CPRE Leicestershire Annual Report and Financial Review December 2021 to November 2022
Introduction
The main activities of CPRE Leicestershire are to promote and encourage the improvement and protection of the Leicestershire countryside for the benefit of everyone. These activities are achieved in part by monitoring and commenting on planning applications, many of which are brought to our attention by CPRE members, Parish Councils and the public. The Branch also advises on Neighbourhood Plans and responds to local and national Consultations.
Structure and Governance
CPRE Leicestershire is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which is a financially independent charity related to the National CPRE charity, and is managed and run, on a voluntary basis, by a Committee of Trustees. Serving on a continuous basis for a maximum of six years, they are selected by the Committee subject to confirmation of their positions annually at the AGM.
Trustees
The Branch was saddened to report on Monday 25[th] July 2022 that Rick Hoyland, one of CPRE Leicestershire’s Trustees and Chair of our Charnwood District CPRE group, passed away suddenly. A retired architect with a master’s degree in Building Conservation, Rick’s career embraced work on public housing, shopping developments and hospitality projects as well as the restoration of period buildings. He joined CPRE in 2010, through an appeal for help from the CPRE Charnwood Chair for advice on a planning matter in Quorn and he soon became a key player on the Committee. Rick had a particular concern over the accelerating loss of countryside to accommodate new building whilst brownfield options remained undeveloped and also in promoting good design in developments.
His expert knowledge on planning and design issues, his ability to put together clear and precise responses to planning applications and consultations, as well as his commitment and wit at Committee meetings, will be long remembered. Rick will be greatly missed by all the Trustees and Charnwood District group members.
The Trustees are:
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Tony Stott, Trustee; Branch Chairman.
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Tony Simpson, Trustee; Treasurer.
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John Marriott, Trustee.
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Helena Edwards, Trustee.
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Rita Bullivant, Trustee.
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Rahoul Naik, Trustee (appointed July 2022).
In July 2022, the Branch welcomed Rahoul Naik as a new Trustee. He brings expertise to support the growth and development of CPRE Leicestershire through marketing medias. Jill Prior continues in her role as Branch Committee Administrator.
The Branch is also pleased to report that a volunteer Photographer was recruited in January 2022.
Branch Activities 2022
The Branch continues to be as busy as ever and continues with the use of virtual Zoom meetings for all Branch meetings and similar activities.
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Below is a brief overview of the Branch activities:
| December 2021 | | Virtual meeting held with Jane Hunt, MP to discuss concerns on | Virtual meeting held with Jane Hunt, MP to discuss concerns on | Virtual meeting held with Jane Hunt, MP to discuss concerns on | the loss of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| agricultural land. | |||||
| | Attendance at the | Environment Liaison Group to discuss theM1 | Leicester | ||
| Western Access Scheme organised by National Highways. | |||||
| January 2022 | | Virtual Branch AGM held with 16 members attending. | |||
| | Draft Vision shared with a small number of interested parties for their | ||||
| comments. | |||||
| February 2022 | | Virtual meeting with Councillor Phil King, Leader of Harborough District | |||
| Council to discuss the Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan. | |||||
| Also in attendance | were Norman Proudfoot, Chief Executive, Liz | Elliott, | |||
| Deputy Chief Executive and David Atkinson, Director of Planning. | |||||
| | Virtual meeting with Councillor David Bill, Hinckley and Bosworth District | ||||
| Council todiscuss the Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan. | |||||
| | Response to the North West Leicestershire Local Plan (Reg 19) consultation. | ||||
| March 2022 | | Response to the Hinckley and Bosworth Local Plan (Reg 19) consultation. | |||
| | Draft Vision named “A Greener Alternative – Our Vision for the Future” was | ||||
| circulated. Work to finalise and evidence the Vision is still ongoing. | |||||
| | Attended a strategy workshop on “Working together to deliver nature | ||||
| recovery in Leicestershire and Rutland”. | |||||
| April 2022 | | Objection response sent on the consultation of the Hinckley Rail | Freight | ||
| Interchange. | |||||
| | Response to the Leicester Workplace Parking Levy consultation. | ||||
| | FOI sent and request granted for copies of minutes on the MAG | (Members | |||
| Advisory Group) for Leicestershire County Council in relation to Strategy | |||||
| Growth Plan discussions. | |||||
| May 2022 | | Work on submissions for the Charnwood Local Plan Examination. | |||
| June 2022 | | Attendance at the hearing sessions for Charnwood Local Plan Examination. | |||
| July 2022 | | Response to Net Zero Carbon Leicestershire 2045 Strategy and Action Plan. | |||
| | Correspondence with the Planning Inspectorate objecting to the proposed | ||||
| development next | to HMP Gartree Prison site and supporting Harborough | ||||
| District Council in its decision notice for refusing consent for the | |||||
| construction of a new category B prison. | |||||
| September 2022 | | Branch commissioned a report on the Leicester and Leicestershire Housing | |||
| and Employment Needs Assessment (HENA). Received October | 2022. | ||||
| | Work on further submissions to the Charnwood Local Plan Examination | ||||
| Inspectors re: HENA and Leicester Unmet Housing Needs. | |||||
| | Trustee / Volunteer Recruitment Plan finalised. | ||||
| October 2022 | | Attendance at the Charnwood Local Plan Matter 10 Housing Session. | |||
| November 2022 | | Work continues on research into Leicester’s unmet Housing need and its | |||
| impacts on Leicestershire districts, together with awaiting further | |||||
| information on the Strategic Growth Plan and on Reg 19 version | of | ||||
| Leicester Local Plan. |
During the past year, the Branch has also been involved with other issues including:-
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Concerns about major developments in North West Leicestershire arising around the airport and in connection with the Freeport.
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Destruction of ancient hedgerows at Asfordby Hill and Odstone.
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Proposals for employment and housing development in Groby and Anstey.
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The Branch continues to use the services of Gerald Kells, a consultant, whose knowledge and expertise is a huge bonus to the Branch when responding to consultations.
Charnwood District Group update
Charnwood District Group have been busy during the year raising concerns around Charnwood Borough Council being unable to demonstrate a 5-year supply of housing land as well as actively raising objections and concerns on planning applications as well as responding to public inquiries.
The Branch is saddened to report that a decision has recently been made to close the District Group. This decision was not taken lightly but with the sudden passing in July of this year of Rick Hoyland, and the decision of Joyce Noon, the Vice Chair, to ease back on her commitments it was agreed that it would not be feasible for the District Group to continue.
Joyce was elected District Group Secretary at an inaugural meeting in December 1992 at Beaumanor Hall and became Chair at the April 1995 AGM and remained as Chair until Rick took over the role in 2018. During many of those years the District Group would meet at Holly Hayes, the Leicestershire Environmental Centre at Birstall and Joyce undertook many roles including a branch trustee, membership secretary and planning campaigner until around 2016.
The Branch are indebted to all the work that Joyce Noon has undertaken tirelessly over the years around planning applications in the Charnwood area, and she has been a key figure in the Group. All the Trustees send her their heartfelt thanks for this work.
National CPRE
National CPRE have many campaigns underway including:-
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Fracking.
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Climate Emergency.
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Hedgerows.
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What Gets Built and Where.
Information on these campaigns can be found on the national website www.cpre.org.uk.
Various Trustees have attended a range of national/regional meetings including sessions of the Planning Campaign Group, Branch Chairs drop in chats with National CPRE Chair, the new CPRE Assembly and various other webinars and training events.
What 2023 and beyond will bring ……..
Our key focus for 2023 will be finalising our Vision for the Leicester and Leicestershire countryside, with a proposed launch in Spring 2023. The Branch is actively looking for more Trustees and volunteers. If you feel you could offer some of your time more information can be found on our website www.cpreleicestershire.org.uk.
Trustees are especially needed to focus on the following areas :
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Planning;
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Volunteer recruitment;
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Fund Raising;
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Media.
Finally, the Trustees of CPRE Leicestershire would like to wish all members a Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2023.
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Financial Review: year ending 31[st] March 2022
The Branch’s full Accounts for the year ending 31[st] March 2022, including a detailed analysis of income and expenditure, are disclosed in a separate report, which (subject to the approval of the members) will be filed with the Charity Commission. The main points to note are as follows:
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The Charity recorded a deficit of £834 on its regular activities for the year, compared with a deficit of £2,680 in y/e 31/3/21 and £3,504 in y/e 31/3/20. At the beginning of the financial year the deficit was forecast to be around £2,100, with the following contributing to the better-thanexpected result:
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£380 donations received that were not forecast;
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Newsletter costs being only £56 compared with a forecast of £300;
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Travel expenses of £250 forecast but not incurred;
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AGM costs forecast at £200 but only £97 in the event;
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Consultancy costs being £4,770 compared with a forecast of £5,000.
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In addition to its regular activities, the Charity also incurred costs of £3,826 in the year on the Leicestershire Vision. As all income relating to the Vision had been recognised in the previous financial year, this gave additional expenditure for the Charity as a whole of that amount, resulting in an overall result for the period of net expenditure of £4,660, as can be seen in the Accounts. The remaining £9,261 to be spent on the Vision is expected to take place in financial years 22/23 and 23/24.
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The assets of the Charity at 31/3/21 amounted to £46,348, compared with £51,008 at the end of the previous year. This total comprised bank balances as follows:
| Bank accounts: Business account Savings account Charnwood District account |
As at As at 31/3/22 31/3/21 4,093 8,758 42,031 42,026 224 224 46,348 51,008 |
|---|---|
- The Charity had no amounts either receivable or payable at 31/3/22.
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Campaign to Protect Rural England (Leicestershire Branch)
Registered Charity Number 1164985
Financial Statements
Year Ending 31st March 2022
Campaign to Protect Rural England (Leicestershire Branch) Receipts and Payments Year Ending 31st March 2022
| Unrestricted Funds £ RECEIPTS Branch share of national income 6,056 Grant received - Bank interest received 4 Donations received 380 Other receipts - 6,440 PAYMENTS Subscriptions 745 Newsletter 56 Travel Expenses - Room hire - Marketing and communications - AGMs 97 Office expenses 1,304 Insurance 302 Consultancy 4,770 Research - 7,274 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR (834) Transers between funds - Net assets at end of previous year 37,894 Net assets at end of current year 37,060 Year |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,321 2,505 3,826 (3,826) - 13,114 9,288 ending 31/3/22 |
Total Unrestricted Funds Funds £ £ 6,056 6,069 - - 4 54 380 50 - - 6,440 6,173 745 649 56 302 - 19 - - - 411 97 223 1,304 2,259 302 302 6,091 4,688 2,505 - 11,100 8,853 (4,660) (2,680) - (4,000) 51,008 44,574 46,348 37,894 Year |
Restricted Funds £ - 10,000 - - - 10,000 - - - - 500 - - - 386 - 886 9,114 4,000 - 13,114 ending 31/3/21 |
Total Funds £ 6,069 10,000 54 50 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16,173 | ||||
| 649 302 19 - 911 223 2,259 302 5,074 - |
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| 9,739 | ||||
| 6,434 - 44,574 |
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| 51,008 |
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Campaign to Protect Rural England (Leicestershire Branch) Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at 31st March 2022
| Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank and in hand 37,060 9,288 LIABILITIES - - NET ASSETS 37,060 9,288 As at 31/3/22 |
Total Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 46,348 37,894 13,114 - - - 46,348 37,894 13,114 As at 31/3/21 |
Total Funds £ 51,008 - |
|---|---|---|
| 51,008 |
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Campaign to Protect Rural England (Leicestershire Branch) Notes to the Accounts Year Ending 31 March 2022
1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015).
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis, rather than an accruals basis, permissible given that the gross income of the charity is less than £250,000 for the year.
As the gross income for the year is less than £25,000, an audit or independent examination was not required and has not been carried out for this financial year.
2. Assets and Liabilities
At the beginning and end of the financial year the Charity's only assets were its bank account balances. No liabilities existed at either date.
3. Restricted Funds
In financial year 20/21 the Charity received a grant of £10,000 from the Strategic Collaboration Fund of the CPRE. This is being used to fulfill three key objectives for CPRE Leicestershire:
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(1) To strengthen relationships with other, like-minded organisations, creating and building collaboration by means of shared working;
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(2) To create a Vision for CPRE Leicestershire; and
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(3) To revise the Charity's Strategic Growth Plan.
The attainment of these objectives - and therefore the utilisation of the grant received - is expected to be completed in financial year 23/24.
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