Liss Parochial Council (LPCC) Treasurer’s Report on the Accounts for 2024
1. Introduction
Income and Expenditure for 2024 show a deficit of £8885, about £1000 less than the beginning of year budget projection, but still significant.
July saw the launch of the Friends of St Mary’s (FOSM). Some thirty people have subscribed and/or made donations, the majority of whom are not regular worshippers, but people who value the presence of St Mary’s as a building. This represents a good start, but also needs to be a base on which more is built.
In March a generous legacy of £20,225 was received from the estate of the late Rita Dibben. A new Legacy deposit account has been created, into which this has been placed. It is deemed to be ‘Designated’ i.e. not available as unrestricted income, and needing PCC approval for it to be spent.
In November Revds Clare Welham and Graham Hamborg spoke on consecutive Sundays about the need for increased generous giving if we are to pay our way. There has been a good response, with pledged giving increasing by some 12.5% in the three months following. The challenge of maintaining and increasing financial giving remains, with the 2025 budget still needing to be a deficit budget.
2. Receipts and Payments
A. Unrestricted Funds
As noted above, we ended the year with a deficit.
Total voluntary giving in 2024 increased by just over £1000 from 2023. This was less than the rate of inflation. Fees income from weddings and funerals was down, simply because there were fewer of them – something, obviously, beyond our control. The highly successful summer fête raised over £2300. Net income on the Parish Magazine was down, and maintaining levels of both subscriptions and advertising is challenging.
On the expenditure side, the largest single item is the Parish Share, the system by which ministry is provided across the Diocese of Portsmouth, including our own priest in charge. 2024 saw an increase from £70,538 to £74,064 (there is to be no increase for us in 2025). This is a first call on our resources, and one which we can be glad to meet in view of its prime importance. For the second year running expenditure on repairs and maintenance was relatively low; we are overdue a quinquennial inspection, which will no doubt throw up some necessary work to be done once it is undertaken.
We have been able to support the work of those missions and charities to which the PCC made a two-year commitment of support: Liss Youth Centre (Crossover), Samara’s Aid, Mosaic Middle East, and Crossways Counselling. Through special collections and events we have also supported Rock Projects Uganda and the Children’s Society, and made further donations to Samara’s Aid.
At the end of the year the balance of unrestricted funds was £9970 in our bank accounts and £49,279 in a Deposit Fund.
B. Designated and Restricted Funds
The PCC holds a number of deposit accounts designated for an/or restricted to particular purposes:
The Children and Families Mission (CFM) Fund started life with a generous sum given for the purpose of employing a youth worker. It has been added to along the way, and its balance at the end of 2024 was £49,341. It is to be hoped that this can soon be used towards the employment of a part-time youth worker/children and families minister.
What is often referred to as the Roof Fund (and remains so described in the Accounts) has been re-designated by the PCC as a Fabric Fund, which can be used for other buildings maintenance purposes than the roof. Its balance at the end of 2024 was £19,206. Some further expenditures relating to work on the chancel roof were outstanding, and have been made in the first part of 2025. It needs now to be determined how much (or, hopefully, how little) work is needed on the nave roof. The Hart Male Voice Choir held a concert for this fund, which regrettably did not raise a huge sum (£138 after costs). Our thanks to some donors who have made contributions to this fund.
C. Friends of St Mary’s (FOSM)
FOSM is not an independent charity, but holds a separate bank account and deposit account within the PCC accounts. Giving can be made to FOSM via the Parish Giving Scheme, who are able to distinguish between income for St Mary’s Church and for FOSM. We are grateful to those people, some church members but the majority not, who have helped to form a committee to progress the work of FOSM. The ofÏcial launch was of FOSM was in July, on the same day as the church fête.
A significant donation was made for the specific purpose of renovation and cleaning of the reredos, which was undertaken during the year.
The balance of FOSM funds at the end of 2024 was £4284.
The Legacy Fund (referred to above) had an end of year balance of £20,698.
3. Policies
During the year the PCC passed a Reserves Policy as follows:
‘The PCC will hold a minimum of £30,000 in reserves. The funds constituting ‘Reserves’ comprise the PCC’s current accounts and CBF Deposit Fund General Account.’ The sum of £30,000 constitutes a little under three months’ operating costs.
During the year the PCC also approved a Legacy Policy, which stated that:
(1) As part of our overall giving strategy, we shall promote the leaving of a legacy to St Mary’s, with sensitive leaflets and documentation. We shall encourage legacy giving to be unrestricted, while making the promise that we shall respect expressed wishes of the deceased in their will or of their next of kin and family i.e. it will be income designated in accordance with wishes expressed or as the PCC determines.
(2) We shall have a separate CBF Deposit Fund into which all legacy income goes. The treasurer will keep note of preferences or wishes expressed in relation to monies therein.
(3) It will be our usual assumption that legacy income will be used for particular projects or development needs. While these may be buildings related, they need not necessarily be so.
The first paragraph has not yet been acted on, and it is to be hoped that it will be during 2025. It would be good if many a will included a legacy to St Mary’s, even if only small.
5. Thanks
My thanks to the members of the Finance committee – John Heath (chair), Rev Clare Welham and Michael Oakley – for their support and scrutiny. My thanks, too, to Rodney Fisher, who has continued to make his advice and expertise available, and has done the major part of the work of preparing these accounts. My thanks to Michael Oakley for his weekly, reliable banking, and to Ruth Hamborg, who processes our Gift Aid.
Michaela Surtees undertook many of the regular, weekly aspects of parish finance as part of her work, and I would like to record our thanks to her for her all that she gave over many years. We wish her well in her new stage of life.
Graham Hamborg
On behalf of the Finance Committee February 2025
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LISS PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Reg Charity:1128279 Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 December 2024 Receipts and Payments
| Receipts and Payments | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Fund | **Designated ** | Restricted | All Funds | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| RECEIPTS | Notes | (Note C) | (Note D) | ||||
| Voluntary | |||||||
| Planned giving | 56,858 | 56,711 | 56,858 | 56,711 | |||
| Gift aid tax recovered | 16,986 | 12,792 | 217 | 17,203 | 14,301 | ||
| Collections at services | 3,610 | 2,598 | 859 | 4,469 | 4,103 | ||
| Donations and Appeals | 3,156 | 7,500 | 21,881 | 25,037 | 26,757 | ||
| Voluntary Receipts Total | 80,610 | 79,601 | - | 22,957 | 103,567 | 101,872 | |
| Legacies | - | 20,000 | 20,000 | 5,000 | |||
| Grants | 6 | 1,450 | 1,800 | 7,000 | 8,450 | 18,865 | |
| Activities | |||||||
| Fundraising | 2,705 | - | 3,475 | 6,180 | 6,395 | ||
| Sale of Fixtures | - | 1,051 | - | 1,051 | |||
| Parish magazine income | 10 | 2,765 | 3,532 | 2,765 | 3,532 | ||
| Fees for weddings/funerals | 7 | 1,388 | 3,942 | 1,388 | 3,942 | ||
| Property rent | 2 | 9,540 | 8,700 | 9,540 | 8,700 | ||
| Church Hire Fees | 738 | 1,345 | 738 | 1,345 | |||
| Activity Receipts Total | 17,136 | 18,570 | - | 3,475 | 20,611 | 24,965 | |
| Interest & Investment Income | |||||||
| Dividends | ** | 700 | - | 700 | |||
| Bank & Deposit interest | 2,053 | 1,480 | 2,291 | 968 | 5,312 | 7,331 | |
| Investment Income Total | 2,053 | 2,180 | 2,291 | 968 | 5,312 | 8,031 | |
| RECEIPTS Total | 101,249 | 102,151 | 29,291 | 27,400 | 157,940 | 158,733 | |
| PAYMENTS | |||||||
| Diocesan Share | 8 | 74,064 | 70,538 | 74,064 | 70,538 | ||
| Clergy & Staffing | |||||||
| Clergy & Reader expenses | 9 | 613 | 347 | 613 | 347 | ||
| Salaries | 9,559 | 9,868 | 9,559 | 9,868 | |||
| Staff Training | 144 | 144 | |||||
| Rectory costs | 640 | 32 | 640 | 32 | |||
| Clergy & Staffing Total | 10,956 | 10,247 | - | - | 10,956 | 10,247 | |
| Charitable Giving | 11 | 4,100 | 1,825 | 15,520 | 19,620 | 19,101 | |
| Church Running Costs | |||||||
| Insurance | 2,155 | 2,099 | 2,155 | 2,099 | |||
| Building maintenance | 5 | 1,334 | 2,065 | 5,280 | 6,614 | 2,065 | |
| Services Expenses | 684 | 1,265 | 684 | 1,265 | |||
| Housekeeping | 334 | 263 | 334 | 263 | |||
| Churchyard | 5,020 | 1,080 | 5,020 | 1,080 | |||
| Gas/electricity/water | 5,381 | 4,794 | 5,381 | 4,794 | |||
| Telephone & Internet | 515 | 460 | 515 | 460 | |||
| Photocopying | 10,13 | 1,653 | 1,339 | 1,653 | 1,339 | ||
| Administration | 1,586 | 1,836 | 250 | 1,836 | 1,836 | ||
| Church Running Costs Total | 18,662 | 15,201 | - | 5,530 | 24,192 | 15,201 | |
| Activities | |||||||
| Parish magazine costs | 10,13 | 1,795 | 1,927 | 1,795 | 1,927 | ||
| Children & Family | 14 | 236 | 14 | 236 | |||
| Event Expenses | 511 | 511 | 428 | ||||
| Hospitality & Community Events | 543 | 543 | 543 | 543 | |||
| Activity Payments Total | 2,352 | 2,706 | - | 511 | 2,863 | 3,134 | |
| PAYMENTS Total | 110,134 | 100,517 | - | 21,561 | 131,695 | 118,221 | |
| Reordering & Roof payments | 1,127 | 1,127 | 102,471 | ||||
| NET RECEIPTS/-PAYMENTS | A | -8,885 | 1,634 | 28,164 | 5,839 | 25,118 | -61,959 |
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LISS PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Reg Charity:1128279 Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 December 2024 Assets and Liabilities
| Assets and Liabilities | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| Notes | Fund | Funds | Funds | All Funds | All Funds | |
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| ASSETS | 1 | |||||
| Freehold Property | 2 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | ||
| Investments at Market Value | - | |||||
| Deposit Fund | B | 49,729 | 65,290 | 24,877 | 139,896 | 99,103 |
| Bank - Current Accounts | 9,970 | - | 4,824 | 14,794 | 30,469 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 209,699 | 65,290 | 29,701 | 304,690 | 279,572 | |
| Note C | Note D | |||||
| LIABILITIES (Note 13) | ||||||
| Roofing Costs | 2,227 | 2,227 | 6,129 | |||
| Salary Costs | 762 | 762 | - | |||
| Utilities | 673 | 673 | - | |||
| Prepaid Magazine Adverts | - | 509 | ||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 1,435 | - | 3,662 | 6,638 | ||
| NET ASSETS | 208,264 | 65,290 | 29,701 | 301,028 | 272,934 | |
| 2023 | 218,075 | 30,997 | 23,862 | 272,934 |
Approved by Liss PCC on …............................ Signed on their behalf by Rev Clare Welham (Liss PCC Chair)
| ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOTE A -Bank Current Accounts | |||||||||
| At 1st January | 28,661 | - | 397 |
2,205 | 30,469 | 22,187 | |||
| Receipts/(-Payts) | Page 1 | -8,885 | 28,164 | 5,839 | 25,118 | -54,552 | |||
| Interest on Deposit Funds | B | -1,806 | -2,291 | -968 | -5,065 | -7,407 | |||
| Deposit Transfers | B | -8,000 | - | 25,476 |
- | 2,252 |
-35,728 | 70,241 | |
| At 31st December | 9,970 | - | 4,824 | 14,794 | 30,469 | ||||
| Note B -Deposit Funds | |||||||||
| At 1st January | 39,923 | 37,523 | 21,657 | 99,103 | 113,436 | ||||
| Interest Received | A | 1,806 | 2,291 | 968 | 5,065 | 7,407 | |||
| Sale of Investments | 55,908 | ||||||||
| Bank Transfers | A | 8,000 | 25,476 | 2,252 | 35,728 | - | 77,648 |
||
| At 31st December | 49,729 | 65,290 | 24,877 | 139,896 | 99,103 |
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LISS PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Reg Charity:1128279 Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 December 2024 Assets and Liabilities (Continued)
| Note C -DESIGNATED FUNDS | Notes | Roof | Child & Fam | Legacies | Totals | Totals | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Note 5 | Mission | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Legacies | 20,000 | 20,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
| Donation | - | 1,000 | |||||||
| Interest Received | 609 | 984 | 698 | 2,291 | 4,397 | ||||
| Fundraising | - | 304 | |||||||
| Grants | 6 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 17,065 | |||||
| Total Income | 7,609 | 984 | 20,698 | 29,291 | 27,766 | ||||
| Expenditure | |||||||||
| Contractor Costs | - | 86,846 | |||||||
| Architect Fees | 1,127 | 1,127 | 12,192 | ||||||
| Bat Survey | - | 3,433 | |||||||
| Total Expense | 1,127 | - | 1,127 | 102,471 | |||||
| Net Expense(-)/Income | 6,482 | 984 | 20,698 | 28,164 | -74,705 | ||||
| Balance 1 January | 10,425 | 26,700 | 37,125 | 96,681 | |||||
| Cost Transfer- Restricted Fund | - | 15,149 | |||||||
| Balance 31 December | 16,907 | 27,684 | 20,698 | 65,289 | 37,125 | ||||
| Note D -RESTRICTED FUNDS | Notes | Roof | Child & Fam | Priest in | Events & | Friends of | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Mission | Charge Fnds | Collections | St Marys | Total | Total | ||||
| Note 12 | |||||||||
| Income | |||||||||
| Donations | 1,040 | 12,069 | 1,442 | 7,330 | 21,881 | 18,257 | |||
| Fundraising | 12 | 1,678 | 1,452 | 345 | 3,475 | 6,091 | |||
| Church Collections | 859 | 859 | 1,505 | ||||||
| Gift aid tax recovered | 217 | 217 | 1,509 | ||||||
| Interest Received | 921 | 47 | 968 | 1,454 | |||||
| Total Income | 2,718 | 921 | 12,069 | 3,753 | 7,939 | 27,400 | 28,816 | ||
| Expenditure | |||||||||
| Charitable Giving | 11 | 11,859 | 3,661 | 15,520 | 17,276 | ||||
| Repairs & Maintenance | 5,280 | 5,280 | |||||||
| Administrative Costs | 250 | 250 | |||||||
| Event Expenses | 12 | 419 | 92 | 511 | 428 | ||||
| Total Expense | 419 | - | 11,859 | 3,753 | 5,530 | 21,561 | 17,704 | ||
| Net Expense(-)/Income | 2,299 | 921 | 210 | - | 2,409 | 5,839 | 11,112 | ||
| Balance 1 January | - | 21,657 | 330 | 1,875 | 23,862 | 27,899 | |||
| **Cost Allocation frm Designated ** | - | - | 15,149 |
||||||
| Balance 31 December | 2,299 | 22,578 | 540 | - | 4,284 | 29,701 | 23,862 |
LISS PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Reg Charity:1128279
Page 4 of 5
Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 December 2024
Additional Notes
- 1 The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance the Charities Act 2011
and the Church Accounting Regulations 2006. The Receipts and Payments statement is
prepared on a cash basis. The Statement of Assets and Liabilities reflects asset values and accruals.
Movable church furnishings held by churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, are recognised but not valued .
2 Freehold Property
St Marys and its surrounds are on land given to the PCC in 1895.
In 2000, part of the original land grant, including that on which a church hall had been built, was sold to a developer, who agreed to build, at his expense, a replacement hall on the remaining land with the PCC. The developer estimated the hall cost at £150,000, and PCC valued the property accordingly.
The buildings sum insured for 2024 property insurance policy is £485,000.
The insurance underwriters last formally valued the property in February 2019 at £350,000.
The church hall is leased to Liss Youth Centre Limited ("Crossover") for 10 years to 31st December 2025. Under the lease the tenant is responsible for full repairs and all insurance costs.
The annual rent for the first 5 years was £7,200. The annual rent for 2021 was agreed at £8000, with increments of £350 in each of the following 4 calendar years.
3 The PCC's General Fund Cash Reserve Policy is disclosed in the Treasurer's Report
4 Investments
The Deposit Funds are invested by CCLA in the CBF Church of England (CoE) Deposit Fund a "Deposit Rate Tracker", which aims to provide a high level of capital security and competive rates of interest, suitable for all CoE Charity's short term investments.
5 Quinquennial Review
The last Quinquennial survey was carried out in August 2016 The quinquennial assessment has been deferred to 2025.
| **6 ** | Grants Received | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EHDC towards Churchyard maintenance | 1,200 | 1,100 | |
| Liss Parish Council | 250 | 200 | |
| Portsmouth Diocese Church Energy Grant | 500 | ||
| Subtotal | 1,450 | 1,800 | |
| Hampshire & Island Churches Trust re Roof Tile Replacement | 7,000 | ||
| Listed Places of Worship (LPOW) Grant Scheme - Roof Tile replacement in 2023 | 17,065 | ||
| LPOW grants are based on VAT paid on fixed building infrastructure costs, including professional fees. |
7 Fees From Weddings and Funerals
| Fees From Weddings and Funerals | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Amount Received by PCC net of disbursements | 3,431 | 6,186 | ||
| Payments to Diocese | - | 2,043 |
- | 2,244 |
| Net Income | 1,388 | 3,942 |
8 Diocesan Share
An allocation of Portsmouth Diocese annual Parish Cost budget of aprox £5million, covering i) Clergy salaries, pension contribution, housing and other expenses
ii) Outreach, mission, education and social work
which are apportioned between parishes, rather than a recovery of actual costs.
The Diocesan Synod has advised the 2025 Parish Share would remain at the 2024 level of £74,064 A proportion of fees received for weddings and funerals is paid to the Diocese (Note 7)
LISS PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Reg Charity:1128279 Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 December 2024 Additional Notes (Continued)
Page 5 of 5
9 Clergy & Reader expenses
Payments made to Clergy & Readers were direct reimbursement of monies spent and car allowances arising from travel on church business.
No sums were paid to PCC members other than for reimbursement of expenditure incurred, which is recorded in the accounts under the appropriate headings.
| **10 ** | Parish Magazine | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Advertising | 603 | 1,223 | |
| Subscriptions | 2,162 | 2,309 | |
| Total Income | 2,765 | 3,532 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Copier Costs (allocation) & Postage | 1,727 | 1,927 | |
| Net Income | 1,038 | 1,605 | |
| Income is billed for a calendar year. | |||
| **11 ** | Charitable Giving | ||
| From Parish Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Crossover | 1,800 | 1,800 | |
| Crossways Counselling | 730 | ||
| Samara | 730 | ||
| Mosaic | 730 | ||
| Uganda Rock Project | 85 | ||
| Hampshire & Island Churches Trust | 25 | 25 | |
| 4,100 | 1,825 | ||
| From Special Collections (See Footnote and Note D) ** | |||
| Events-Pop up Breakfast - Samara Earth Quake | 1,015 | 1,147 | |
| Other Breakfasts - Samara Earth Quake | 462 | 359 | |
| - Ride & Stride (50% rebated) | 1,000 | ||
| - Ukrainian Choir Concert | 887 | ||
| Special Collections- Royal British Legion | 430 | 390 | |
| - Childrens Society Christingle | 429 | 429 | |
| - Uganda Rock Project | 325 | 606 | |
| 3,661 | 3,818 | ||
| From Funds Donated for Specified Charities (Note D) | 11,859 | 13,358 | |
| Charitable Giving Expenditure Total | 19,620 | 19,001 |
** Footnote on Special collections.
These include donations for specific causes payable to the benefitting charity in full. The PCC is usually able to recover Gift Aid on such donations and pass it onto the Charity.
12 Fund Raising Events for Roof Fund
| Fund Raising Events for Roof Fund | 2024 | 2023 |
| Barn Dance (Part) | 261 | 537 |
| Quiz Night | 859 | |
| Hart Male Voice Choir | 139 | |
| Soup Kitchen | 801 | |
| Spirit of Music Concert | 1,191 | |
| Sienna Choir Concert | 1,167 | |
| Jazz Concert | 953 | |
| Liss Forest Tea Tent | 304 | |
| 1,259 | 4,953 |
13 Non Cancellable Long Term Lease Commitment
2024 2023
The PCC has agreed to lease a photocopier for 5 years ending January 2027 The annual amount of non-cancellable lease payments including VAT
1,580 1,580
Independent examiner's report on the accounts of The Parothial Church Counol OfThe Ecdesia5tiol Parish Of St Marfs. Liss Rewstered Charity No: 1128279 I rept to the trustees my exarninion of the accounts d the above dwrity ("the T) forthe year ended 31st December 2024. As the chariV5 trustee5. v(w are responsible for the preparation of the aco)unts in ac£ordance with the requirements of the Charbties Act 20111.the Acri. I report in respert of my examination of the TNSYS accounts carried out under sertlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity CommissM)n under section 145{51{b) of the ACL I have completed My exarnination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attentron in connection with the examination which gives rne cause to believe that in. any materi•l respect: the accounti records were not kept in accordance sectlon 130 of the Charities Act: or the accounts did not accord ith the acC£ntIng records: or the accounts did not cofflply with the appli(3ble requirements concernlng the fonn and content of accounts set in the Charities IA¢counts and Reports) Regulations 21M other than any requirement that the actounts glve a 'true and fairf view which is not a Matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters In ¢onnection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thi5 rew>rt in order to enable a proper undwstsnding of the accounts to be reached. -.06103ft025.-_-. Leonie Sadler ACMA 19 phOOk Road Whltehlll GU35 9DA