A n n u a l R e p o r t

A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 3-2 0 1 4

2 Front cover picture: The Trust led a guided walk along the Old King's Highway through the Green as part of the Granite Festival 2013.

Legal and Administrative Information Constitution is a company limited by guarantee (SC271933) and a registered charity (SC036391) governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. 3 Directors and Trustees The directors of the charitable company ("the charity") are its trustees for the purposes of charity law. The directors are: Mr Angus A M Donaldson (Chair) Mrs Irene S Cormack Mr Robert Collier Dr David E D McClean Mrs Sheila E Rhind (resigned 7 October 2013) Mrs Amanda Booth (appointed 25 November 2013) Councillor Jennifer Stewart Mr Alexander E Urquhart Councillor John Corall Councillor Barney Crockett (Vice Chair) Councillor Andrew W Finlayson Project Officer Douglas Campbell Principal Office Aberdeen City Council, Broad Street, Aberdeen Secretaries Peterkins Registered Office 100 Union Street, Aberdeen Independent Examiners Bird Simpson & Co. Chartered Accountants, 144 Nethergate, Dundee Solicitors Peterkins, 100 Union Street, Aberdeen Bankers The Royal Bank of Scotland, Queens Cross Branch, 40 Albyn Place, Aberdeen

Chair's Introduction 4 Photograph courtesy of Aberdeen University Welcome to s 2013/14 Annual Report The Trust has had a busy year working with property owners, factors and professional agents developing projects that will deliver much needed improvements to the condition and appearance of city centre property and contribute to heritage-led regeneration. In March the Trust submitted a bid to Historic Scotland for funding for the period 2015 to 2018. The bid defi ned and targeted the built fabric challenges faced by Aberdeen s city centre and builds on the increasing city-centre focus of the Trust s work in recent years which recognises the important role that the city centre plays in all of our lives. National Maintenance Week was supported in 2013 by the Trust and we were grateful for funding from Aberdeen Solicitors Property Centre and the Construction Industry Training Board. Fifty-fi ve delegates benefi tted from a very interesting and informative morning of homeowner training given by experts in their fi eld. It is estimated that the property maintenance market accounts for about 35% of the output of the construction industry in Scotland. To stave off decay by daily repair (William Morris) is both common sense and makes a signifi cant contribution to the economy. We are very pleased that the Trust s website has been redesigned. We hope that you will fi nd it a useful source of information about the Trust and its activities. Angus Donaldson Chair

Top: National Maintenance Week training 2013. Photo - Richard Groom CITB Bottom Left: Inspection of roof at Exchange Street. Bottom Right: The Trust supported the repair of unusual easy-clean sash and case windows. 5

Objectives and Activities 6 During the year the charity aimed to promote and encourage, the conservation, protection and improvement of the historic, architectural and physical environment of Aberdeen for the benefi t of the general public. Additionally it sought to further the study and understanding of the environment and use the information obtained to educate the general public. In order to achieve this and other objectives the charity has employed various schemes and initiatives amongst which are the following: Historic Areas Regeneration Grants The Trust continues to make available grant funding for repair of the external shell of traditional buildings primarily in its priority areas. The grants allow repairs to be carried out to a high standard using traditional materials suitable for buildings of traditional solid wall construction. Monies have been committed and other applications worked up in liaison with owners and professional agents during the year. Buildings at Risk The Trust agreed support of feasibility study work to be carried out by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust on the Grey Mill at Broadford Works, one of a series of Buildings at Risk in a complex of buildings close to the centre of Aberdeen. National Maintenance Week (November 2013) Home owner training took place on 23 November 2013 at the Town and County Hall of Aberdeen s Town House. The event sponsored by Aberdeen Solicitors Property Centre, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland and the Construction Industry Training Board provided a morning of expert talks on different aspects of traditional building maintenance to an audience of fi fty-fi ve delegates.

Tree Management Grants In partnership with Aberdeen City Council, grants are available to encourage the proper management of trees that contribute to public amenity. 7 Doors Open Day (Aberdeen) 2013 Part of European Heritage Days, Doors Open Day opens the doors to the public of some of Aberdeen s most interesting historic and other buildings. The event is organised by an independent committee on which the Trust is represented by its Project Offi cer. Aberdeen s Granite Festival 2013 A guided architectural walk was provided by the Trust in collaboration with Aberdeen City Council to highlight the development of Aberdeen and its granite industry. Annual Lecture 2013 Jane Nelson of Stirling City Heritage Trust talked on the Traditional Building Health Check Scheme, a pilot study which investigates routes to encourage maintenance of traditional buildings. The late Eric Auld, artist, gave an illustrated talk on his work, which is largely inspired by Aberdeen s built environment. Website The Trust s website was reconfi gured to give clearer access to information related to its core activity and given a fresher appearance. Top: Broadford Works. Bottom Left: Historic Area Regeneration Grants leafl et. Middle Right: Maggie's Centre featured in Doors Open Day 2013. Bottom Right: School Curriculum materials developed with Aberdeen Urban Studies Trust.

Achievements and Performance 8 Following the launch of the Trust s Historic Areas Regeneration grant scheme in early 2013, a number of applications were developed in 2013/14. Relatively modest fi rm commitment of funds reflects the challenge of working in an area where property ownership is complex and commercial decisions have affected take up of grant. Towards the end of the year a number of sizeable applications had been developed and these are for consideration in the early part of 2014/15. Completion of the Trust s new website was a signifi cant milestone. It replaced a nine year old site which had content that had been superseded by other websites. This offered an opportunity to rationalise and give more direct access to parts of the site most visitors require. The Trust attracted assistance from Aberdeen Solicitors Property Centre and the Construction Industry Training Board towards Home owner training as part of National Maintenance Week in 2013 and made a positive contribution through involvement in presentations and guided walks to a range of bodies and groups. Curriculum materials were launched in early 2014 seeing the completion of a longrunning project to produce a package of work books and curriculum ideas on how to use the built environment in delivery of teaching related to the Curriculum for Excellence. Plans for Future Periods The Company will continue to deliver its Historic Area Regeneration grant scheme within which it will focus its support on conservation areas where funding will have the greatest economic impact and public benefi t for Aberdeen. Support of larger scale projects is anticipated in the coming period as commercial bodies address building repair in the city centre. The Company will continue to explore opportunities and potential sources of funding on its own and in partnership with others, where this will assist in bringing Buildings at Risk and other redundant, underused or needy buildings back to life. The outcome of a Trust bid for funding from Historic Scotland in March 2014 for the period from 1 April 2015 until 31 March 2018 is awaited. In the context of the merging of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments Scotland, the Trust will continue to consider ways of securing income from other sources. National Maintenance Week and other forms of training and education will be developed and delivered in 2014/15 focusing on the need for better maintenance being carried out using appropriate skills and materials. Doors Open Day (Aberdeen) and the Granite Festival were supported by the Trust in 2013 and the Trust will be supporting these activities again in 2014. Facing page: Sash window repairs supported by the Trust.

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Financial Review 10 The net resources expended for the year, amounting to 42 (2013-2,877) have been dealt with as shown in the Statement of Financial Activities. The Trust was fi nancially supported by Historic Scotland and Aberdeen City Council in 2013/14. The Trust works closely with Aberdeen City Council which offered support in kind through accommodation of the Trust Project Offi cer and the provision of limited clerical services. The City Council also supported a portion of the Trust s Project Offi cer s salary costs. The majority of funding made available to the Trust is for the purpose of making fi nancial awards for the repair and restoration of historic buildings. Reserves The nature of day to day operations and grants given means there is neither a surplus nor a defi cit from these activities. The surplus at the end of the year is a result of additional donations and interest received and it is the Charity s intention to use these in the furtherance of its objectives. FINANCIAL REVIEW AND RESERVES STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2014 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Fund 2014 Total 2013 Total Incoming resources Incoming resources from 60,124 64,221 124,345 94,288 charitable activities Investment income 374-374 680 60,498 64,221 124,719 94,968 Charitable expenditure Charitable activities 58,740 64,221 122,961 95,709 Governance costs 1,800-1,800 2,136 Total resources expended 60,540 64,221 124,761 97,845 Movement in total funds for the year/expenditure for the year (42) - (42) (2,877) Total funds brought forwarded 43,134-43,134 46,011 Total funds carried forward 43,092-43,092 43,134 The Charity has made no gains or losses other than as reported above.

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2014 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2014 2013 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors - - - 69,261 Cash at bank 83,892 105,576 189,468 150,864 83,892 105,576 189,468 220,125 11 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year (40,800) (105,576) (146,376) (176,991) NET CURRENT ASSETS 43,092-43,092 43,134 TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES 43,092-43,092 43,134 FUNDS Unrestricted funds - general 43,092 43,134 Restricted funds - - TOTAL FUNDS 43,092 43,134 The summary financial statement does not contain suffi cient information to allow as full an understanding of the results and state of affairs of the charitable company and its policies as would be provided by full accounts and reports. For copies of full annual accounts contact the Trust Project Offi cer. Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by AAM DONALDSON INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF ABERDEEN CITY HERITAGE TRUST Respective responsibilities of directors and examiners The charity's trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The charity's directors consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (a) to (c) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's statement My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparision of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the directors concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's statement In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44 (1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Account Regulations, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Account Regulations have not been met, or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Neil S Young, MA, CA Bird Simpson and Co. Chartered Accountants 144 Nethergate Dundee DD1 4EB 29 September 2014

12 PO Box 10450 Aberdeen AB10 1WS Telephone: 01224 522755 Fax: 01224 523180 info@aberdeenheritage.org.uk www.aberdeenheritage.org.uk Scottish Charity No. SC036391 Scottish Company No. SC271933 November 2014 Supported by: www.aberdeencity.gov.uk and www.historic-scotland.gov.uk