## **PETT LEVEL PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
**31/08/22 – 31/08/23**
## **1.0 ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
**Charity Name** – Pett Level Preservation Trust (PLPT)
## **Charity Registration Number** - 1164637
**Address of the principal office** – The Edge, Toot Rock, Pett Level TN35 4EN
## **PLPT Trustees over the period of this report:**
||**Name**|
|---|---|
|1|Cliff Dean|
|2|Zana Duthie|
|3|Lois Hall (Resigned March 2022)|
|4|John Newton|
|5|Cedric James (resigned December 2022)|
|6|Martin King|
|7|Keith Swallow|
|8|Paul Jordan (resigned March 2023)|
|9|Theresa Noutch|
|10|Katrina Julian|
|11|Jo Mayne|
|12|Sue Harris (Treasurer)|
|13|Joanna Felton|
## **2.0 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The PLPT is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
The PLPT was constituted on 26[th] January 1974 by Deed of Trust.
The Charity is managed by 11 trustees who meet quarterly. There is also a Friends of PLPT group which is an annual subscription-based organisation[1] . All Trustees are members of the Friends Group but the Friends Group has no powers of governance – it is a support group only. The PLPT does not employ staff.
**Method for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees** – Candidates can
approach any Trustee to express an interest or apply in writing to the Chair. Candidates are recommended to a Trustees meeting by that Trustee or the Chair. The applicant’s suitability as a Trustee is discussed and if approved, a formal offer of becoming a Trustee is made to the candidate. Trustees are elected to particular posts (e.g. Chair, Treasurer etc.) on an open vote of Trustees held at one of the quarterly meetings. The PLPT operates within a maximum of 15 and minimum of 10 Trustees.
**PLPT decision-making process** – overarching decisions are made at the quarterly meetings of the Trustees. Details of implementation are usually left to two or more officers with responsibility for that particular aspect of the Trusts work e.g. land management.
1 It was agreed at the September 2017 Trustees meeting that Life subscription would no longer be offered except as an honorary title.
## **3.0 FINANCIAL REVIEW**
All money raised by the Trust whether by fund raising, grant aid, membership fees from the Friends Group or any other means is spent on furthering the Trust’s activities, which are as follows
PRESERVATION OF 24 ACRES OF LAND AT PETT LEVEL INCLUDING HABITAT DIVERSIFICATION THROUGH CLEARING SCRUB AND CARRYING OUT OTHER MAINTENANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR GENERAL ACCESS
## **See Annex 1 Financial Statement**
The PLPT policy is to retain a minimum of £5000 as a Reserve Fund.
## **4.0 PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT**
The PLPT Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
## **5.0 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
The objects of the PLPT are as follows
(1) TO PRESERVE THE LAND AT PETT LEVEL OUTLINED AND ETCHED IN RED ON THE ATTACHED PLAN FOR THE PERMANENT BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC GENERALLY
(2) TO PROMOTE THE BREEDING OF WILD BIRDS, ANIMALS AND INSECTS WHICH ARE HARMLESS, BEAUTIFUL OR LIKELY TO BECOME EXTINCT
Part of the PLPT land is within the Pett Level Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and PLPT has an agreement with Natural England regarding the management of this particular area of land.
## **6.0 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
In the 12 months covered by this report (31 August 2022 to 31 August 2023) the PLPT:
- Held three Trustee meetings (12 September 2022, 9 December 2022, 10 March 2023, 9 June 2023)
- Seven volunteer land management days resulting in c100 volunteer hours being contributed.
- Employed contractors over c5 days to remove scrub, mow rough grassland with machinery and maintain public access.
- Maintained notices denoting PLPT land ownership on gates and fences.
- Maintained a website www.pettlevelpreservationtrust.org and Facebook account
- Contributed articles to Pett Parish News and published an annual members newsletter.
- Ran a stall at the Pett Village Flower Show
- Raised £14,178 in memberships, fundraising, payments and donations towards key PLPT projects and management.
- Liaised with local residents and landowners regarding tree and land management.
- Liaised with adjoining landowners and neighbours regarding access, land management and other issues
- See Activity Report in Annex 3 for further details.
These activities contributed to the effective management of the PLPT estate including complying with requirements set by Natural England in regard to those areas of land that are designated as SSSI. Accordingly, it preserved and diversified the wildlife interest of the estate enhancing its benefit to local people and visitors to the area, and helping to raise their understanding of the importance of the area and its contribution to sustainability.
This is a true and accurate record of the Trusts constitution and activities reviewed and approved by Trustees.
Zana Duthie Chair
John Newton Trustee
## **Annex 1 - Financial Statement**
The accounts and financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with:
- The charity’s governing document;
- Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice;
- the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (FRSSE)
- the Charities Act 2011
- UK Generally Accepted Practice
insofar as they apply to the charity and its Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.
## **Finance Update**
The Trust raised £5283 during the October 2022 – September 2023 financial year. As usual this was raised through the generosity of our supporters, either by membership subscriptions or donations, and our fundraising activities. No grants were received during the year. The fundraising comprised the annual postcard competition and a Disco, held at the New Beach Club. The latter being a joint event raising funds for Cancer Research, Pett Church and the Pett Level Preservation Trust. Trust members’ annual subscriptions and donations raised £3060.
There were no new grant applications during this year. £1000, being Year 4 of the 5 years Garfield Weston Foundation grant, was used to support land management.
The Trust’s total expenditure for the year was £2548. The purchase of a scythe bar mower during the previous year, together with our faithful band of volunteers, helped to reduce the need for contractors for some of the routine land management activities including scrub clearance and maintaining pathways, however the Trust still needed to pay for the grass cutting and other fundraising activities costs and Trust administration. As costs continue to rise, the maintenance of the Trust land continues to be a challenge.
The Trust began the new financial year in October 2023 with funds of £20,919, including our £5,000 ‘reserve’ fund held for future large and unexpected expenses.
## **Receipts & Payments Accounts**
**Year: CIO Name: CIO Number:**
01/09/202 31/08/2023 2
Pett Level Preservation Trust 1164637
||**Current**
**Account**|**Reserve**
**Account**|**Total**
**Cash**
**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Opening balances|13096|5087|18183|
|**Receipts 2022-23**||||
|Fundraising|904|13||
|Payments|304|||
|Members &Donations|3060|||
|Grants|1000|||
|||||
|||||
|Bank Interest||3||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|**Receipts subtotal:**|5268|16||
|Asset & Investment
sales|0|0||
|**Receipts Total:**|5268|16||
|**Payments 2022-23**|**Current**
**Account**|**Reserve**
**Account**|**Total Cash**
**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Insurance cover|388|||
|Admincosts|36|||
|Landmanagement|2014|||
|info & publicity||||
|Fundraising costs|110|||
|projects||||
|||||
|Subtotal|2548|0||
|||||
|**Total Payments**|2548|0||
|Net of
Receipts/(payments)|2720|16||
|||||
|||||
|**Balances at this**|15816|5103|20919|
## **year end**
## **Assets & Liabilities**
|**Assets &**
**Liabilities**||
|---|---|
|Other Monetary
Assets|0|
|Investment Assets|0|
|Assets's retained for
PLPTownuse|1349|
|Liabilities|0|
|Debts outstanding
secured by charge on
PLPT assets|No
outstanding
debts|
|Potential liability
associated with any
outstanding guarantees
given|None given|
This Annual Financial Statement: Accurately reflects the accounts for the year Confirms that expenditures made align with PLPT objectives
## **PLPT**
## **Trustees**
Name: Signature: SUSAN J HARRIS Name: Signature: ALEXANDRA DUTHIE Date: 09/12/2023
**Annex 2 Plan of PLPT Land Holding showing management compartments**
**Annex 3 – PLPT Activity Report**
## **MIDDLE BRIDGE**
Throughout the year involvement with the rebuilding of Middle Bridge with local residents and appointed contractor.
## **SEPTEMBER 2022**
## Compartment 1.
Rake arisings from mowing. Cut sycamore. Cut back growth beside tarmac road. Build bonfire to burn when wind direction more favourable
## **OCTOBER 2022**
## Compartment 4
Compartment 2 and 3 Contractor employed to cut rough grassland Clearing re-growth round pond.
## **NOVEMBER 2022**
## Compartment 4
Meeting held with Natural England who were very supportive of Trusts work.
Christmas stall and sale of Christmas Cards
## **DECEMBER 2022**
Volunteer work party cleared invasive scrub from the old tennis court and around the piers to Middle Bridge.
Work party with local residents to open up footpath through to Chick Hill
## **JANUARY 2023**
Volunteer Work Party
## **FEBRUARY 2021**
Volunteer Work Party
## **MARCH 2023**
## Compartments 2 and 3
Alexanders cut back by volunteers using Trusts machine Involvement with Pett Level Flood Group
## **APRIL 2023**
Annual Meeting held
## **MAY 2023**
Annual Trust Newsletter printed & distributed
## **JUNE 2023**
Vandalism of Observation Post on Toot Rock with metal gate being damaged
## **JULY 2023**
PLPT stand at the Pett Village Flower Show
## **AUGUST 2023**
Compartments 4 Mowing fringes of footpath to enable access by public.
The major management work was undertaken in September 2022 when a contractor was employed to cut, using specialist machinery, various sections of Compartment 2 and 3 (see plan attached Annex 2) and the arisings collected (see photographs 1-4 Annex 3). This work was carried out over 1 day. The one slight change adopted this year was that the collection of arisings was focused on those areas that were considered likely to benefit the most from the conservation work. This regime will continue for at least the next 2 years thanks to the support of the Garfield Weston Foundation grant.
||**Charity Name**
**PETT LEVEL PRESERVATION TRUST**
|**Charity Name**
**PETT LEVEL PRESERVATION TRUST**
|**Charity Name**
**PETT LEVEL PRESERVATION TRUST**
|**No (if any)**
**1164637**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**
**from**|Period start date
9/1/2022|**To**|Period end date
8/31/2023||
|||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||
|**A1 Receipts**
FUNDRAISING
**916**
MEMBERS
**530**
DONATIONS
**2,530**
GRANTS
**1,000**
OTHER INCOME
**304**
INTEREST RECEIVED
**4**
**-**
**-**
**5,284**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total receipts_ 5,284**
**A3 Payments**
LAND MANAGEMENT
**2,014**
INSURANCE
**388**
PRINTING
**110**
HALL HIRE - AGM
**36**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ 2,548**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total payments_ 2,548**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ 2,736**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**-**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**18,182**
**_Cash funds this year end_ 20,918**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_
**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**
**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Restricted**
**funds**|**to the nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**916**
**530**
**2,530**
**1,000**
**304**
**4**
**-**
**-**
**5,284**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,284**
**2,014**
**388**
**110**
**36**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,548**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,548**
**2,736**
**-**
**18,182**
**20,918**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
||||**-**|**916**|**-**|
||||**-**|**530**|**-**|
||||**-**|**2,530**|**-**|
||||**-**|**1,000**|**-**|
||||**-**|**304**|**-**|
||||**-**|**4**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**5,284**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**5,284**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**2,014**|**-**|
||||**-**|**388**|**-**|
||||**-**|**110**|**-**|
||||**-**|**36**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**2,548**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**2,548**|**-**|
|||||||
|||**-**|**-**|**2,736**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**18,182**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**20,918**|**-**|
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees|**Details**
CURRENT ACCOUNT
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
SCYTHE MOWER (21/22)
**Details**
Signature
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**20,918**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**20,918**
**-**
OK
OK
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**1,349**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
SUSAN J HARRIS
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**|**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
|||SUSAN J HARRIS|12/9/2023|
ALEXANDRA DUTHIE
121912023