries, historical smacks and the museum. This is not only educational but aims to inspire potential future Harbour users. 

The Harbour also regularly donates sums to local charities – ‘First Responders’ this year a record £538,  ‘Brightlingsea in Bloom’, the local RNLI and St Helena Hospice to name but a few.

In addition, the Harbour provides pre- arranged free use of passage on its resources to those engaged in charitable work.

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Strategic Report
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The Harbour does not operate in isolation and is therefore reliant on positive business relationships across the marine sector locally. When any of those services ceases or requires support we are prepared to assist or, where appropriate, replace until such time as that business can be handed over. Budgets will be decided on a case by case basis.

STAFFING

Permanent and Incremental	
The staffing element of the Harbour is made up of a small permanent cadre of staff which is supported by locally available incremental staff during busier periods, all are qualified and licenced.  The balancing of individual needs and requirements is a sensitive one and continually under review.  The only way to guarantee a steady and consistent team is to ensure that revenue is maintained and enhanced by the Harbour actively engaging in advertising its activities and continuing to improve its offer. 

Apprenticeship
The continued Apprenticeship scheme involves training selected individuals to a marine occupational standard. 
The original apprenticeship was ‘Level 2 Boatyard and Marina Operative Apprenticeship’ to which we would add advanced powerboat and a commercial endorsement. Having successfully qualified two apprentices on this scheme it was discovered that there was a ‘Level 3 Workboat crewmember apprenticeship’ which met all of our requirements, was slightly more demanding and in addition provided the apprentice with a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Coastal qualification. 
The successful integration of marine apprentices into the business has led to an expansion of the programme. The Business administration apprenticeship, much is office based but includes research, video and picture taking for social media which occurs outside and on vessels, so in addition to a Level 3 Business administration qualification they also qualify as an RYA Level 2 powerboat handler.
All apprentices are employed by BHC for a period of 24 months before they will be assisted in finding new employment ideally within the marine industry, this is very much the responsibility of the marine industry and in particular for trusts ports that operate for the benefit of stakeholders.

Environmental Protection 

The harbour is working with partners protecting ,improving marine life and the environment within its limits.

Essex University produced initial results on project testing the impact on marine life by various anti fouling paint. It was found that a silicon based coating was most effective in our waters. 
 
They will also consider the issues regarding material deposited into the water by periodic hull scrubbing such as that carried out to boats used for racing.

In partnership with a private environmental company, it helped to encourage marine habitat development in intertidal zones. Geo engineered cups formed from aggregate using dredged sediment assisted with the development of marine rock pool habitats. These protype piling habitats were installed in the marina during the summer of 2020 and continue to show positive results. 

The Blue Marine Foundation partnered with us as a stakeholder to educate other stakeholders in the marine life, focusing on Native oysters and their regeneration. Some small cages were deposited in our Marina for research and educational purposes.

A small grant was made to the Thames Lobster Hatchery a registered CIC and local stakeholder to develop his website to further business objectives.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

......................................................................
Commissioner
Date:   

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Report of the Commissioners

	for the year ended 31 March 2023

The Commissioners present their report with the financial statements of BHC for the year ended 31st March 2023.

The Commissioners shown below have held office during the period from 1st April 2022 to the date of this report unless shown otherwise.

J. Thomas (Harbour Master) 
J. Addison (Chairman – Resigned Sep 22)
A. Scott (Chairman -Appointed Sep 22)
I. Finch (Resigned Sep 22)
N. Taylor (Resigned Sep 22)
P. Hatswell (Resigned Jun 23)
F. Brown
D. Nicholson 
P. Foley-Brickley (Appointed Sep 22)
C. Watkins (Appointed Sep 22)
D. Stoker (Appointed Sep 22)

COMMISSIONERS' RESPONSIBILITIES

The Harbours Act 1964 as amended by subsequent legislation requires the Commissioners to prepare financial statements for each year which comply with the Companies Act 2006 and are in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Under Company law the Commissioners must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners (BHC) and of the results of BHC for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Commissioners are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

- prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that BHC will continue in business.

The Commissioners are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain BHC transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the BHC and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of BHC and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Report of the Commissioners

	for the year ended 31 March 2023

STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS

So far as the Commissioners are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the BHC auditors are unaware, and each Commissioner has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as a Commissioner in order to make himself/herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the BHC auditors are aware of that information.

On behalf of the Commissioners:
Mr. A. Scott
Dated:

Chairman

Mr. J. Thomas
Dated:

Harbour Master/ Chief Executive

	Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of
	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners (the 'organisation') for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Income Statement, Other Comprehensive Income, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion the financial statements: 
-	give a true and fair view of the state of the organisation's affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its profit for the year then ended; 	
-	have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 	
-	have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 	

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report.  We are independent of the organisation in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.  We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Commissioner's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the organisation's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Commissioners with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

Other information
The Commissioners are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Commissioners, but does not include the financial statements and our Report of the Auditors thereon. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.  We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
-	the information given in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Commissioner for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 	
-	the Strategic Report and the Report of the Commissioner has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 	

	Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of
	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the organisation and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Report of the Commissioner. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 
-	adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 	
-	the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 	
-	certain disclosures of Commissioner's remuneration specified by law are not made; or 	
-	we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or 	
-	the Commissioners were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Commissioners. 	

Responsibilities of Commissioners
As explained more fully in the Statement of Commissioner's Responsibilities set out on pages 9-11 , the Commissioners is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Commissioners determines necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the Commissioners are responsible for assessing the organisation's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Commissioners either intend to liquidate the organisation or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 

We enquired of management concerning the policies and procedures relating to :

	The identification , evaluation and compliance with laws and regulations;
	The detection and response to the risk of fraud; and
The establishment of internal controls to mitigate risks related to fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations

We assessed the susceptibility of the Organisation's financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur, by evaluating management's incentives and opportunities for manipulation of the financial statements.  This included an evaluation of the risk of management override of controls.  We determined that the principal risks were in relation to:

 Journal entries
 Potential management bias in determining accounting estimates
 Transactions with related parties

These audit procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free from fraud or error.  However, detecting irregularities that result from fraud is inherently more difficult than detecting those that result from error, as those irregularities that result from fraud may involve collusion, deliberate concealment, forgery or intentional misrepresentations.

Management have not communicated to the audit team any matters of non-compliance with laws and regulations, or fraud and no such matters were identified by the audit team.

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of
Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Auditors. 

Use of our report
This report is made solely to the organisation's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the organisation's members those matters we are required to state to them in a Report of the Auditors and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the organisation and the organisation's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Jonathon Tile ACA
Tile & Co
Warden House
37 Manor Road
Colchester
Essex
CO3 3LX
	Date:. 

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Income Statement
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

	31.3.23		31.3.22
	Notes	£	£

TURNOVER	766,973	908,051

Cost of sales	274,769	316,372
			
GROSS PROFIT	492,204	591,679

Administrative expenses	626,546	687,895
			
	(134,342)	(96,216)

Other operating income	197,607	199,520
			
OPERATING PROFIT	4	63,265	103,304

Interest receivable and similar income 	5,778	3,381	
			
PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION 	69,043	106,685	

Tax on profit        	27,841  	25,066
			
PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 	41,202	81,619	

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Other Comprehensive Income
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

	31.3.23		31.3.22
	Notes	£	£

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR	41,202	81,619

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	-	-
			
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 	
41,202	
81,619	

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners 
	Balance Sheet
	31 March 2023

	31.3.23	31.3.22
	Notes	£	£	£	£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets	5	776,334	485,658

CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks	15,450	20,085
Debtors	6	141,449	386,092
Cash at bank and in hand	632,932	704,837
			
	789,831	1,111,014
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 	7	457,107	556,658	
			
NET CURRENT ASSETS	332,724	554,356
			
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 	
1,109,057	
1,040,014	

PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES	54,219	26,378
			
NET ASSETS	1,054,838	1,013,636

RESERVES
Other reserves	300,000	300,000
Retained earnings	754,838	713,636
				
	1,054,838	1,013,636

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Commissioners and authorised for issue on   ............................................. and were signed by: 

......................................................................
Commissioner

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Statement of Changes in Equity
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

	Retained		Other		Total
	earnings		reserves		equity
	£	£	£

Balance at 1 April 2021	632,017	300,000	932,017

Changes in equity
Total comprehensive income	81,619	-	81,619
						
Balance at 31 March 2022	713,636	300,000	1,013,636

Changes in equity
Total comprehensive income	41,202	-	 41,202
						
Balance at 31 March 2023	754,838	300,000	1,054,838

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Notes to the Financial Statements
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

1.	STATUTORY INFORMATION

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners is a an independent statutory body, established by an Act of Parliament. The Commissioners registered office address can be found on the organisation information page 

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£). 

2.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

	Basis of preparing the financial statements
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" including the provisions of Section 1A "Small Entities" and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 

	Turnover
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes. 

	Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. 
	Land and buildings	- 	in accordance with the property 	
	Plant and machinery etc	-   	5% on cost to 33% on cost 
	
	Stocks
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items. 

	Taxation
Taxation for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Income Statement, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

Current or deferred taxation assets and liabilities are not discounted.

Current tax is recognised at the amount of tax payable using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

	Deferred tax
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date.

Timing differences arise from the inclusion of income and expenses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in financial statements. Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the year end and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference.

Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.

	Hire purchase and leasing commitments
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. 

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

Notes to the Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2023

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The organisation operates a defined contribution pension scheme.  Contributions payable to the organisation's 
pension scheme are charged to profit or loss in the period to which they relate.

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Notes to the Financial Statements
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

3.	EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS

The average number of employees during the year was 13 (2022 - 12) 

Aggregate remuneration paid to Commissioners was £56,596  (2021 - £54,070)

4.	OPERATING PROFIT

	The operating profit is stated after charging:

	31.3.23		31.3.22
	£	£
	Depreciation - owned assets	93,152	33,979

5.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
	Plant and
	Land and		machinery
	buildings		etc		Totals
	£	£	£
	COST
	At 1 April 2022	342,221	828,825	1,171,046
	Additions	5,759	332,850	338,609
	Disposals	-	(47,513)	(47,513)
						
	At 31 March 2023	347,980	1,114,162	1,462,142
						
	DEPRECIATION
	At 1 April 2022	-	685,388	685,388
	Charge for year	-	47,933	47,933
	Eliminated on disposal	-	(47,513)	(47,513)
						
	At 31 March 2023	-	685,808	685,808
						
	NET BOOK VALUE
	At 31 March 2023	347,980	428,354	776,334
						
	At 31 March 2022	342,221	143,437	485,658

6.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 	
	31.3.23		31.3.22
	£	£
	Trade debtors	119,931	119,921
	Other debtors	21,518	266,171
			
	141,449	386,092

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

7.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 	
	31.3.23		31.3.22
	£	£
	Trade creditors	41,676	50,412
	Taxation and social security	36,333	35,837
	Other creditors	379,098	470,409
			
	457,107	556,658

8.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

The Commissioners do, from time to time, use the services provided by the entity but these are always provided at commercial rates.

The Commissioners Mr J Thomas was employed by Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners and was paid salary at a commercial rate.

9.       FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners have a lease on the site of the fuel barge for which they pay an index      linked annual rent of £5,000 and a variable 6p per litre charge based on volumes sold, subject to a £6,000 limit.

The lease provides an annual break clause.		
	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Trading and Profit and Loss Account
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

	31.3.23	31.3.22
	£	£	£	£
Turnover
Grants	-	94,405
Harbour Dues	67,396	78,334
CBC	126,742	114,053
Mooring fees	329,262	341,760
Fuel	243,573	279,499
	766,973			908,051	

Cost of sales
Opening stock	20,085	9,633
Purchases	222,982	212,331
Other direct costs	44,004	108,424
Tank hire and maintenance	3,148	6,069
			
	290,219	336,457
Closing stock	(15,450)	(20,085)
	274,769			316,372	
			
GROSS PROFIT	492,204	591,679

Other income
Sundry receipts	33,414	18,911
Ferry	66,016	66,699
Marine services	13,070	12,257
Pilotage	34,148	37,896
Boat park / hard / jetty	29,984	14,785
Water taxi	20,475	25,722
Government grants	500	23,250
Deposit account interest	5,778	3,381
	203,385			202,901	
			
	695,589	794,580

Expenditure
Rent	8,664	6,629
Rates and water	941	573
Insurance	26,406	27,106
Light and heat	3,238	2,823
Repairs to property	330	-
Equipment maintenance	18,487	37,017
Boat and buoy maintenance	26,760	29,368
Ferry	3,515	4,650
Environmental costs	5,489	6,487
Wages	318,656	315,065
Social security	20,870	20,842
Pensions	6,280	5,936
Office costs	18,219	22,447
Telephone	1,722	1,600
Advertising	3,438	3,064
Travelling	5,241	3,088
Motor expenses	1,710	1,391
Sundry exenses	7,040	7,077

	Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

	Trading and Profit and Loss Account
	for the year ended 31 March 2023

	31.3.23	31.3.22
	£	£	£	£
Brought forward	477,006	695,589	495,163	794,580
Schools week	      1,260                                            5,913	
Protective clothing	9,381	10,724
Pilot fees	9,254	5,876
Accountancy	4,000	4,000
Subscriptions	10,125	6,252
Waterside Marina	52,629	84,794
Town jetty and hard	19,281	7,902
Legal & Professional Fees	1,084	11,352
Security costs	9,960	6,667
Auditors' remuneration	5,000	5,000
Donations	1,233	1,469
Bad debts	1,827	-
Staff Training	8,665	6,051
	610,705			651,163	
			
	84,884	143,417

Finance costs
Bank charges	3,027	2,753
			
	81,857	140,664

Depreciation
Improvements to property	4,343	4,343
Depn of equip & fittings	7,633	6,256
Depn of fuel barge	1,538	1,538
Depn of boats	22,208	8,363
Depn of pontoons	12,211	13,479
	47,933			33,979	
			
	33,923	106,685

Profit on disposal of fixed assets
Boat	35,120	-
			
NET PROFIT	69,043	106,685

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners

Town Council, Hard, Jetty and Boat Park
for the year ended 31 March 2023

	                    31.3.23	31.3.22

								£	    £		£	   £	

Income								29,984			22,227

Expenditure	
Maintenance and repairs						19,281		          	  7,902
Salaries							20,203			19,596
									39,484			27,498

Deficit								( 9,500)			  (5,271)