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2024-03-31-accounts

CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ESSEX

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2025

Reference and Administration details

The Campaign to Protect Rural Essex also operates under the abbreviated name “CPREssex” .

CPREssex’ registered Charity Number is 1094178 and registered Company Number is 4536412

The Registered Address is

RCCE House, Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Rd, Feering, Colchester, CO5 9SE.

The Trustees (who also are the directors of the Company) during the period since 1 April 2024 were:

Mr D N Knight - Chairman until he retired at the AGM on 5 October 2024 Mrs T Petra Ward - Chairman from the AGM on 5 October 2024

Mrs P Moxey Mr J R Bloxsome Mr R H Haynes Mr D T Mead (appointed at the AGM on 5 October 2024) Mr J Palombi Mr R P Ward

The Trustees are the members of the elected Executive Committee and are appointed or re-appointed at each Annual General Meeting of CPREssex.

During the year £271 has been paid to Trustees in reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of CPREssex.

The Volunteer Administrator is Liz Lucas and the Executive is extremely grateful for her support during the year.

Bankers

CAF Bank, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA National Westminster Bank plc, 8 The Vineyards, Great Baddow, Essex, CM2 7QR Nationwide Building Society, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6NW

Independent Examiner

Mrs Janet E Stobart FCCA, 19, Westfield Drive, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1PU.

Structure, Governance and Management

CPREssex is constituted as a Company limited by guarantee and is governed under Articles of Association adopted on 3 October 2020 .

CPREssex is the Essex branch of The Campaign to Protect Rural England – CPRE - (registered Charity number 1089685).

Trustees are selected by the members of the Executive Committee, after seeking volunteers, and appointed by the members at the Annual General Meeting.

Objectives and Activities

The objectives of CPREssex are to promote and encourage, for the benefit of the public, the improvement and protection of the Essex countryside and its towns and villages, and the better development of the rural environment.

How CPREssex operates

The members of CPREssex are those members of CPRE who live in Essex. CPREssex has approximately 400 individual members and also about 60 organisations (parish councils and local amenity groups).

Many of CPREssex’ activities are carried out by District Groups. Our aim is to have such Groups based in each of the local authority districts in the county - Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Castle Point, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Rochford, Southend, Tendring, Thurrock and Uttlesford.

In order to fulfil its objectives, CPREssex is actively involved in monitoring planning applications, including local authority Development Plans, proposals for new roads including a further Thames Crossing, mineral extractions and waste management. It also engages in discussions with officers of District and County Council planning departments who seek the views of CPREssex.

The trustees, in making decisions about CPREssex activities, have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

CPREssex is one of the county branches which together form CPRE East of England Regional Group, the others being Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Review of Financial Activity.

The Statement of Financial Activities shows a net surplus before investment gains or losses of £1,990, compared with a surplus of £1,211 in 2023-24.

There was an overall increase in the value of investments of £5,624. (In 2023-24 investments increased in value by £4,674.) No further investments were made in the year.

No donations were made from the Mill Fund during the year.

At 31 March 2025 there was a balance of £168,293 on the General Fund, including investments of £78,135. The Mill Fund had a balance of £10,636.

The reserves (the General Fund) are used to fund any excess of expenditure over income incurred by the employment of staff, or otherwise. This practice will be continued until the General Fund seems likely to fall to the equivalent of 9 months expenditure within the following 6 months. At this point steps must be taken by the Executive to cut costs to a level that ensures that expenditure can be met from cash receipts, so that no further demands are made on the General Fund.

This policy will be reviewed by the Executive Committee from time to time.

CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ESSEX Registered Charity No 1094178 Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No 4536412

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

Note
INCOME
From voluntary sources
Subscriptions
Donations (including Gift Aid)
Patrons Club
Other donations
Transfer from East of England Region
From assets
Bank interest
Total Income
EXPENDITURE
Promotional activities
Communications advice
Member communications &Website
Volunteer recruitment
Other expenditure
Planning Advice
Report on Greening the Grid
Premises & Insurance
Computer Support & Telecomms
Copying, Postage & Stationery
Trustees' Expenses
Room Hire and Meetings
Other payments
Regulatory & Financial Fees
Subscriptions & Donations
Total Payments
Net Deficit (Income) before investment gains and losses
Increase in the Value of Investments
2
TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2024/25
£
£
£
16,272
0
16,272
2,500
0
2,500
947
0
947
0
0
0
2,824
0
2,824
22,543
0
22,543
14,339
0
14,339
1,144
0
1,144
0
0
0
5,376
0
5,376
0
0
0
1,090
0
1,090
664
0
664
0
0
0
271
0
271
563
0
563
451
0
451
635
0
635
24,533
0
24,533
-1,990
0
-1,990
4,592
1,032
5,624
165,691
9,604
175,295
£168,293
£10,636
£178,929		 Total
2023/24
£
16,300
2,500
907
6,770
1,869
28,346
13,849
1,074
1,093
5,371
2,000
1,493
475
146
419
477
653
85
£27,135
1,211
4,674
169,410
£175,295

CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ESSEX Registered Charity No 1094178

Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No 4536412

BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST MARCH 2025

Note
INVESTMENTS
2
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at Bank
CafCash cheque account
CafCash Gold account
Nationwide account
Nat West
Prepayments and receivables
LESS CREDITORS
Amounts due within one year
TOTAL ASSETS
FUNDS
Unrestricted
Restricted
3		 £
£
88,771
4,563
31,070
59,130
61
0
94,824
4,666
90,158
£178,929
168,293
10,636
£178,929
31 March 2025		 £
£
83,291
2,360
37,690
57,144
165
500
97,859
5,855
92,004
£175,295
165,691
9,604
£175,295
31 March 2024		 £
£
83,291
2,360
37,690
57,144
165
500
97,859
5,855
92,004
£175,295
165,691
9,604
£175,295
31 March 2024
£175,295
165,691
9,604
£175,295

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies regime.

Signature 07 August 2025 Signature 07 August 2025 TP Ward JR Bloxsome Chairman Treasurer

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees and Directors of Campaign to Protect Rural Essex Registered Charity No 1094178 Company No 4536412

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

have not been met; or

Mrs JE Stobart, FCCA 19 Westfield Drive, Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1PU 03 July 2025

CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ESSEX Registered Charity No 1094178 Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No 4536412

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Preparation of Accounts

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments measured at market value. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards for Smaller Entities and the requirements of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (SORP 2015)

Cash Flow Statement

The trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No 1 (revised) from including a cash flow statament in the financial statements on the grounds that the company is small

Tangible Fixed Assets

Tangible Fixed Assets costing at least £250 are capitalised on the following basis Rates of depreciation: Office Equipment 20% straight line basis IT Equipment written off in year of purchase A full year's depreciation is charged in the year of purchase

Fund Accounting

Funds held by the charity are either:

These are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable Unrestricted Funds objects at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted Funds These funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Income

Income and donations are accounted for as receved by the charity.

Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the charity and, as such, is included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred.

2 INVESTMENTS

The charity holds two investments:
Value at 31st March 2024
Purchases (Sales) in the year
Fes paid by sale of units
Increase in market value
Value at 31 March 2025
Accumulation units in the Equities Investment Fund for
Charities (Charifund) managed by M&G Investments
Accumulation units in the Vanguard Life Strategy
40% Equity Fund		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
34,405
10,636
45,041
43,730
0
43,730
£78,135
£10,636
£88,771
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
73,687
9,604
£83,291
0
0
£0
-144
0
-£144
4,592
1,032
£5,624
£78,135
£10,636
£88,771

3 RESTRICTED FUNDS

The Restricted Fund is for donations to support mills in Essex. No donations were made during the year .