1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015).
Turnover
Turnover represents amounts invoiced during the year, exclusive of Value Added Tax and trade discounts. Turnover is recognised when the seller obtains the right to consideration in exchange for its performance, usually on dispatch of the goods.
Current tax
Current tax is recognised in the profit and loss account, except to the extent that it is attributable to a gain or loss that has been recognised directly in the statement of total recognised gains or losses. In this case, tax is recognised in this statement. Current tax is measured at the amounts of tax expected to be paid or recovered using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.
Tangible assets
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and are subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
| Fixtures fittings and equipment | 15% Reducing balance basis |
Deferred tax
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.
Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that would apply in the periods in which timing differences are expected to reverse, based on tax rates and laws enacted at the balance sheet date.
Provision for liabilities
Provisions are recognised when it is probable that a present obligation exists, as a result of a past event, and a transfer of economic benefits is required in settlement that can be estimated reliably.
Provisions are recorded at the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the balance sheet date. A review is carried out at each balance sheet date and the amount adjusted to reflect the current best estimate.
Where discounting is used, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in the profit and loss account.
Financial instruments
Financial instruments are classified and accounted for according to the substance of contractual arrangements, as either financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments.
Operating leases
Leases are classified as operating leases where substantially all the benefits of ownerships remain with the lessor. Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the profit and loss account on a straight-line basis over the lease term.