2024-06-30-accounts

SOLENT PROTECTION SOCIETY

Protecting the Solent and its environment for future generations.

CHAIRMAN’s REPORT AGM 03 December 2024

Dear Members

The Solent Protection Society (SPS) has had a busy year marked by extensive research and ongoing challenges. We continue to investigate the data provided by large companies, often uncovering misleading information, new legislation, and government policies, all amid mounting pressures such as population growth, climate change, inadequate infrastructure investment, and environmental degradation.

A major focus this year was our four-year investigation into Solent sewage spills. We identified 37 high-risk Combined Sewer Outlets (CSOs) responsible for 80% of the pollution. While Southern Water (SW) and the Environment Agency (EA) have made some progress, we dispute the method of reporting spills by number rather than volume, as well as inaccuracies in their data. SW has updated its Beachbuoy data, and the EA is increasing staff to monitor water companies more effectively.

On the water supply front, SW’s "Water for Life" programme, now part of the statutory Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP), has raised concerns. While the development of the Havant Thicket Reservoir by Portsmouth Water is a positive step, SW’s involvement has introduced controversial plans for recycled sewage, including energy-intensive reverse osmosis treatment and brine discharge into Langstone Harbour. Public opposition is strong, and SPS is actively supporting these objections.

Planning concerns are also on the rise. The government’s push for 1.5 million new homes over the next five years has placed enormous pressure on local authorities to rezone land, putting additional strain on infrastructure and countryside areas. SPS will continue to monitor Local Plans and provide feedback. Of particular concern are Direct Development Orders (DCOs), which allow for major projects like the Havant Thicket Reservoir to bypass local planning authorities, limiting community input.

In terms of development along the Solent waterfront, SPS has participated in planning inquiries, such as for a controversial seafront development, and looks forward to reviewing the ABP proposals for Dibden Bay, particularly in relation to landscaping and biodiversity.

A key issue this year was ExxonMobil's proposed Carbon Capture Pipeline (CCP) through the New Forest, Solent, and Isle of Wight. SPS, led by our vice-chair Bob Comley, thoroughly analyzed ExxonMobil’s flawed proposal and found significant environmental concerns. We teamed up with local groups such as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) and the RSPB to oppose the project. The outcry from the public led ExxonMobil to withdraw their plans, though it remains likely they will pursue their refinery expansion without the costly carbon capture element.

Despite these challenges, SPS has had a productive year, hosting guest speakers and keeping our members informed about critical projects affecting the Solent. We encourage new membership to support our ongoing work in safeguarding the Solent’s environment.

Chris Edmond Chairman, Solent Protection Society, October2024.

Financial Statement of the Solent Protection Society for the year ended 30 June 2024 Prepared by Michael Rainey Hon Treasurer

General Observations

This is my third year as treasurer and has been a more normal year as our investment changes were completed in 22/23 and gift aid returns are up to date.

The final position of SPS in June 2024 is that the accounts have achieved a small positive balance of £1185 for the second year, however, this masks two important factors. Our long standing and valued Secretary Cassie Strang had some personal issues at the beginning of 2024 and resigned to follow a different career at the end of March 2024. This has saved some money on secretarial costs but left us struggling to cover the workload until a new secretary is appointed. In addition, we are still holding a balance of some £640 in the current account from the Peter Hunter bequest which we have earmarked to assist students with a particular field of study related to the Solent. We have continued the practice of only 4 face to face meeting per year. Zoom meetings are held in the intervening months with sub-groups also meeting by Zoom. The President hosted the AGM in December. This pattern is a direct result of experience gained during the pandemic. Careful management of expenditure and more generous donations than expected of £1880 have helped greatly. Our income tax recovered has been achieved and is now claimed twice a year. Membership subscriptions continued the slow decline last year at about 7%, with a few new members. I am afraid that my hope that membership decline had plateaued has not been realized. Inflation continues to add to our costs, and there has been no increase in subscriptions for many years. Increasing subscriptions is however complicated by the historical set up we find ourselves in and so donations are increasingly an important source of income and seem to be preferred in this digital age.

Total assets over liabilities were £130,691.13, up £11,681.56. This was largely due to the performance of the funds which by 30 June 2024 have recovered by over 9% with the cost of making the transfers to the CCLA EIF now behind us. Our overall dividend income held up well, though slightly below anticipation. The dividends account for over 26% of our income so any reduction in our investments will have a direct impact on our day-to-day expenditure.

It should be noted that the investments include a generous donation from John Power of £5000. Received for bursaries or support to worthy causes.

I am indebted to Paul King for his assistance with our investment strategy.

1 Notes to the accounts

For the financial year ended 30 June 2024, The Solent Protection Society (SPS), a small charity, registered under the Charitable Incorporation Organisation (CIO), [Registered Charity No 1154317], has prepared for the ninth year its account on a “Receipts and Payments” basis rather than on an accrual basis, which finished in 2014/15.

2 Accounting Policies

• The “Receipts and Payments Account” and the “Statement of Assets and Liabilities” have been prepared in accordance with the applicable Accounting Standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice 2000 and under historical cost convention, except for the valuation of the Investments, which are stated at market value as at 30 June 2024.

• The Receipts and Payments for the year are all accounted on a cash basis.

• Fixed Assets. In line with the previous practice, no depreciation is provided during the year. All new purchases are written off at cost

3 Taxation

SPS is an approved charity and is not liable for income tax on any surplus.

4 Audit

SPS is not required under the CIO regulations to have an Account either audited or independently examined.

5 Review

Two members of the SPS council, other than the Chairman and the Honorary Treasurer, have reviewed the Account and discussed the results for the year with the Honorary Treasurer but have not carried out an independent audit. The two reviewing council members were Richard Brown and Tim Kermode.

6. Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 30 June 2024

RECEIPTS Y 23-24 £ Subscriptons 5969.00 Donatons 1880.00 Income tax recovered 876.79 Interest 0.00 Dividends 3440.50 Awayday 850.00 Sundries 0.00 Total receipts (A) 13016.29 PAYMENTS Secretary 6925.00 Insurances 469.82 Printng and statonary 113.04 Telephone and postage 680.25 Travelling 28.80 Conference expenses 0.00 Subscriptons 0.00 Advertsing and publicity 1420.00 Solent Forum 95.00 Meetng Costs 688.88 Refreshment and entertaining 0.00 Website and computer costs 91.15 Computer material 0.00 Away Day 961.20 Sundries 0.00 Total Payments before donatons (B) 11473.14 Total receipts over payments (A-B) 1543.15 DONATIONS/BURSERIES Hurst Castle Phd Research. 357.50 Total payments afer donatons (C) 11830.64 Payments over total receipts (A-C) 1185.65 STATEMENT OF CASH AT BANK Balance at bank 1 July 2023 6832.53 Total payments over receipts 1185.65 Transfer to Investments 0.00 Balance at bank 30 June 2024 8018.18	Y22-23 £ 6393.00 735.00 1410.98 284.61 3610.20 0.00 0.00 12433.79	Y22-23 £ 6393.00 735.00 1410.98 284.61 3610.20 0.00 0.00 12433.79	22-23
	7920.00 413.80 247.28 487.56 68.50 0.00 0.00 1540.00 90.00 620.00 0.00 107.87 0.00 0.00 11495.01
	938.78 0 11495.01
		938.78 5893.75 938.78 0 6832.53

7 Statement of Assets and Liabilities

CASH FUNDS Cash at banks COIF Total cash funds INVESTMENTS 22/23 39637.13 CCLA EIF unit on 1/7/23 Increase in value of all CCLA EIF units to 30 June 2024 Purchase of 26212.16 CCLA EIF unit on 8.9.22 13424.97 CCLA EIF unit on 1/7/22 Decrease in value of all CCLA EIF units to 30 June 2023 Total investment funds TOTAL CASH AND INVESTMENTS Less liabilites TOTAL ASSETS OVER LIABILITIES	2024 £ 8018.18 0 8018.18 112,177.04 10,495.91 122,672.95 130,691.13 - 130,691.13	2023 £ 6832.53 0 6832.53 77,637.82 37,724.25 - 3,185.03 112,177.04 119,009.57 - 119,009.57