Draft Group Accounts

Group Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement

This Group statement shows the accounting cost in the year of providing services in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices, rather than the amount to be funded from taxation (or rents). Authorities raise taxation (and rents) to cover expenditure in accordance with statutory requirements; this may be different from the accounting cost. The taxation position is shown in both the Expenditure and Funding Analysis (Note 7) and the Movement in Reserves Statement. Intragroup balances are eliminated on consolidation.

Group Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement 2023/24
Gross Expenditure
in thousands of pounds
Gross Income
in thousands of pounds
Net Expenditure
in thousands of pounds
noneGross Expenditure
in thousands of pounds
Gross Income
in thousands of pounds
Net Expenditure
in thousands of pounds
131,861(59,174)72,687Adult Social Care and Public Health133,038(65,822)67,216
5,238(183)5,055Chief Executive's Office4,651(196)4,455
184,691(128,413)56,278Children and Education217,088(150,635)66,453
101,663(35,610)66,053Finance and Corporate Services116,989(60,973)56,016
118,042(71,507)46,535Place100,934(39,349)61,585
541,495(294,887)246,608Cost of Services572,700(316,975)255,725
nonenone22,216Other Operating Expenditurenonenone(2,076)
nonenone3,936Financing and Investment Income and Expenditurenonenone4,657
nonenone(220,372)Other Taxation and Non-Specific Grant Incomenonenone(223,240)
nonenone52,389(Surplus) or Deficit on Provision of Servicesnonenone35,067
nonenone(8,878)Surplus on revaluation of Property, Plant and Equipment assetsnonenone(15,475)
nonenone64,428Remeasurement of the Pension net defined liability/(asset)nonenone(1,531)
nonenone2Movement on deferred tax relating to Pension Liabilitynonenone none
nonenone55,552Other Comprehensive Income and Expenditurenonenone(17,006)
nonenone107,941Total Comprehensive Income and Expenditurenonenone18,061

Group Balance Sheet

The Group Balance Sheet shows the value at the Balance Sheet date of the assets and liabilities recognised by the entity and its subsidiaries. The net assets (assets less liabilities) are matched by the reserves. Reserves are reported in two categories. The first category of reserves is usable reserves, which the Council may use to provide services subject to the need to maintain a prudent level of reserves and any statutory limitations on their use (for example the Capital Receipts Reserve that may only be used to fund capital expenditure or repay debt). The second category of reserves is those that the Council is not able to use to provide services. This category of reserves includes those that hold unrealised gains and losses (for example the Revaluation Reserve), where amounts would only become available to provide services if the assets are sold; and reserves that hold timing differences shown in the Group Movement in Reserves Statement line ‘Adjustments between Accounting basis and funding basis under regulations’. Intragroup balances are eliminated on consolidation.

Group Balance Sheet 2024/25

31 March 2020, in thousands of pounds
Description
31 March 2021, in thousands of pounds
754,053Property plant and equipment760,453
35,001Heritage Assets36,158
55,646Investment Property54,931
1,165Intangible Assets1,029
10,452Long Term Investments5,443
6,315Long Term Debtors5,697
862,632Long Term Assets863,711
11,980Assets Held For Sale7,170
221Short-term Investments218
10,069Inventories22,148
64,227Short Term Debtors75,154
30,929Cash and Cash Equivalents16,801
117,426Current Assets121,490
(5,734)Cash and Cash Equivalents Overdrawn(5,058)
(3,606)Short-Term Borrowing(6,740)
(49,054)Short-Term Creditors(53,271)
(3,656)Provisions(4,075)
(2,770)Grants Receipts in Advance – Revenue(2,844)
(83)Grants Receipts in Advance – Capital(2,850)
(64,903)Current Liabilities(74,838)
(1,655)Long-Term Provisions(1,104)
(220,325)Long Term Borrowing(224,323)
(23,438)Other Long-Term Liabilities(31,239)
(6,090)Pension Liabilities(5,347)
(6,408)Grants Receipts in Advance - Capital(8,911)
(257,916)Long Term Liabilities(270,924)
657,238Net Assets639,440
(82,266)Usable Reserves(83,951)
(574,972)Unusable Reserves(555,489)
(657,238)Total Reserves(639,440)

Group Movement in Reserves Statement 2024/25

The Group Movement in Reserves Statement shows the movement from the start of the year to the end on different reserves held by the Council and its subsidiaries, analysed into ‘Usable Reserves’ (i.e. those that can be applied to fund expenditure or reduce local taxation) and other ‘Unusable Reserves’. This Statement shows how the movements in the year of the Council's and subsidiary's reserves are broken down between gains and losses incurred in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and the statutory adjustments required to return to the amounts chargeable to council tax (or rents) for the year. The net Increase/Decrease line shows the statutory General Fund Balance movements in the year following those adjustments. The General Fund also includes earmarked reserves.

Group Movement in Reserves Statement 2024/25
noneGeneral Fund Balance
in thousands of pounds
Retained Earnings Adjustment
in thousands of pounds
Earmarked Reserve Balance
in thousands of pounds
Capital Receipts Reserve
in thousands of pounds
Capital Grants unapplied
in thousands of pounds
Total Usable Reserves
in thousands of pounds
Unusable Reserves
in thousands of pounds
Total Authority Reserves
in thousands of pounds
Balance At 1 April 2024(9,500)(4,643)(46,811)2,856(24,169)(82,266)(574,972)(657,238)
Movement in Reserves during 2024/25:
Deficit on the provision of services
34,685383 none none none35,068 none35,068
Other Comprehensive Income and Expenditure none none none none none none(17,006)(17,006)
Total Comprehensive Income and Expenditure34,685383 none none none35,068(17,006)18,062
Adjustments between group accounts and authority accounts none(263) none(3,900) none(4,163)3,900(263)
Adjustments between accounting basis and funding basis under regulations(36,566) none none(4,078)8,055(32,589)32,589 none
Net (Increase)/Decrease in year 2024/25 before Transfers to earmarked reserves(1,881)121 none(7,978)8,055(1,683)19,48317,800
Other adjustments:
Transfers to earmarked reserves
1,494 none(1,494) none none none none none
Net (Increase)/Decrease in year 2024/25 before Transfers to earmarked reserves(387)121(1,494)(7,978)8,055(1,683)19,48317,800
Closing Balance as at 31 March 2025(9,887)(4,522)(48,305)(5,122)(16,114)(83,950)(555,489)(639,439)
Group Movement in Reserves Statement 2023/24
noneGeneral Fund Balance
in thousands of pounds
Retained Earnings Adjustment
in thousands of pounds
Earmarked Reserve Balance
in thousands of pounds
Capital Receipts Reserve
in thousands of pounds
Capital Grants unapplied
in thousands of pounds
Total Usable Reserves
in thousands of pounds
Unusable Reserves
in thousands of pounds
Total Authority Reserves
in thousands of pounds
Balance At 1 April 2023(10,160)(4,391)(52,876)3,402(9,006)(73,031)(692,280)(765,311)
Movement in Reserves during 2023/24:
Deficit on the provision of services
52,463(74) none none none52,389 none52,389
Other Comprehensive Income and Expenditure none13 none none none1355,53955,552
Total Comprehensive Income and Expenditure52,463(61) none none none52,40255,539107,941
Adjustments between group accounts and authority accounts323(191) none none none132 none132
Adjustments between accounting basis and funding basis under regulations(46,060) none none(546)(15,163)(61,769)61,769 none
Net (Increase)/Decrease in year 2023/24 before Transfers to earmarked reserves6,725(252) none(546)(15,163)(9,235)117,308108,073
Other adjustments:
Transfers to earmarked reserves
(6,065) none6,065 none none none none none
Net (Increase)/Decrease in year 2023/24 before Transfers to earmarked reserves660(252)6,065(546)(15,163)(9,235)117,308108,073
Closing Balance as at 31 March 2024(9,500)(4,643)(46,811)2,856(24,169)(82,266)(574,972)(657,238)

Group Cash Flow Statement

The Group Cash Flow Statement shows the change in cash and cash equivalents of the Council and its subsidiaries during the reporting period. The statement shows how the Council and its subsidiaries generate and uses cash and cash equivalents by classifying cash flows as operating, investing or financing activities. The amount of net cash flows arising from operating activities is a key indicator of the extent to which the operations of the Council are funded by way of taxation and grant income or from the recipients of services provided by the Council and its subsidiaries. Investing activities represent the extent to which cash outflows have been made for resources which intended to contribute to the Council and its subsidiaries future service delivery. Cash flows arising from financing activities are useful in predicting claims on future cash flows by providers of capital (i.e. borrowing) to the Council and subsidiaries.

Group Cash Flow Statement 2023/24
2023/24
in thousands of pounds
 2024/25
in thousands of pounds
(52,389)Net Deficit on the Provision of Services(35,067)
53,389Adjustments to net surplus or deficit on the provision of services for non-cash movements36,070
(24,354)Adjustments for items included in the net surplus or deficit on the provision of services that are investing and financing activities(18,549)
(23,354)Net cash flows from Operating Activities(17,546)
10,476Investing Activities184
(11,180)Financing Activities3,911
(24,056)Net decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents(13,451)
49,251Cash and Cash Equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period25,195
25,195Cash and Cash Equivalents at the end of the reporting period for the Group11,743

Group Accounts - Disclosures

Introduction

BexleyCo Limited is a development and regeneration company that was incorporated by the Council in June 2017. It is a company limited by shares with the Council as the sole shareholder.

As per the business plan the Company is focusing on the residential development of ten sites on a build-for-sale basis which is expected to deliver 492 properties, including affordable homes for social rent and shared ownership.

The London Borough of Bexley (the reporting authority) has one subsidiary company reported in the group accounts:

BexleyCo Limited

The London Borough of Bexley owns 100% of the share capital of BexleyCo and BexleyCo operates at the Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT.

Basis of Consolidation

The group Financial Statements i.e the group balance sheet, group movement in reserves statement and group cash flow statement have been prepared by consolidating the accounts of the reporting authority (London Borough of Bexley) and its subsidiary (BexleyCo) on a line by line basis. The accounts of BexleyCo have been prepared in accordance with paragraph 9.1.2.60 of the Code, using uniform accounting policies for like transactions and other events in similar circumstances.

Financial Performance

In 2024/25 the company made an operating loss of £0.208m (£0.123m loss in 2023/24). The turnover of BexleyCo was £0.510m (£0.558m in 2023/24) and the cost of sales was £0.294m (£0.422m in 2023/24).

Investment Properties

The Statement of Financial Position for BexleyCo includes £2.970m of Investment Properties at 31 March 2025 (£3.051m at 31 March 2024).

Inventories

Inventories of BexleyCo includes Work in Progress of £17.811m at 31 March 2025 (£4.496m at 31 March 2024).

Creditors

The Statement of Financial Position for BexleyCo includes £9.110m of Creditors at 31 March 2025 (£3.825m at 31 March 2024). Out of this, £7.086m relates to London Borough of Bexley (£2.975m at 31 March 2024). This leaves £2.024m relating to other parties (£0.850m at 31 March 2024).

Operating Cash Flows

To arrive at the net cash flows from operating activities, the cash flow statement takes the surplus or deficit on provision of services and adjusts for non-cash movements and for items that are investing or financing activities.

2023/24
in thousands of pounds
Description2024/25
in thousands of pounds
42,151Depreciation45,928
3,040Impairment and downward valuations2,683
532Amortisation490
(15,043)Decrease in creditors(1,170)
(461)Increase in debtors(6,369)
(3,864)Increase in inventories(11,750)
(843)Movement in pension liability788
22,961Carrying amount of non-current assets and non-current assets held for sale, sold or derecognised4,506
3,150Movement in fair value of investment properties819
1,765Other non-cash items charged to the net surplus or deficit on the provision of services143
53,389Total36,068

The surplus or deficit on provision of services has been adjusted for the following items that are investing and financing activities:

2023/24
in thousands of pounds
Description2024/25
in thousands of pounds
(1,029)Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment, investment property and intangible assets(7,282)
(23,325)Any other items for which cash effects are investing or financing cash flows(11,267)
(24,354)Total(18,549)

Investing Activities

The group cash flow statement includes the following cash flows relating to investing activities:

2023/24
in thousands of pounds
Description2024/25
in thousands of pounds
(15,397)Purchase of Property Plant and Equipment, Investment Property and Intangible assets(25,039)
noneOther payments for investing activities(4,354)
1,915Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment, investment property and intangible assets7,985
noneProceeds from short-term and long-term investments5,303
23,958Other receipts from investing activities16,290
10,476Net cash flows from investing activities185

Financing Activities

The group cash flow statement includes the following cash flows relating to financing activities:

2023/24
in thousands of pounds
Description2024/25
in thousands of pounds
-Cash receipts of short and long-term borrowing24,383
(2,832)Cash payments for the reduction of outstanding liabilities relating to finance leases and on-Balance-Sheet PFI contracts(955)
(31)Repayments of short and long-term borrowing(12,731)
(8,317) noneOther payments for financing activities(6,787)
(11,180)Net cash flows from financing activities(3,910)