Treasurer - Annual Report

EGP Treasurer’s Report for AGM - June 2021

The Edinburgh branch finances continue to be in a healthy position, despite it
being an expensive Holyrood election year. This is due to the generosity of our
branch members – both with one-off donations for election campaigning and
ongoing branch regular giving. The following report gives a little more detail
about the branch finances. If you would like further information on anything
raised in this report, please email questions to
treasurer.edin@scottishgreenparty.org.uk.

Holyrood

The finances for the Holyrood Lothian campaign were recorded on a separate
budget to the main branch budget. The most significant part of the expenditure
was our £30000 contribution to the National campaign. In order to cover this
contribution, we managed to raise £22500 (plus an additional £7600 in lead
candidate crowd funders, which went directly to the national campaign). Although
we were required to use some of our reserves to cover the approx. £8000
difference between the amount fundraised and the amount spent, this was less
than the £10,000 we had predicted we would use.

Special thanks must go to South East Edinburgh Greens for their fantastic Big
Burns Night In fundraiser, Alys Mumford and Gavin Corbett for their incredible
fundraising efforts, as well as to every member who donated.

Ongoing impact of Covid-19 and general finances

With the ongoing impact of Covid-19, branch activity (outwith Holyrood
campaigning) has continued to take place online rather than in person, meaning a
reduction in room hire and subsidiary costs. However, it has also meant less
opportunity for in-person fundraising events. As we look ahead with cautious
optimism for continued easing of restrictions, we hope to see more in-person
activity take place later in the year.

The overall effect of Covid-19 on the 2020 finances meant a greater decrease in
spending than the decrease in income. This meant that, when discounting Holyrood
spending, instead of having a deficit as predicted in the 2020 budget, the
branch ended the year with a small surplus.

In the first half of 2021, there has been very little branch expenditure
(outwith the Holyrood campaign). As such a larger proportion of expenditure in
the budget has been allocated to the second half of 2021. Provided that we
receive roughly what we expect in branch capitations at some point before
December 2021 (more info below), the projection is that, leaving aside the
election- related income and spending, we will have a small branch budget
surplus at the end of 2021.

National Capitations

Following the recommendations from the SGP Capitations Working Group, the SGP
National Council agreed to bring in the new Capitations model from June 2021.
The previous Capitations model set the branch capitations figure at 25% of their
branch members’ fees. The new Capitations model brings in a hybrid of a fixed
amount for each branch with a smaller % of branch members’ fees to act as a top
up for larger branches. The intention was to reduce the difference in
capitations given to larger and smaller branches. Capitations will begin
accruing from June 2021, but we are waiting to find out when the first payment
will be made. The decision on this should be made at September’s

National Council meeting. Once Edinburgh branch has received a schedule for
receiving national capitations, a schedule for sub-branch capitations will also
be finalized.

Branch standing orders

As always, a massive thanks to everyone who has a standing order to the
Edinburgh branch bank account – this remains the primary means with which branch
activities can be guaranteed. If you are in a position to give a regular amount
to the branch each month, please complete this form -
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Rv5_V7HhM76l6me-
CfC4G31tF2sUb33jp2KSBLjHflc/viewform?edit_requested=true (or email
treasurer.edin@scottishgreens.org.uk) and the Edinburgh Branch Treasurer will be
in touch to discuss how to set one up.

Looking ahead

At September’s AGM, as a committee we brought a motion to ensure that we retain
a level of reserves in the bank account to ensure ongoing running costs of the
branch. At this year’s AGM we have introduced an amendment to give additional
detail about who holds the decision-making power over when reserves may be
spent.

Over the coming 10 months, we will be devoting our fundraising efforts to
support the 2022 Edinburgh Council election campaign, as well as investing in
capacity building for our local teams.

Bank Reconciliation (2020)

Bank account on 1 Jan 2020 £30,730.65

Total receipts in 2020 (branch only) £5722.15

Total receipts in 2020 (incl elections) £10,905.32

Total payments in 2020 (branch only) £4978.24

Total payments in 2020 (incl elections) £12,048.86

Bank account on 31 Dec 2020 £29,587.11

Bank Reconciliation (1 Jan - 19 June 2021)

Bank account on 1 Jan 2021 £29,587.11

Total receipts 1 Jan - 19 June 2021 (branch only) £2321.96

Total receipts 1 Jan - 19 June 2021 (incl. elections) £21,046.23

Total payments 1 Jan - 19 June 2021 (branch only) £1262.81

Total payments 1 Jan - 19 June 2021 (incl. elections) £25,099.77

Bank account on 19 June 2021 £25,533.57

Becky Luff, Edinburgh Branch Treasurer (20th June 2021)