2025-06-30-accounts

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SOLENT PROTECTION SOCIETY

Protecting the Solent and its environment for future generations. CHAIRMAN’s REPORT AGM 02 December 2025

Dear Members

I have pleasure in enclosing the Society 2025 newsletter, together with my yearly report of the Society, our Hon Treasurer’s report, and our Agenda for our AGM on 02 December 2025. The AGM is to be held at the Voco Hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn) Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1AG, to which all members are welcome.

I regret to report the sad loss of Rob Crighton, one of our Council members, on 25 July 2025 after a long illness. Rob was a hardworking member who is sadly missed. He looked after Southampton Water East and was our link with Solent Forum.

This year has seen the proposals by Associated British Ports (ABP) on their development of the Dibden Bay site adjacent to the former military port, known as Gateway 1. Members may recall that 20 years ago ABP lost a Public Enquiry to develop the whole site as a container terminal. The proposals threatened to erase fragile environmental habitats, including a designated SSSI and RAMSAR wetlands. SPS had put forward proposals to develop only part of the site leaving the remainder as a wildlife area accessible to the local community. ABP proposals now show just over a third of the site will form the Gateway 2 Development, mainly for import and export of vehicles, leaving the remaining area in its natural form and not disturbing the wildlife. SPS support this proposal, subject to the second transparent community consultation in the spring of 2026. SPS are cautious over proposals for a Development Control Order (DCO) overriding community consultation.

SPS have analysed the last 5 years of data on sewage spills, based on the 38 worst polluting CSO’s in the Solent area, with data provided principally by the Environment Agency (EA). The details in our Newsletter have been presented in several graph forms together with overall rainfall comparison. The spills data is published annually which makes it difficult to assimilate in real-time. There are now several detail CSO maps, which give more statistics including repair costs and target dates. The dry, hot summer of 2025 shows an apparent improvement compared with the wet summer of 2024, but this is largely attributable to reduced rainfall rather than systemic improvement.

The government has introduced emergency legislation in the form of the Water (special Measures) Act 2025, providing the EA with new powers with immediate fines. SW have a Water Resources Management Plan, that proposes fixing failing pipework, increased sewer holding capacity, pump optimisation and addressing surface water issues. There is presently little confidence that they will deliver their proposals. There is no simple answer to a “reset” of the Water Companies. Their “Fix or Fail” approach to leaks, is a clear example of the lack of past investment.

The ongoing supply of drinking water is a major concern, with future supply well below predicted demand. Current proposals including high- tech and expensive Reverse Osmosis treatment, rather than Natural Nature Based Solutions. SPS are pressing the water companies to reconsider their approach to water supply and sewage treatment.

Global warming presents a real threat to the Solent region, more frequent flooding of our rivers and shores, more extreme rainfall followed by drought, plus continuing pollution from sewage outlets and agricultural runoff. Housing Development is continually being built without the necessary infrastructure in place. Our wildlife is declining as a result.

We all need to be aware of what we are doing to our Solent area by way of our Carbon Footprint and pollution by everyday activities. SPS have a ongoing challenge to monitor pollution, in its many forms, and to campaign for the protection and retention of our seas, coast and countryside.

We encourage new membership to support our ongoing work in safeguarding the Solent’s environment and look forward to new Council members joining our team in 2026.

Chris Edmond Chairman, Solent Protection Society, November 2025.

[e-mail] www.solentprotection.org

The Chairman, Solent Protection Society, 3 Cedar Close, The Dean, Alresford, SO24 9BH Solent Protection Society – Registered Charity No. 1154317

Financial Statement of the

Solent Protection Society for the year ended 30 June 2025

Prepared by Michael Rainey Hon Treasurer

General Observations

This is my fourth year as treasurer and has been a positive year financially due to two important factors.

Firstly, following the career move by our secretary Cassie Strang, we have proved unsuccessful at recruiting a permanent replacement although we have had some short-term assistance. This has saved SPS a substantial amount of money but has placed an extra burden on the chair, vice chair and treasurer. A minute secretary as a minimum would be a big help.

Secondly, we have had two substantial bequests. £3,750 from Lt Col David Jones and £10,000 from the John Dowlen Trust. These are extremely generous, and we have thanked the families and would welcome any knowledge members may have of the benefactors. Both sums have been added to our investment accounts. In line with our practice these bequests will be used for bursaries or support to worthy causes, with dividends helping with day-to-day expenditure.

The final position of SPS in June 2025 is that the accounts have achieved a significant positive balance of £19,457.59. After transferring the bequests of £13,750 to our investment accounts the cash at the bank stands at £13,725.77, £3000 of which is held in our Business Reserve Account which pays a small interest % but is instant access. 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 3 or 4 face to face meetings per year. Zoom meetings are held in the intervening months with sub-groups also meeting by Zoom. The President hosted the AGM in December for which we are grateful, though it is not a central location, and the NOC also hosted us free of charge. This pattern is a direct result of experience gained during the pandemic. Membership subscriptions continued the slow decline last year but at a slower rate, which is welcome, and we have had several new members. We are grateful to our corporate members who have continued their support, and the occasional small donations are also very welcome.

Total assets over liabilities were £144,898.49, up £14,207.36. This was largely due to the two major bequests and savings on secretarial support. The performance of our funds was largely stable until the end of the year when they declined by 10% after the American tariff announcements. They recovered somewhat by June 2025 to end about 4% down over the year. Our overall dividend income held up well.

It should be noted that the investments still include a generous donation from John Power of £5000 as well as the two bequests referred to above.

I would like to give credit to Paul King for his assistance with our investment strategy over many years. He taught me a lot, and I have managed to take over the day to day management of our investments. I do not claim any great knowledge of the workings of the Stock Market. We invest in a Charities Ethical Investment Fund. CEIF and rely on CCLA to manage the fund. They have recently joined a bigger fund manager, Jupiter Fund Management, but will, we understand, retain the ethical principals we selected them for.

1 Notes to the accounts

For the financial year ended 30 June 2025, The Solent Protection Society (SPS), a small charity, registered under the Charitable Incorporation Organisation (CIO), [Registered Charity No 1154317], has prepared for the tenth 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 2025.

• 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 2025

RECEIPTS Subscriptions Donations Income tax recovered Interest Dividends Awayday Sundries Total receipts (A) PAYMENTS Secretary Insurances Printing and stationary Telephone and postage Travelling Conference expenses Subscriptions Advertising and publicity Solent Forum Meeting Costs Refreshment and entertaining Website and computer costs Computer material Away Day Sundries Total Payments before donations (B) Total receipts over payments (A-B) BURSERIES/GRANTS Hurst Castle Phd Research. Total payments after Burseries/Grants (C) Total receipts over payments (A-C) STATEMENT OF CASH AT BANK Balance at bank 1 July 2024 Total receipts over payments Transfer to Investments Balance at bank 30 June 2025		Y 24-25 Y 23-24 £ £ 5,750.00 5969.00 13,800.00 1880.00 713.75 876.79 4.88 0.00 3,511.57 3440.50 0.00 850.00 0.00 0.00 23780.20 13016.29 645.00 6925.00 722.73 469.82 323.51 113.04 466.10 680.25 0.00 28.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,720.00 1420.00 160.00 95.00 270.88 688.88 0.00 0.00 14.39 91.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 961.20 0.00 0.00 4322.61 11473.14 19457.59 1543.15 0.00 357.50 4322.61 11830.64 19457.59 1185.65 8018.18 6832.53 19457.59 1185.65 -13750.00 0.00 13725.77 8018.18

7 Statement of Assets and Liabilities

CASH FUNDS Cash at banks COIF Total cash funds INVESTMENTS 24/25 39637.13 CCLA CEIF unit on 1/7/24 Increase in value of all CCLA EIF units to 30 June 2025 Total investment funds 30 June 2025. 44210.55 CCLA CEIF units. TOTAL CASH AND INVESTMENTS Less liabilities TOTAL ASSETS OVER LIABILITIES	2025 £ 13725.77 0.00 13725.77 122,672.95 8,499.77 131,172.72 144,898.49 - 144,898.49	2024 £ 8018.18 0.00 8018.18 112,177.04 10,495.91 122,672.95 130,691.13 - 130,691.13