Surrey
SURREY CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND LIMITED
(known as CPRE Surrey)
(A Company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' Annual Report & Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Directors, officers and advisers
| President | Anthony Isaacs |
|---|---|
| Directors and Trustees | John Goodridge - Chair |
| David Allen - Treasurer | |
| Jennet Eyre | |
| Gillian Hein | |
| Matt Mallinder - Vice-Chair (until 4 October 2024) | |
| Tim Murphy | |
| Ramsey Nagaty (appointed 31 January 2024) | |
| Keith Tothill | |
| Company registration no. | 04551761 |
| Registered charity no. | 1106245 |
| Registered Office | c/o Camabelu Limited, Office 44, A30 Business Centre |
| Higher Stockley Mead, Okehampton, EX20 1BG | |
| Bankers | CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, |
| West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ | |
| Website | www.cpresurrey.org.uk |
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Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2024 (incorporating the Directors' Report)
The Trustees are pleased to present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Objectives
CPRE Surrey exists to promote and protect the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural Surrey by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. It is actively involved in the land use planning process and in consultation on national, county and district policy formulation and implementation in this context. CPRE Surrey is an advisory member to the Board of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, appears at public enquiries, and endeavours to comment on major planning applications in all districts. We campaign strongly for the protection, promotion and enhancement of the countryside throughout the county and for the improvement of environmental quality.
Governing Document
Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England Limited is a company limited by guarantee (number 4551761) and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted 2 October 2002 and amended 23 April 2010 and 31 July 2020. It is also registered as a charity (number 1106245) with the Charity Commission. The members of the Board of Trustees are trustees under charity law and directors under company law. They are known also as Board Members.
While CPRE Surrey is constituted as a separate legal entity from Campaign to Protect Rural England, the national charity number 1089685 (‘CPRE’), we have very similar objectives and use CPRE’s branding. CPRE Surrey is an active member of the CPRE network or federation, comprised of all the CPRE local charities, which collectively have 70% of the voting rights at the CPRE AGM. CPRE Surrey supports and contributes to the work of CPRE at a national and governmental level. The close collaboration with CPRE, other CPRE local charities and through the South East Regional Group, leads to sharing of expertise, resources and support which is vital to the effectiveness of CPRE Surrey. We are dependent on receiving our share of the membership fees, which are collected and allocated by CPRE and passed on as income.
Activities and Performance in 2024
I am pleased to report that the board of trustees has remained unchanged in 2024, although several members have voiced their intention to move on, and we are continually looking for new trustees.
After the election in the summer of 2024, the charity has been busy positioning itself to voice our concerns against potential development in green spaces in Surrey. Whilst we acknowledge a housing crisis, and appreciate that many more houses need to be built, we believe the process is not being held up by local authorities, or residents objecting to development near them, but by developers keen to maximise profits.
The National Landscape Boundary Review progresses and we have commented on it and attended presentations when they have happened. I have continued to represent the charity on the advisory board of the Surrey Hills National Landscape and we are hoping for a final new proposed boundary sometime in H1 2025.
The AGM was held at Denbies Wine Estate in October and was well attended with a talk from Sarah Finch on the work of the Weald Action Group against oil drilling and also by the Chief Executive of our National Charity, Roger Mortlock.
We continue to strive to attract volunteers, especially from the younger sector of our society. We have been successful to a point on this, with several new additions to our team.
We are championing hedgerow creation in collaboration with the Surrey Hills Society. They organise annual plantings and we have been active in recruiting for their organised events this winter. We hope to increase the number of volunteers so that we may be able to host our own events (outside the National Landscape) in the years to come.
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Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2024 (incorporating the Directors' Report)
Activities and Performance in 2024- continued
We have been involved in many planning applications throughout the year, and have often been vindicated in our views with the decisions made by the planning committees. We strongly opposed the solar park that Surrey University proposed to build on their land at Blackwell Farm but unfortunately they were granted permission.
It has been a busy 2024, and 2025 presents enormous challenges as our county comes to terms with the massive amount of building the government wants to take place in Surrey.
Public Benefit
The charity's trustees have complied with their duty in Section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission.
Financial Review
Income and expenditure
A slight drop in income from subscriptions was more than offset by high rates of interest and dividends earned on our reserves. Although we had planned to run at a small deficit when we took on Andy Smith as a consultant in April 2024, the result before gains on investments was actually a small surplus of £2,619. After adding in the gain on investments of £2,182, the overall surplus on unrestricted funds was £4,801.
The restricted fund also benefitted from high rates of interest during the year and, as a result, increased from £20,316 to £21,321.
Investments and reserves policy
Our reserves policy is to maintain an unrestricted fund equivalent to at least 6 months expenditure and following the large donation in 2023 we are clearly well over this level. However, we still plan to utilise some of the surplus funds by increasing the resources available to CPRE Surrey to carry out our day to day work and increase our effectiveness.
Reserves that are unlikely to be spent in the near future are invested in the CCLA COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund. Most other reserves are held in the CCLA COIF Charities Deposit Fund which pays a near market rate of interest.
Structure and management of CPRE Surrey
Management of CPRE Surrey is carried out by the Board, with the assistance of a team of part time freelance service providers. The services provided include administration, co-ordination of planning volunteers and social media, and these were boosted during the year when Andy Smith was added to the team. David Allen is Treasurer and handles financial reporting, service contracts, 100 club and budgeting and runs the bank accounts of the charity together with the Chair. The Chair is responsible for running the charity and fulfilling all the legal responsibilities of CPRE Surrey.
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Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2024 (incorporating the Directors' Report)
Governance
The Articles of Association were amended by Special Resolution at the Annual General Meeting held (virtually) in July 2020. The amendments to CPRE Surrey Articles conform to changes under the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011 and were in a form approved by the Board of CPRE. The revised Articles reflect the way CPRE Surrey is now run and, in addition to the formation of district committees, enable the establishment of specialist topic committees in Surrey. At the Annual General Meeting every year the officers and trustees are elected to form the Board of CPRE Surrey. The minimum number of Board members is five with a maximum number of ten, the term of office is now limited to six consecutive years after which they must stand down for at least one year before seeking re-election at the following AGM.
Retiring board members have been traditionally appointed as Vice Presidents at the AGM. Some remain actively involved volunteering their time and expertise to further our charitable purposes. They are also essential to train up and encourage new volunteers joining the planning team or as new Board members. Induction and training of new volunteers and trustees is provided by CPRE. They have re-instituted the Planning Induction course, as well as a more general introduction to CPRE for newly recruited member/volunteers.
Risk management
The Trustees are responsible for identifying the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed and ensuring that steps are taken to manage these risks.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The Trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK Accounting Standards and applicable law). The financial statements are required to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue operations.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
This report has been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
John Goodridge – Chair 3 April 2025
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Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England Ltd
(known as CPRE Surrey) Company re no 04551761 Registered Charity no 1106245
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
(1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or (2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or
(3) the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
(4) the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
C N Barnard FCA
Camabelu Limited Accrue Workplaces The Long Barn Cobham Park Road Cobham, Surrey KT11 3NE
Date: 9 April 2025
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Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024 (including Income and Expenditure Account)
| Notes Income from: Donations and legacies Share of subscription income 4 Donations Legacies Other trading activities Fund raising events Investments 5 Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds Direct costs of fundraising Indirect costs 6 Charitable activities 6 Total expenditure Net income before gains on investments Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Fund balances at 31 December 2023 Fund balances at 31 December 2024 |
Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ - 27,179 27,179 - 901 901 - - - - 1,524 1,524 1,030 8,675 9,705 1,030 38,279 39,309 - 793 793 - 2,878 2,878 25 31,989 32,014 25 35,660 35,685 1,005 2,619 3,624 - 2,182 2,182 1,005 4,801 5,806 - - - 1,005 4,801 5,806 20,316 214,857 235,173 21,321 219,658 240,979 |
Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2023 2023 2023 £ £ £ - 28,963 28,963 21,260 100,411 121,671 - - - - 1,548 1,548 56 5,616 5,672 |
|---|---|---|
| 21,316 136,538 157,854 |
||
| - 789 789 - 1,681 1,681 1,000 22,015 23,015 |
||
| 1,000 24,485 25,485 |
||
| 20,316 112,053 132,369 - 4,981 4,981 |
||
| 20,316 117,034 137,350 - - - |
||
| 20,316 117,034 137,350 - 97,823 97,823 |
||
| 20,316 214,857 235,173 |
The notes on pages 8-11 form part of these financial statements.
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024
| Notes Fixed assets Investments 9 Current assets Debtors and prepayments 10 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors - amounts falling due within one year 11 Net current assets Total net assets Total funds 12 Unrestricted funds Income reserve fund Revaluation reserve (fair value) Restricted funds |
Total Funds 2024 £ 81,689 7,476 154,295 161,771 (2,481) 159,290 240,979 212,969 6,689 219,658 21,321 240,979 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 79,507 9,351 150,047 159,398 (3,732) 155,666 235,173 210,350 4,507 214,857 20,316 235,173 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 79,507 9,351 150,047 159,398 (3,732) 155,666 235,173 210,350 4,507 214,857 20,316 235,173 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 212,969 6,689 |
210,350 4,507 |
||
| 235,173 | |||
| 214,857 20,316 |
|||
| 235,173 |
For the year ended 31 December 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
The Directors/Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The financial statements were approved by the Directors/Trustees on 3 April 2025, and signed on their behalf.
John Goodridge David Allen Chair Treasurer
The notes on pages 8-11 form part of these financial statements.
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Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
1. Accounting policies
(i) Basis of accounting
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities (SORP 2015) (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
(ii) Fund accounting
The Unrestricted fund is available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.
(iii) Income recognition
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, there is sufficient certainty of receipt and so it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
The Surrey share of subscription income received from the National Office of CPRE, and interest on deposits, are accounted for on an accruals basis. Income from events is treated as income when the events actually occur. Dividends are credited to the revenue account as they are received. Donations and legacies are recognised when the charity has entitlement to the resource and it is probable that the resources will be received.
(iv) Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised.
The charity is not registered for VAT and, where applicable, expenditure is shown inclusive of VAT. Campaign costs have been apportioned between expenditure on charitable activities and costs of raising funds based on an estimated percentage.
(v) Investments
Investments are recognised at cost and then restated at fair value each year.
(vi) Debtors and creditors receivable/payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
(vii) Cash
Cash at bank and in hand includes deposits repayable on demand made with the COIF Charities Deposit Fund, a Common Deposit Fund for charities.
(viii) Tax
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
2. The company
Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited is formed under the Companies Act and has no share capital, being a company limited by guarantee. The maximum liability of each of its members is £1.
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Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)
3. Directors/trustees information
Directors/trustees received no remuneration for their services (2023: £nil).
No expenses were reimbursed to directors/trustees (2023 £nil). There were no other related party transactions.
4. Share of subscription income
Members of CPRE who are resident in Surrey and those wishing to support Surrey are automatically members of CPRE Surrey. CPRE Surrey is funded by a variable percentage of subscriptions and linked donations which National Office pass on quarterly.
5. Investment income
| Interest Dividends from COIF Charities Investment Fund COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund xpenditure on charitable activities Campaign costs Newsletters Social media presence Administration and operational costs Communication costs PO Box costs Bank charges Donations Subscriptions Recruitment Marketing Governance AGM and Board Meetings Insurance and data protection Independent examination Registered Office Total expenditure on charitable activities Allocated to expenditure on raising funds |
Restricted Unrestricted Total 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ 1,030 6,358 7,388 - - 2,317 2,317 1,030 8,675 9,705 5,998 5,998 - 7,326 7,326 - 14,565 14,565 - 406 406 - 424 424 - 60 60 - 28,779 28,779 - (2,878) (2,878) - 25,901 25,901 - 200 200 25 2,005 2,030 949 949 354 354 |
Restricted Unrestricted Total 2023 2023 2023 £ £ £ 56 4,500 4,556 - 540 540 - 576 576 |
|---|---|---|
| 56 5,616 5,672 |
||
| 1,000 2,645 3,645 - 8,937 8,937 - 4,084 4,084 - 687 687 - 396 396 - 62 62 |
||
| 1,000 16,811 17,811 - (1,681) (1,681) |
||
| 1,000 15,130 16,130 - 2,581 2,581 - 1,660 1,660 - |
||
| 25 29,409 29,434 - 452 452 - 388 388 - 1,500 1,500 - 240 240 25 31,989 32,014 |
1,000 19,371 20,371 - 325 325 - 774 774 - 1,500 1,500 - 45 45 |
|
| 1,000 22,015 23,015 |
6. Expenditure on charitable activities
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Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)
7. Employee information
There were no employees during the year (2023 None)
The trustees consider that they comprise the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis. They are assisted in this by a number of volunteers who review local planning applications and draw attention to those that that are likely to have an adverse effect on the countryside.
8. Tangible assets
There were no tangible assets during the year (2023 £nil)
| 9. Investments Balance at 1 January 2024 Additions in the year Disposals at carrying value Revaluation for the year Balance at 31 December 2024 |
2024 £ 79,507 - - 2,182 81,689 |
2023 £ 24,086 75,000 (24,086) 4,507 |
|---|---|---|
| 79,507 |
The company holds 26,414.31 Income Units in COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund. The investment was acquired at the market value of £75,000 in August 2023 and is held at fair value.
| 10. Debtors Accrued share of subscription income Interest Gift aid 11. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year Accruals and trade creditors 100 Club prizes |
2024 £ 6,889 587 - 7,476 2024 £ 2,100 381 2,481 |
2023 £ 8,745 581 25 |
|---|---|---|
| 9,351 | ||
| 2023 £ 3,360 372 |
||
| 3,732 |
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Surrey Campaign To Protect Rural England Limited
(known as CPRE Surrey) - Company reg no. 04551761. Registered Charity no. 1106245.
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)
| 12. Analysis of movements in funds Restricted fund CPRE South East Regional Group Unrestricted fund Income reserve fund Revaluation reserve Total funds Restricted fund CPRE South East Regional Group Unrestricted fund Income reserve fund Revaluation reserve Total funds 2024 2023 |
Funds Gains / Funds 1 Jan (losses) on 31 Dec 2024 Income Expenditure investments Transfers 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 20,316 1,030 (25) - - 21,321 210,350 38,279 (35,660) 212,969 4,507 - - 2,182 6,689 |
|---|---|
| 214,857 38,279 (35,660) 2,182 - 219,658 |
|
| 235,173 39,309 (35,685) 2,182 - 240,979 |
|
| Funds Gains / Funds 1 Jan (losses) on 31 Dec 2023 Income Expenditure investments Transfers 2023 £ £ £ £ £ £ - 21,316 (1,000) - - 20,316 85,652 136,538 (24,485) 474 12,171 210,350 12,171 - - 4,507 (12,171) 4,507 |
|
| 97,823 136,538 (24,485) 4,981 - 214,857 |
|
| 97,823 157,854 (25,485) 4,981 - 235,173 |
The restricted fund is held for the benefit of the CPRE South East Region
13. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Investments Net current assets |
Restricted Unrestricted fund fund £ £ - 81,689 21,321 137,969 21,321 219,658 2024 |
Restricted Unrestricted fund fund £ £ - 79,507 20,316 135,350 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 20,316 214,857 |
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