REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07846516 IENGLAND AND WALESI
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1144840
ort of the Trustees and
Financlal Statements
for the Year Endèd 31 December 2023
for
Theo
aces Soclet
Villars Hayward LLP
Chartered Accountants
Chartered Tax Advisers
Reoistered Auditors
8oston House
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 1DY

Theo
ens
istered Com
an
aces Sode
Number.. 07846516
Re
Contents of th Flnanclal Statèments
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Page
Report of the Trustees
Report of the Independent Examiner
Statement of Financial Actlvities
Staternent of FSnancial P051tion
io
Notes to the Financial Statements
11-16

Yheo
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istered Com
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Re
Re
ort of the Trusteès
e Year Ended 31 December 2023
fort
The Trustees, who are also directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companles Act 2006, are pleased to present
their annual report together with the financlal statements of the ChaTity for the year ended 31 December 2023 and
confirm that ihey comply with the requirements of the Charitles Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, and Accountlng
and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charlties preparing their financial
statements in accordan¢e with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity Number:
1144840
Registered Company Number:
07846516
Principal and Registered Office-
25A Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BA
Independent Examiner:
Nicholas M Smith, BFP. ACA, CTA
Villars Hayward LLP,
Boston House. Henley-on-Th3mes, RG9 IDY
Bankers..
Borclays Bunk plc
Mid-Thames Group, PO Box I, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2AX
CAF Bank Ltd
25 King5 Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malllng, Kent, ME18 4JQ
Flagstone Group Ltd
Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street, London, SWIY 4EL
Solicitors..
Richard Buxton
office A, Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street
Cambridge
CBI 2U
Mercers
50 New Street
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 2BX
Surveyors:
Severa8e Greaves Limited
9 St Mary's Street
Wallingford
OXIO OEL
Dlrectors •nd Trustees
The directors of the charitable company (the CharStyl are the Trustees for the purpose of Charity law and throughout
thls report are ¢ollectively referred to as Trustees.
The Trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:.
Dr P D Wadey- Chairman
G M Bathe- Vice Chairman
S Bain (Treasurer)
CBNBeney
J Hall
T-J Sutcliffe
S Hunt
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
GovernlnK Document
The charity is ¢ontrolled by its governing document, the memorandum and artlcles of assoclatlon, and constltutes a
limlted company, limlted by guarantee, as defined by the Companiès Act 2006.
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Numbèr.. 0784651
Re
Re
ort of the Trustèes
continued
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
STRUCTURE. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Icontinued}
Governing Document Icontirtuedl
The charity is the successor to the Commons, Open Spa￿s and Footpaths Preservation Society (registered charity
number 2147531 which was established by a trust deed dated 6 December 1963, originally havin8 been founded in
1865. It was reglstered as a company limited by guarantee on 14 November 2011.
Re¢rultment and appolntment of Trustees
Trustees are appointed by the members of the companvi
association.
in accordance wlth the memorandum and articles of
Rèlated party disclosures
During the year one trustee sold books to the Society wlth a value of £100. No other transactions have been notified
by any other trustees, in relatlon to the year, nor any balance outstanding from prevlous years.
Dèclaratlons of interest
An agenda item foT recordin8 these, if any be declared, appears on the agenda for each trustee meeting. The soclety's
insurers require a statement to be minuted at each meeting that the trustees are not aware of anything arising which
rnight lead to a claim on the societ(s indemnlty policy.
R15k Management
The soclety maintains a risk re815ter which 15 regularly reviewed by trustees with practical precaution5 being
implemented by officers and staff.
PUBLIC BENEFIT ¥fATEMENT
Section 4 of the Charitles Act 2011 requSres the charity trustees to comply wSth their duty to have due regard to public
benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
The trustees are mlndful of this obligation and have been referring to the guidance when reviewing thelr aims and
objectlves and in plannlng their future activitie5. In particular, they have considered how planned activities will
contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
OBJErfivES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
SummoryoAthe churltrfs objects fjnd strate9yAorachleving them
The objects of the society are campaignlng to create and conserve comrnon land, village greens, open spaces and rights
of public access in town and country, in England and Wales. These objects are furthered both locally and nationally. The
soclety is building up a network of local correspondents who can make 51te vlsits where problem5 arise and submit
approprlate representations regardSng, for example, proposed changes to the public-path network. Thè society also
secures the registeTinÉ of new village green5, reslsts encroachments on common land. and defends common land and
greens against deregistration.
At a natlonal level thesociety's unique expertise is its accumulated knowledge In the complicated case law and common
law that apply to common land and its user rights. Bodies such a5 the Department for Envlronment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defral, the Welsh government, the National Trust, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales acknowledBe
the society's primacy in this area. The society is a mandatory consultee for certain applications for works on common
land and for Changes to publSc rights of way.
The 50Clèty also endeavour5 to Improve the law for the benefit of the public. By challenglng unacceptable proposals
through the court5 if ne￿SSary and more generally by seeking medla attention and lobbying parliament and local
authorities, It protect5 places of beauty and interest, and achleves better public ac￿SS throughout England and Wales.
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Re
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for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
OBJEcfivES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT Icontinuedl
SummttryoAmoin achie￿MentS durlng the yeur
These are challenging time5 for the two nations in which we work, with contlnued Squeeze on public funding, and the
cost-of-living crisis. However, thi5 means that people value their open spaces and paths more than ever, keeping us
busy In helping them to defend their rights of acces5 there. We focused on legal work. with the appointment of a new
post of case officer lenforcementl, and we shall target laggard local authorities who evade their legal duties. We
established our new legal-action fund and were delighted that our membèrs gave so generously, with a year*nd total
of £31,682. With the Westminster electlon on the horizon, we took steps to prepare our manifesto.
The main achievements during the year are listed below under headlngs which reflect ihe four main objects in our
constitution.
To protect commonsi greens and other open spacès
We responded to calls from members for advice on protection and management of at least 182 commons, 87
re8lStered green5 and 252 other open spaces. Many more cases and dispute5 cameto us from consultations from
official bodles or were dealt with by our local correspondents.
Our re-registratlon officer, Frances Kerner, funded by the generous lega¢y from lack Candy, contlnued her work
on applications, submittlng four in North Yorkshire and one in Pembrokeshire. She also pursued and defended
applications we had already made in other English countles before their registers dosed to new applications on
31 December 2020. During the year we eelebrated the addition of slx commons to the registers, covering 17
hectares, thanks to our efforts.. in Cornwall at St Breward, The Bunny Hlll near Truro. and Predannack Downs
near Mullion,. in Hertfordshire at Hudnall Common near Little Gaddesden, and Bury Wood at Boxmoor,. and in
Kent, at Radfall Road near 8lean. We were disappolnted that a further application at Farway in Devon was
rejected.
In january, a High Court judge ruled that there was no right to backpack camping on the Dartmoor commons
under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. The Dartmoor Natlonal Park Authority, with our intervention,
successfully challenged this In the court of appeal. However. the Darwalls (the landowners who brought the case)
have sought leave to appeal to the 5uprÈme court and, shortly after the year's end, we learnt that leave had
been granted.
We were delighted with the outcome at Blackbushe aerodrome on Yateley Common. Here we had intervened in
the High Court and Court of Appeal in support of Hampshire County Council whSch had refused to deregister
nearly half a square kilometre of the common. That decision was upheld in the Court of Appeal and the matter
was returned to tl)e planning inspector. He has ruled that only the land occupied by the terminal building and
café, 500 square metres, should be deregistered, the outcome we wanted.
We helped to save two pleces of common land from dere8lStration, at Hurtwood Common in Surrey, and
Knighton Heath In Dorset.
Appllcants for works on, or exchange of, common land nottfied us of 76 cases. We ralsed objections to 31 of
them.
Of the 52 statutory applicatSons for works which were determined during the year, 21 were granted with no
objection from us, and 21 were granted despite our objection. These included a substation at Hawridge and
Cholesbury Common, Buckinghamshire; an extension for a further 15 years of fencing for trèe-plantin8 on
Caldbeck and Uldale Commons, Cumbria; flood-prevention works on Gooseholme and New Road commons,
Cumbria,. temporary enclosures for events on Clapham and Streatham Commons. London Borough of Lambeth;
an access track acr055 Burn Moor common, North Yorkshire; 1S-years fencing on Mar5den Moor, Kirklees, and
on Kenfig Common, Bridgend,. and an access road across Plcket Mead common, Swansea.
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Re
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for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
To protect Commons, greèns and other open spaces Icontlnuedl
Approved with ourobjection also were applications forthe deregistratlon of common land or village8reen, either
with inadequate or no exchange land, for road-wldening at Brockerid8e Common, Gloucestershire; a cycle path
at Bury Mead, Hertfordshire.. and an access way on Longhorsley village green, NoTthumberland, among others.
Three applications were rejectèd following our advice. These were two electricity substations on Chailey
Commons in East Sussex. vehicular access ways on Sneedham Green, Gloucestershire, where our local
correspondent Chas Townley represented us at a public inqulry,. and an access road on Dunsfold Common,
Surrey. Two others were withdrawn after we had obje¢ted'. works In connection with sand and gravel extraction
at Lower Cow Pasture, Gloucestershire. and a community hub at Chale Green common on the Isle of Wight.
We published an information sheetfor local councils to advise them of thelr power5 to protect commons, greens,
other open spaces. and publlc paths. Our case officers Hugh Craddock and Nicola Hodgson delivered more
tralning packages on commons and green5, both online and in person. We partlclpated, wlth the Friends of the
Lake District, in tralnlng on plannlng and commons for members of the Royal Town Planning Institute in the north
of England.
To protèct and enhance pubSlc rights of way and publlc access
The Henley offlce dealt with 378 requests for advice on paths, and our local correspondents pursued many
others.
We were dlsmayed when the Ithenl environment Secretary. Théfèse Coffey, overturned Richard (Lordl Benyon's
declsion of February 2022 and decided to implement the 2026 deadline for historic-path applications, while
setting it back for five years to 2031. The deadl￿rne was commenced in November, ahead of any regulations listin8
the circumstances in which those rlghts would be excepted from extinguishment. This pieeemeal a¢tlon ha5
bfoken the hard-won consensus of the stakeholder working group ISWGI that these measures would be
Introduced as a package.
Furthermore, Dr Coffey a150 ruled that the exception for unrecorded historic path5 in use would not be
introduced at all, desplte this being a core proposal1261 of the SWG'S 2010 report, Steppin8 Forward.
Kate Ashbrook continued to serve ot) the SWG, supported by Helen Cjayton and Hugh Craddock who are also
members of SWG task for￿5.
We submitted commenis to the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee which ¢onsldered the regulation to
set back the cut-off to 2031, challengin& Defra'5 Statèment that there was no significant impact on voluntary or
public bodies, or anyone else. The committee, while disagreeing with us, noted that local authorities were likely
to receSve a 518niflcant number of new appllcations, and suggested that parliament rn18ht wish to ralse the
resourclng issue with the minister.
We were dSsappointed when the Westminster government intrOdU￿d its gUIdan￿ on dlverting and
extinguishing paths through private dwellings. gardens, and industrlal or commercial premises. This had been
brought to the SWG for considèration, and we sought to minimise Its effect maklng it clear that we land other
usergroup members) did not support it. We have assured our local correspondents and others that thi5 does not
affect the legal tesis for diversions and extinguishments, so In practi￿ there should be no change.
We commissloned a consultant. Adrian Parry, to undertake some pilot research on records in Berkshire on the
effect of the Flnance Act 1910 on applications to record route5,' this has proved useful and we are considering
the results and next steps.
With the British Horse Society and Ramblers we dlscussed legal action agalnst surveying authoritles which a
failing to carry out their duties in relation to definitive map modifScation order applications, and at the end of
the year were actively pursulng a first casè.
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Re
ort of thè Trustees
continued
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
To protect and enhancè publlc rl8hts of way and publi¢ access Icontlnuedl
At Redmarley D'Abitot in Gloucestershire, with the Trail Riders, Fellowship and Ramblers, we saved an
unclassified road from closure in the maglstrate5' court. The road is Illegally obstructed, and the next task Is to
persuade the county council to reopen it.
In Wales we contlnued to work with the cross-party group for outdoor activity. and to press the Welsh
80vernment to test some of the proposals In Its access-reform package on its own land. We worked with Wales
Environment Link to seek improvements to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, which became law in August, to secure
payments for new and improved ac￿SS beyond the statuiory duties of local authorities and landowners.
Our general secretary secured the reopening of four blocked paths in Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, after serving
notices on the county council under 5ectlon 130A of the Highways Act 1980. Our local correspondents defended
paths wlth considerable success. For example, Lucy Wilson served notlce on Cornwall Council under Section
130A, with the result that unlawful gates on a footpath at St Ervan were removed. Other correspondents seyved
notices and we are gearing up for actlon in the maglstrates, court. Jess Tyler, our new case officer lenforcementl,
prepared briefing material and is ready to support legal actlon.
We drafted amendments, with Living Streets and the Ramblers, to the Levelllng Up and Regeneration Bill to keep
pavements free for the public. The government proposed in the bill to make permanent the changes it had
introduced during the pandemic, 5treamllning the procedure for allowing consumption of food on public
pavements, thereby obstructing pedestrian5. Our proposals were rejected In the house of commons and we were
unable to relnt¥oduce them in the house of lords. We shall look for other opportunitie5 to remedy this
unsatisfactory sltuatlon.
We participated in two round-table meetings to discuss greater access to the countryside, and with other
organlsatSons we produced Outdoors for All, a document setting out our aspiratlons for aC￿$S and its benefits
for health and well-being, nature, and the economy.
Our general secretaryspoke at the 91st anniversary Celebration of the Kinder Scout mass trespass, the Blue Earth
Summlt In Brlstol, and at meetings of various organisations such as the Gower Societv.
To secure the creatlon of new publlc paths and open spaces
Seven definitive map modification applications were made in the society's name by one of our Sussex local
correspondents, Chris Smith. Two of his previous applications were Confirmed. In Norfolk, local Correspondent
lan Witham achieved the upgradlng of a footpath to restricted byway at Mundeslev.
We continued to encourage local authoritie5 and other landowners voluntarily to re8lSter their land as town or
vlllage green, thereby giving local people rights of recreation there and protecting It from development. We were
pleased to learn of registratlons at Stokè Lodge playing fields in Bristol- Quantock Drive at Ashford in Kent;
Llwyneinlon Woodland, Wrexham,. and a voluntary registration Ise¢ured by our local correspondent Rodney
Whittaker) at Stokes Field, LonÈ Ditton, in Surrey. We were pleased that our call for new greens was included as
one of ten asks in A More Natural Capital coalition's manifesto for the London mayoral election in 2024.
We advised More than 76 members and other inquirers about daiming greens.
To protèct the beauty of the countryside
Our case officer NicoSa Hodgson worked on the detail of planning measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration
Blll. which recelved royal a55ent in October. Through the BettÈf Planning Coalltion. we helped to win some useful
amendments, and were pleased that government conceded to strengthen the duty on publlc bodies to protecl
national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (now known as national landscapes), among other
improvements.
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Re
ort of the Trusteès
continued
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
To protect the beauty of the countfvsidè Icontlnuedl
In January the Westminster government pledged that everyone should live within a 15-minute walk of 'green or
blue, space. While we welcomed the commitment and proposed the dedicatlon of new green5 as part of the
solution, we were disappointed by the lack of progress.
We obje¢ted to plans by Skyline for a massive tourist development on Kilvey Hill, north-east of Swansea, whlch
disregarded unrecorded access rights and publIc-aC￿55 land. We continued to support the Campaign for
National Park5 and the Alliance of Welsh Designated Landscapes. Our genèral secretary attended a seminar
organised by Tirweddau Cymru (Landseapes Wales) on Gower.
ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT
We now have 47 local correspondents. In 2023 we appointed lon Brierley Imalvern Hllls Dlstrict, Worcestershirel, Mick
Freer (Dudley Borovghl, Richard Price Ipart of Ceredigionl, Ken Sharp (Knowsley. St Helens, and Sefton Metropolltan
Boroughs, Liverpool City, and West Lancashire Distrlctl, and Nicholas Whitsurh-jones (former West Dorset District).
We updated our guidelines for local correspondent5, and arranged a get-together for them in the Lickey Hills,
Worcestershlre. in July, which was both valuable and enjoyable.
We held our annual gèneral meeting in London with an online optlon. In total 41 members attended, and others
participated by proxy. Voting was undertaken online, with 60 votes cast. Tara-lane Sutcliffe was re-elected to the board
of trustees after her first three-year term. We presented lan Witham with the Eversley Award for Outstanding
Achievement, for h1s many years of work on publlc paths and ¢ommons in Norfolk.
We Issued 52 press releases and published three editlons of our magazlne Open Space. Staff and members appeared
at least n1ne times on the radio, and twice on television. We continued to improve our webslte. and at the year's end
had commissioned a review. Our digital marketing and content manager, Abbie Cavendish, led a forensic exercise to
experirnent with new audience5, and develop contact with the more receptive ones, increasing our influence and reach,
and therefore our campaigning clout.
On 31 December, membeyshlp stood at 2,342, a net increasè of 23. This number is comprised of 1.745 individuals, and
597 organisations and local authoritles. We welcorned 317 new votlng members and 37 members who had lapsed and
relolned,. 22 members died durin8 the year and a further 309 lapsed.
In June we appointed lane Abey as our membership 5ecretaryi a job-5hare with Lucie Henwood who now focu5es on
flnancial matters. In August we appointed less Tyler as tsur case officer (enfor￿mentI, a new post to reflect our
enthuslasm to use the courts to resolve intransigent Issues.
Our dedicated staff, lane Abey. Kate Ashbrook, Abbie Cavendish, Helen Clayton, Hugh Craddock, Sarah Hackin& Lucie
Henwood, Nicola Hodgson, Frances Kerner, Lucy McKean, and less Tyler have had another busy year. We thank thern
warmly for their cornmitment and success In furthering the work of the societv.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Flnancial operatlons
In 2023 the society's income was primarily split across Investment return5, membership Subscriptions, anil donations.
Membership subscrlptlons nominally1ncre35ed, and Investment return5 have been posltlve with an Increase of £20,520.
This wa5 due to improved returns on cash and investments as well as an incrèase in reserves following a large legacy in
the previous year. Budgeted increases in expenditure during the year were planned to maximise our Surplus from the
prevlous year, with recruitrnent to further our charitable objectives.
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Re
ort of the Trustee5
ontlnued
for the Year Endèd 31 Decembèr 2023
In November, the society made an appeal to members for funds to SUPPOrt legal action where required and to back our
members in fighting theSr legal battles. The appeal was very successful. and funds continued to be received for many
months. We thank all members for their contributions with £31,682 raised (to 31 December 20231 to fund some of the
essential legal work to protert our commons, open spaces, and paths.
Legacles recognbsed In 2023
Edgar Aveling, Dennis Basten, Henry Elsey Cooper, Patrlck Darnes, Ollve Entwistle, Ronald Smlth, Hazel Mary Thorpe.
We aTe grateful for all legacles and doriations, and your 8Sft to the sotlety will help to ensure that future generations
will enjoy ¢ommons, open Spa￿S, and paths, In towns and countryside throughout England and Wale5.
Please see our webslte.. https'./lvMw.oss.org.uk/what-you-can-dollegacles/ for more information.
RESERVES POLICY
The reserves policy has been kept under close review throughout the year by trustees to ensure It was flexlble enough
to respond to external economic pressures and remalned fit for purpose.
Strategic reserve fund.. the societ¢s recurring revenue is not sufficient to meet all running costs so it is the policy of the
trustees to maintain a strategi¢ reserve fund sufficlent to coverthe expected net outgolngs of the society for 48 month5.
Following a review of the budget for 2024, antitipatlng an overall deficit, the strategic reserve fund was updated to
£948,059 for january 2024.
The appllcations reserve fund. set up in 2019, Currently stands 3t £226,000. The figure is kept under revlew annually,
based on experience and analysis of the costs actually incurred by the society as a result of commons and rights-of-wav
applications. Trustees acknowledge this reserve is essential since the cost5 associated with taking appllcation5 to
completlon are unknown and variable, but can be considerable and can run over a long period.
CONCLUSION
Once agaln we have had a good year in challenging wrong legal declsions and asserting and protecting the public's rights
by recording commons and paths and vla our other casework, a sample of whlch is described above. We are reallv
pleased to see the surge of member support for our legal appeal which will help us take on more deserving cases,
especially now that we have employed our enfor￿ment offi￿r.
We hope earnestly to see the regulations for the path extinguishment day exemptions now that Dr Coffey has moved
on as sètretary of state and will continue to assist the Stakeholder Working Group and DEFRA in ensuring that the new
re8ulali(>ns are as well written and as useful as possible.
I thank, once again. our dedicated staff, incrèasing number of local correspondents, and members, and all who have
helped in support of the society and its activities. I comrnend this report to our members.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:
Date.. .....................
. 2024
Dr P D Wadey- Chairman, on behalf of the Trustees
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Inde
endent Examiner's Re
ort to the Trustees of
Theo
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aces Sotlet
I report to the charlty trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the company for thè year ended 31
December 2023 Set out on pages nine to sixteen.
Responsibilltles and basis of report
As the charitvs trustees of the cornpany land also its directors for the purposes of company lawl you are responsible
for the preparation of the financial staternents In accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 20061'the
2006 Act'l.
Having Satisfied myself that the financial statements of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of
the 2006 Act and are ell@Sble for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your chaTitIs
flnancial statements as carrled out under sectlon 145 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe '2011 Act'l. In carrylng out mv
examination I have followed the Dlrections given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent examlner's report
Since the company's gross Income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145
of the 2011 Act. I confirm that l am qualified to undertake the examinatlon because l am a member of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodles.
I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention In connectlon with the
examination giving me cause to belleve..
a¢countlng records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act,. or
the financial statements do not accord wlth those accounting records; or
the flnancial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act
other than any requirement that the financial statements give a 'true and falr. view whl¢h1s not a rnatter
considered as part of an independent examination,. or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principle5 of the
Statement of Recommended Pfactice for accounting and rèporting by charlties lapplicable to charities
preparing their financial statements In accordance with the Financlal Reporting Standard appllcable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021.
I have no concerns and have come acioss no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention
should be drawn In thls report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
A/JAkn 8Ff A4 CTA
Nicholas M 5mlth BFP, ACA, CTA
Villars Hayward LLP
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
Chartered Tax Advisers
Boston House
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 IDY
Date..
.2024
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Re
an
Statement of Flnanclal Adlvltles
Indudln
Income and Ex
endlture Account
For the Yèar Ended 31 D&￿mber 2023
Unrestricted
funds
Restrlcted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total
funds
2023
Total
funds
2022
Note
Income and endowments fmm:
Donations linc. Gift Aid) and legacies
65,257
65,2S7
819,924
Charitable activities
Subscription5
Appeals
80,055
28,276
80,055
28.276
79.071
525
Other trading actlvities
Sule of publlcotions, Trusts. Royalties Ètc.
6,683
6,683
9,619
Investments
55,202
29,874
1,791
86,867
59,444
Other income
300
Totsl
235,473
29,874
1,791
267,138
968,883
Expenditure on..
Raising funds
Other publicotions costs
450
450
5,¢XII
Charitsble activities
5toff sulories und reloted costs
Premises costs
Administrotlon costs
Locol correspondents
Open Space t7nd website
Other costs
Governonce costs
286,408
16,501
35,504
6.636
15,737
76,491
15.491
286,408
16,501
35,504
6,636
15,737
80,455
15,491
246,377
14,546
27,461
4,043
12,783
107,948
12,470
io
li
3,964
Total
453,218
3,964
457,182
430,629
IL05sIIGaln on investment assets
Nèt lexpenditurelllncome
12
17,7301
112,2101
15801
120,5201 151,5061
1210,5641
486,748
1225,4751
13,700
1,211
Transfers between funds
31.665
129,8741
11,7911
1193,8101
116,1741
15801 1210,5641
486,748
Rèconciliation of fund5'.
Total funds brought forward
2,045.318
254,654
24,689
2,324,661 1,837,913
Total funds carrled forward
13
1,851,508
238,480
24,109
2,114,097 2,324,661
Page 9

Theo
Èns
Istered Com
Statement of Flnanclal Posltlon
as at 31 December 2023
aces Sotlet
Numbèr.. 07846516
Re
Note
31.12.23
31.12.22
Flxed Assets..
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Long term deposits
14
15
16
5,610
852,685
270,296
4,535
873,205
7,237
Totolfi%ed ussetS
1,128,591
884,977
Current Assets:
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
17
18
35,700
934,904
24,999
995.603
3,595
1,465,524
13,582
Toiol current assets
1,482,701
Llabllltle5:
Creditors- amounts falling due
within one year
19
110,0971
985,506
143,0171
Net current (Jssets
1,439,684
Totsl net assets
2,114,097
2,324,661
The funds of the charitv..
Unrestrlcted funds:
Strotegic reservefvnd
Applicotions reservefund
Legol actionfund
Generalfund
Restricted funds..
Cundvfund
Creech )one5fund
Endowment funds=
8uxtonfund
948,059
226,000
23,059
654,390
910,313
435,(KJO
700,005
196,203
42,277
211,360
43,294
24,109
24,689
Total charityfunds
The charitable company Is entitled to exemption from audit under Se¢tlon 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year
ended 31 December 2023.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financlal statements for the year ended
31 December 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibllities for:
lal ensurlng that the charitable cornpany keeps accountlng records which comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the
Companies Act 2006 and
Ibl preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as
at the end of each financial yèar and of Its SUTplus or deficit for each financial year in a¢cordance with the
requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requlrements of the Companles Act
2006 relating to finaneial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the speclal provisions tsf Part IS of the Companle5
Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies and with the Financial Rèporting Standard applicable in the United
Kingdom and Republlc of Ireland IFRS 1021.
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustee5 0n......-.......
on its behalf bv..
2,114,097
2,324,661
. 2024 and wère signed
Dr P D Wadey- Chairman
S 8ain- Treasurer
Pa8e 10

Theo
ens
istered Com
aces Soclet
Number.. 07846516
Re
an
Notes to the flnancial statements
For the Year Ended 310ecember 2023
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The princlpal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation for uncertainty in the
preparatlon of the flnancial statement5 are as follow5..
lal Basis of preparation
The flnancial statements have been prepared in accordan￿ wlth Accountlng and Reporting by Charities.. Statement
of Recommended Practice applicable to charitie5 preparing their accounts in accordancè with the Financial
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republlc of Ireland IFRS 1021- (Charitie5 SORP IFRS 10211, the
Flnancial Reportlng Standard applicable in the UK and Republlc Of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Companies Act 2006.
The Open Spaces Society meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilitles
are initially recognised at historlcal c05t or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant
accounting policy notels).
Ibl Income recognition policie5
Items of income are recogni5ed and included in the flnancial statements when all of the following criteria are met..
the charity has entitlement to the funds-
ny performan¢e conditions attached to the itemlsl of Income have been met or are fully
within the control of the d)aritv'
there is sufficient certainty thal recèipt of the Incorne is considered probable, and
the amount can be measured reliably.
Legacles
For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earliest of:
the date on which the charity is aware that probate has been granted;
the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executorlsl to the
Charity that a distribution will be made; or
when a distribution is received from the estate.
Re￿Ipt of a le8acyi in whole or in part, is only consldered probable when the amount can be measured reliably
nd the charity has been notlfied of the executor's intention to make a distrlbution.
other voluntary Incomè
Voluntary Income re¢e1ved by way of subscription, donation5 and appeals is included in the financial statements
when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charitv.
Donated servlces
The value of service5 provlded by volunteers has not been included in these financlal statement5.
Interest rècelvable
Interest on funds held on deposlt Is included when receivable and the amount can be measured relSably by the
charity,. thls is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
1¢) Expendlture and Irrecoverablè VAT
Expenditure Is recognlsed once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it IS
probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure
is classified under the following activity headin85=
Expenditure on Charitable activitles cornprlse those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of Its activities
and 5ervlces for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that Can be allocated directly to such attlvities and those
costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Governance costs include those costs associated with the
constltutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examlner's fees and costs
linked to the strategic management of the charity.
Irrecoverable VAT 15 ¢harged as a cost agalnst the a¢tivity for which the expenditure was Incurred.
Page 11

Theo ens
Istered Com
an
aces Societ
Number: 07846516
Re
Notes to the financlal statements
Contlnued
For the Year Ended 31 December 2023
ACCOUNTING POUCIES l¢ontlnuedl
Idl Fixed Assets
Fixed a55ets (excluding Investments) are stated at cost less accumulated depreclation. Depreciatlon Is provided so
as toi wrlte off the asset over four years.
Investments held as fixed assets are revalued at mSd-market value at the balance sheet date and the gain or loss
taken to the Statement of Financial Activitie5.
(el Fund Account5n8
General fvnd This is an unrestricted fund which 15 to be invested for the benefit of the society but remains
available to the trustees to be used for the objects of the society or for makinB allocations to the StrateÈlc Reserve
fund.
Strategic Reserve fund This is an unrestricted fund derived from allocations from the General fund. It is the policy
of the trustees to keep 48 months, reserve in this fund, so that it should hold sufficient to cover the society's
followlng 48 months, net outgoings, and to allow for an orderly closure of the society thereafter, should this
become necessary. In line wlth this policy, the fund stood at £948.059 at 31 December 2023 This fund is to be
Invested for the benefit of the society but remains available to the trustees to tTansfer back to the General fund In
case of need.
Appllcotlons ReseNe Fund This is an unrestricted fund derived from allocations from the General Fund. The
funds within this reserve are to be used to see through to completion applications to reglster rights of way or
common land where the application has been made in the name of ihe Society. Some applications are determined
qulckly and wlthout significant cost, but for some there may be many years between an appllcation belng made
and its conclusion. The Trustees consldeT that St is appropriate to hold a reserve for this purpose so that protrarted
applications can be supported.
Creech Jonesfund - The income from this restricted fund may be used for the objects of the society thal would not
normally be met from the General fund.
Candy fvnd This is a restricted fund to be used only for the general charitable purposes of the Open Spaces
Society. It is not to be used for administrative expenses.
Buxtonfvnd- The income from this fund is transferred to the Society's General fund.
DONATIONS IINC. GIFT AIDI AND LEGACIES
31.12.23 31.12.22
Legacies
Donations
GSft Aid
42,437 792,918
7,545
14,544
15,275
12,462
65,257 819,924
APPEALS AND GIFT AID
Funds raised by appeals over the year also generated related income via Gift Aid.
Appeal
Donations
Glft Ald
Total
Autumn 2023 appeal
28,276
3,406
31,682
31,682
28,276
3,406
INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
31.12.23 31.12.22
Sales of publications
Special projects and tralnlng
Trusts, royalties, commission etc.
1,208
4,647
828
5,041
3,640
938
6,683
9,619
Pa8e 12

Theo
ens
istered Com
aces Socie
Number..
Re
an
7846516
Notes to the financlal statements
continued
For the Yèar Ended 31 December 2023
INVESTMENT INCOME
31.12.23
31.12,22
sted investments
Cash Investments
50,805
36,062
49,319
10,125
86,867
59,444
OTHER INCOME
31.12.23
31.12.22
Other income
300
Other income comprises sundry recèlpts unrelated to the operatlons of the charitv.
STAFF SALARIES
31.12.23 31.12.22
Gross Salaries
Employer's National Insurance Contributions
Employer Pension Contributions
Recruitment Costs
252,562
18.892
11,701
3,253
215,012
15,862
9,911
5,592
286,408
246,377
Ernployees with emoluments exceeding the Charity Commission reporting threshold of £60,0￿. Nil12022'. Nill
The average number of full-time equivalent employees In the year wa5 five12022.. five)
PREMISES COSTS
31.12.23 31.12.22
Rent
Light and Heat
Repairs and Maintenance
Cleaning
Insurance
Rates and Water
Con5umable5
7,925
2,518
1,149
1,883
1,891
986
149
2,109
1,641
1,385
724
661
226
16,501
14,546
ADMINISTRATION COSTS
31.12.23 31.IL22
rr Costs
Postage, Telephone and Stationerv
Travel and Subsistence
Depreciation of Computer/Offi¢e equipment
Printing and Photocopylng
Appeal Costs
other Expenses
Professlonal Indemnity Insurance
12,103
7,881
3,535
2,602
2,754
2,357
4,272
8,055
7,910
2,963
2.888
2,690
1,863
1,092
35,504
27,461
Page 13

Theo
en S aces Societ
istered Com
Numbèr: 07846516
Re
otes to the flnanclal statements
continuèd
For the Year Ended 31 December 2023
31.12.22
io
OTHER COSTS
31.12.23
Legal Costs
Marketing
Commons Registration Project
SubscTlPtions
Donations and Grants
Legacy mailing to the Law Society
Conferences and Training
Books and Maps
28,617
34,207
3,965
9,945
2,700
430
576
15
42,806
28,049
22,295
8,903
4,750
860
228
57
80,455
107,948
31.12.22
li
GOVERNANCE COSTS
31.12.23
Independent examlner's fees (including taxation services
and underprovision for prlor years)
AGM and trustees
Other professional fees
7,865
6,143
5.715
1,911
2,115
4.212
15.491
12,470
12
ILOSSESIIGAINS ON INVESTMENT ASSETS
Unrealised Ilossl18ain on revaluation ol investments
120,5201
151,5061
13
ANALYSIS OF FUNDS
Opening
balanco
Net Income/
lempendlturel Transfers
Closi
balance
Unrestrirted funds
Strategic reserve fund
Applications reserve fund
Legal action fund
General fund
910,313
435,000
37,746
1209,(KIOI
23,059
1225.4751 179,860
948,059
226,000
23,059
654,390
700,005
Re5trlcted funds
Candy fur)d
Creech Jones fund
211,360
43,294
12,553
1,147
127,7101
12,1641
196,203
42,277
Endowmènt funds
BL4Xton fund
24,689
1,211
11,7911
24,109
2,324,661
1210,5641
2,114,097
Page 14

Theo
ens
Istered Com
aces Societ
Number: 07846516
Re
an
Notes to the flnancial statements
contlnued
For the Year Ended 310ecember 202
14
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Offlce
equlpment
Computer
equipment
Total
Cost
At l January 2023
Additions
Disposals
10,871
65
46,504
3.612
57,375
3,677
At 31 Decernber 2023
10,936
50,116
61,052
Depre¢iotlon
At I january 2023
Charge for the year
Disposals
10,568
185
42,272
2,417
52,840
2,602
At 31 December 2023
10,753
44.689
55,442
Net book volue ut 31 DEcember2023
183
5.427
5,610
Net book volue ot3J December2022
303
4,232
4,535
2023
2022
15
INVESTMENTS
AT MARKET VALUE I JANUARY
Net Investmènt Ilossesllgains
873,205
924,711
120,5201 151,5061
AT MARKET VALUE 31 DECEMBER
852,685
873,205
There were no investment assets outside the UK. The investments are held primariSy to provide an investment
return for the Charlty.
The hlstorical ¢ost of the above investments at 31 December 2023 is £720,34912022.. £720,349)
16
LONG TERM DEPOSITS
2023
2022
Flagstone
270,296
7,237
2023
2022
17
DEBTORS
Accrued Income
Professional indemnlty insurance prepaid
34,709
991
2,604
991
35,700
3,595
Pa8e IS

Theo
en S ates Societ
Istered Com
an
Number: 07846S16
Re
Notes to the financial statements
contlnued
For th Year Ended 31 Dècember 2023
18
SHORTTERM DEPOSITS
31.12.23
31.12.22
Flagstone
Nationwide Instant Saver Issue 3
Furness Building Societv
CAF Gold Account
The Charity Bank
Cambridge & Counties Bank
Aldermore Bank Bond
Nationwide Instant Saver
681,797
87,741
85,000
80,366
254,860
86,658
85,000
727,716
90,895
90.801
79,534
50,060
934,904 1,465,524
19
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN
ONEYEAR
31.12.23
31.12.22
Trade creditors
Accruals
Other tsxes and social security costs
4,662
5,435
37,750
4,788
479
10.097
43,017
20
PARLIAMENT PIECE
The society owns this land in Kenilworth which is leased, under a 99-year lease, to Warwlck Dlstrict Council and
managed locally. No value has been placed on this land In these linanclal statements.
21
REMUNERATION OF TRUSTEES
None ol the trustees received any remuneration12022- nill.
Durin8 the year books with a value of £100 were sold to the society by one of the Trustees.
An aggregate of £91712022.. £4191 was reimbursed to two12022- two) tTUStees lor expenses Incurred in
relation to the society's activities, Including attending meetings andlor acting as local correspondents.
Page 16