2023-12-31-accounts

Parish of Gornal and Sedgley

2023 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of the Parish of Gornal and Sedgley[1]

Please note - This report is based on the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) report, which was approved 26[th ] May 2024, which includes the 2023 end of year accounts.

Aims and purposes

Gornal and Sedgley’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Acting Team Rector (Rev Catherine Mitchell), in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC has overall responsibility to oversee the maintenance of our churches and halls. However, specific responsibility for the day to day running and maintenance is delegated to the respective District Church Councils (DCC); namely All Saints’ church and hall, Sedgley, All Saints DCC; St Peter’s church and hall, Upper Gornal, St Peter’s DCC; St Andrew’s church and hall, St Andrew’s DCC.

Objectives and Activities

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of our parish community.

Safeguarding

The PCC, and the people of the parish are committed to their Safeguarding responsibilities.

1 The Parish of Gornal and Sedgley includes the churches of All Saints’, Sedgley St Peter’s, Upper Gornal and St Andrew’s, The Straits.

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The PCC is aware of its duty to have due regard to House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The Church of England’s safeguarding policy statement, ‘Promoting a Safer Church’, requires us to have an action plan in place that sets out how the policy is being put into action and committing to review this regularly. This action plan has been presented by Barbara Baker, our PSO and approved by PCC. Safeguarding is an agenda item on every PCC meeting.

The PCC wish to thank our safeguarding officer Barbara Baker for all her hard work during the past 12 months.

Achievements and Performance

2023 although was another year of challenges for the parish but there were also many blessings. As a parish, we have continued to be greatly blessed by an incredible amount of hard work and ministry that so many are contributing to God’s work in this place.

Our PCC, Standing Committee and Church Councils have continued to work together to help steer the parish forward, giving a great deal of time and energy, for which I am grateful and give thanks for the time given through the year.

At the beginning of 2023 the parish was blessed by curate Rev Calum Burke joining the us on a placement from Top Church, Dudley. Rev Calum’s remit in joining the parish was to gain wider parish experience, to enable three communion services at All Saints and lead All Saints in the discernment process for the SMMIB (formally SDF) renewals project.

The service rota was maintained through the year. For two mornings a month at 8:00, and one at 11:00, at All Saints, where there no services, a Prayer Meeting, led by Church Warden Keith Tomlinson, has been offered, so that the church could be opened when there was no service and people were encouraged to attend a service in one of the other churches in the parish when there was no service at All Saints. I would like to express my thanks to Rev Calum Burke, LLM Canon Jan Humphries and ALM Worship Leader Suzanne Bradley for leading services in the parish and Church Warden Keith Tomlinson for leading the Prayer meeting through the year.

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The SMMIB project bid has identified that All Saints has the potential to grow to a congregation size of 150. The funding would enable a half time stipendiary priest to oversee a potential new worshipping community and a children’s and family’s worker. Discernment regarding the scope of the project continued through 2023, led by Rev Calum Burke, who, during the year, led a project discernment morning with the PCC and All Saints DCC, the All Saints Hub team, and various questionnaire to groups and individuals who are connected with the church, such as Noah’s Arc Toddler group, baptism families etc. Rev Calum was also the link between the parish and the Diocesan Leadership. Rev Calum has also been working with the parish and All Saints church to enable more comprehensive understanding of the project and its scope. There is still much work to be completed but it is hoped that the project submission will be completed in Q1 2024. I want to express my thanks to Rev Calum for his work on the project.

I would also like to express my thanks to our Church Wardens, Church and Parish Councils, Authorised Lay Ministers and LLM Canon Jan, in support of the parish’s life and ministry during the year; also, thanks to all who give so much time and energy in many ways.

The Bereavement Hub continued monthly through the year under the careful and sensitive guidance of Pastoral ALM Kath Apperley. The hub initially worked in conjunction with Compton Hospice, during the latter part of the year, due to a reorganisation at Compton Hospice with associated Bereavement Hubs, it was decided the Parish hub would become an independent group. I want to express my thanks to Kath Apperley, and the team, Sheila Moss, Tracey Bate and Joan Sullivan for their sensitive work with those who are bereaved.

During the year Kath Apperley completed training to become an Authorised Funeral minister in the parish and was Authorised by Bishop John Inge. Having Kath as part of the team taking funerals is a real blessing, with 41 funerals being conducted by the ministry team through 2023.

Our parish priorities of prayer continued during the year with continued online prayer opportunities, including morning prayer, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on Zoom and the twice monthly prayer opportunities on Tuesday afternoons and

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Tuesday evenings, on Zoom and in person. My thanks to Kath Apperley and Joan Sullivan leading the afternoon and evening prayer meetings.

Our second priority of Children and families. Once again parents seeking baptisms for their children saw high numbers with 38 baptisms (this included 3 adults); baptism is seen as one of our biggest opportunities for reaching out to those who do not know Jesus yet and will be a focus for the SMMIB project at All Saints.

The CYD Team developed Café Church at All Saints through 2023 on the first Sunday of the month, although we had a willing Team, the numbers attending the service was disappointing and the team made the difficult decision to stop and reassess what we might be able to offer in the future.

The CYD team once again were able to offer a Teddy Bears picnic at All Saints for pre-school children, and also the Good Friday Workshop and Half Term Workshop in October. I would like to thank Barbara Price, Laura Robinson and the team for making these activities a success.

The toddler groups in the parish, Little Angels (St Andrews) and Noah’s Arc (All Saints), continue to be a blessing in the parish, and thanks must go to the hard work of the teams who organise and run the sessions.

Once again connecting with the community was important for our churches, at St Peters and St Andrews we once again hosted successful fairs; and at

All Saints the church was opened to show the Kings Coronation in May. In July All Saints Church and hall were opened for the Black Country Festival in Sedgley, and once again open for the Sedgley Lights Switch on event in November, where we saw many people come into the church an hall. The Lights Switch on event was followed by the Taste of Christmas and the All Saints Christmas fair, which were both successful events. A big thanks for all who arranged and coordinated the events in the parish. We were again able to offer two memorial services for those the Team Ministry have conducted funerals for in the past year, which were well received. In November we hosted once again the Remembrance Sunday services across the parish, with the Act of Remembrance on Armistice Day gathered around the new war

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memorial in the gardens adjacent to the church. Our connections with the local schools in the parish continued, with school trips to St Andrews, from The Straits School, and All Saints with Cotwell End School. Both visits were a success and appreciated by the schools.

We also welcomed Alder Coppice and Cotwall End Schools to All Saints Church for their Carol services, which were again a great success where we welcomed 1322 children and adults across the 4 services.

The parish Christmas services were once again busy, and again we welcomed the Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir for the Nine Lessons and Carols, which is always well received with 134 people attending. The Christingles across the parish are always popular on Christmas Eve, with many people commenting that they see it as part of their Christmas tradition to come. The Christingles sae 526 children and adults attending, and I would like to thank all those involved with organising and leading these services.

During the year, we have been working with our Diocesan Mission Accompanier Chris Sheehan who has been helping us to develop a Parish Health and Sustainability Plan. The main focus of our Health and Sustainability Plan has been to Develop the Family Service at All Saints, which has been evolving through the year, with our service in December being a Scratch Nativity, led by Rev Calum, which attracted 66 people. The family services use iSingWorship for the songs and hymns, rather than the organ, which has received positive feedback from many people. Another project centres on Communication within the parish, which is intended to improve communications within the parish. Another priority is social events, which have been organised through the year by Edward Grist and Tracey Bates, and have been popular. Finally, the last project is to develop a Vision Statement, this project has been planned through the year and will continue to be developed through 2024. I want to thank all those on the hub team from the parish, Matt Guy, Kath Apperley, Edward Grist, Tracey Bate, Jan Humphries, and Maureen Allcock.

Once again, our parish Safeguarding Officer Barbara Baker has worked hard with us to ensure that all are safe, and all appropriate training and checks have been done or are being done, my thanks to Barbara for all her hard work on behalf of the parish.

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All Saints Hall continues to be a blessing with excellent facilities offered; the hall is well used by the community and thanks must go to John Anderson and Gail Griffiths for managing the hall, and bookings and requirements. The reeling in the years project has continued through the year and a blessing to all those who attend, any thanks to all who volunteer to make this activity a success.

Thanks also to our administrator Gail Griffiths for all her support and commitment in the parish office.

February saw the closure of St Peters Church building with a wonderful thanksgiving service led by Doug Chaplain, Discipleship and Lay Training Officer in Worcester Diocese. It was a significant moment in the life, ministry and worship of St Peters church community. The closure process has been long and challenging but it is hoped that the church community are able to see the opportunities that the hall will give.

Late in 2023, we advised by Mark Carter, Church Buildings Officer, that we were responsible for registering the pocket of land, that the vergers house once sat, and the land on which the St Peters Hall sat. The process of registering the land has begun and solicitor engaged. Once the pocket of land has been registered, St Peters DCC would be able to benefit financially if, and when, the land is sold.

St Peters Hall has now been equipped with the sound system from the church, including the loop, which has made a big difference in worship. The church community continues to seek how we move forward in ministry and mission.

St Andrews church continues to be supported by LLM Canon Jan Humphries, I would like to express my thanks to Jan for all her hard work in managing so much of the life of the church community on The Straits. The hall at St Andrew’s continues to be used well, but there is scope for more hall bookings, which would improve the financial situation for the church. This year St Andrews hosted two successful fairs. Also, St Andrews church is working with Bridge Church, who hire the church hall for their services and a monthly coffee morning, to bless the community on The Straits with a defribulator. A grant has been secured from Dudley Council to cover the costs.

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It is hoped that the unit will be fitted in Q1 2024, with training with St John Ambulance organised.

Thank you to the treasurers in the parish, John Anderson, Sheila Moss and Alan Turner for all their hard work; and thank you all for all you are giving to God’s work in money, time and talents.

As a parish and the leadership teams of the PCC and DCC’s we continue to work within the framework of the Diocese or Worcester initiative of being Kingdom People, with its emphasis on the Gospel main stays of love, compassion, justice and freedom. 2023 has, once again, been a challenging year for the parish, the parish is a busy parish, with many opportunities to connect with people who do not come to church, it is hoped that 2024 will see the fruits of the SMMIB renewal project discernment, with 2 new team members.

As we move into 2024, we will need to continue to discern what God is calling us to as a parish in our Ministry and Mission, our stewardship of time, talents, and money; and what it means to be the people of God in the Parish of Gornal and Sedgley.

There are too many to mention by name but thank you to all who have given so much and all you are doing in the parish.

Together with God we will move forward!

Catherine

Rev Catherine Mitchell Acting Team Rector, Parish of Gornal and Sedgley

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The following outlines, with these eight characteristics, the achievements and performance of the parish

1. Deeply rooted in prayer and study of the Scriptures,

Prayer is the most important activity we do as Christians. There are several opportunities that have been established within the parish; morning prayer each week at 9:15, which moved online from the start of the pandemic, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Also, two prayer meetings have continued once a month on a Tuesday afternoon, and once a month on a Tuesday evening, both are now on line.

The Thursday Fellowship Group continued, hosted by Kath Apperley and Joan Sullivan, online through the year and attracted members from outside the parish.

2. Renewed and transformed by regular worship,

From the start of 2023 we were blessed by Rev Calum Burke joining us in the parish on placement; which enhanced our worship experience.

The rota remained unchanged, and All Saints was able to open at times when there was no service, thanks to Church Warden Keith Tomlinson.

2. Equipped to witness to the Gospel of love, compassion, justice and freedom,

Occasional offices continued during the year, with baptisms and weddings and funerals. We continue to be blessed with how many families request baptisms in the parish, and allocated slots were all booked early in the year. There were four Weddings in the parish, three at All Saints and one at St Andrews. It was a particular blessing this year that these could be shared between Rev Catherine and Rev Calum. We continued to receive regular requests for funerals during the year which were conducted by Rev Catherine, Rev Calum, Canon Jan Humphries (LLM), and newly authorised funeral minister Kath Apperley. We again conducted two memorial services for those who had died, over the past year, both services were well attended and received.

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3.Dedicated to helping children and young people to belong and be nurtured in faith,

The toddler groups, Noah’s Ark and Little Angels continue to be well attended and supported.

We have continued to engage with the diocesan CYD project “Baptism Books” sending out the resources each month to baptism families.

We continued to engage a children’s evangelist, Paul Wilmot, who visits several of the local school to take assemblies on behalf of the church.

The Good Friday workshop resumed, and was well attended; also the Teddy Bears Picnic for under 4’s.

5. Devoted to growing deeply as disciples, offering our time, talents and money to God

We continue to be blessed by many people in the parish working hard to keep the buildings.

We are thankful and blessed that all three churches were able to pay our Ministry Share in full this year. Grateful thanks to all who contribute to the financial obligations of the parish.

6. Resourced and released to minister to others

Within the parish we are blessed with several people who minster to the church and individuals; we have a licensed lay minister, Canon Jan Humphries and appreciate and value her ministry with us. There are also several Authorized Lay Ministers (ALM’s) who take on specific roles within the parish within worship, pastoral care and youth. Also we ha Kath Apperley now Authorized Funeral Ministers.

7. Ready to engage with and serve our community

The parish continued to support and serve at the local foodbank throughout the year. During 2023 all three churches were able to host several fairs during the year which brought in well needed income, and enabled connections with the community.

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The Reeling in the years project continues to reach out to the community who are lonely or living with dementia. Reeling in the years shows films and offers refreshments for the those who attend.

The bereavement hub, at All Saints, meeting once a month, continues to be well received by those who attend. The team is supported by Pastoral ALM’s and other volunteers.

8. Committed to making our buildings fit for purpose as a spiritual and community resource

The church building of St Andrew continues to be at the heart of the local community and is blessed by the response by the community for the fairs offered during the year.

The church of All Saints has continued to be well maintained and overseen by our Church Wardens.

The PCC and DCC’s of the churches continue to discern how we can make our buildings more flexible and appealing for both worship and community resources.

Financial Review

From 2023 financial accounts

Income £143,270 Expenditure £134, 534 Excess £8,736

Balance brought forward from 31st Dec 2022 £192,321

Increase in value of shares £11,678 Balance at 31st December 2023 £212,678

See also Statement of Financial Activities for the Year ended 31st December 2023 for further information.

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Reserves Policy

All three churches now have reserves policies in place

Volunteers

We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make our churches friendly and welcoming places, and in building the community. In particular I want to mention our licensed lay minister Canon Jan Humphries and our church wardens Mr Steve Castle, Mr Keith Tomlinson, Mr Dave Moss and Mr Edward Grist. We would also like to thank all of our PCC and DCC members, and all who give so much of their time for the church community.

Structures, governance and management

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. In the Parish of Gornal and Sedgley the membership of the PCC consists of the Acting Team Rector, churchwardens from the three churches, the licensed lay minister, the Treasurers from each Church, together with members elected by the members of the congregations who are on the electoral rolls of our three churches, ex oficio members (Deanery reps) and Co-Opted members. All those who attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll as Members. Members are encouraged to stand for election of the PCC.

The PCC, is the executive body of the parish and responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern for the whole parish, including on how any funds of the PCC are to be spent. The PCC delegates specific responsibilities to the individual church councils (DCC’s) as set out in the Pastoral Scheme dated April 2008. New members of the PCC receive initial training into the workings of the PCC.

There were four meetings of the PCC in 2023 (May (x2), July and December). The second PCC meeting in May 2023 was to confirm parish officers. The average attendance for PCC meetings was 71%.

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The number of electors on the roll for the Gornal and Sedgley Team Ministry at 7th May 2023 is 178 a decrease of 14 from 2022.

There are 46 electors at St Peter’s, 110 at All Saints’ and 22 at St Andrew’s. (from the electoral roll officer report 7th May 2023)

Administrative Information

The Benefice and Parish of Gornal and Sedgley, consists of the Parish Church of All Saints’, Sedgley; the Parish church of St Peter’s, Upper Gornal; and the Church of St Andrew’s, The Straits. It is in the Greater Dudley Deanery, being part of the Diocese of Worcester within the Church of England.

The correspondence address and administrative centre is All Saints Parish Office, Ladies Walk, Dudley, DY3 3UA

The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measures 1956m Church Representation Rules 2006).[2 ]

PCC members who served during 2023-24 Ex Officio members :

• Acting Team Rector: The Reverend Catherine Mitchell - From 7-5-17

• Licensed Lay Minister, Deanery Rep and Warden (St Andrew’s) Canon Jan Humphries

• Wardens: Mr Steve Castle (All Saint’s), Mr Keith Tomlinson (All Saints’), Mr Dave Moss (St Peter’s),Mr Edward Grist (St Peter’s).

• PCC Secretary Mrs Kath Apperley (PCC Secretary)

• Deanery Reps: Mrs Joan Sullivan, Mrs Kath Apperley and Mrs Sheila Moss (also PCC Treasurer)

• Mrs Barbara Baker (Parish Safeguarding Officer)

2 The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in Clause 4.4.5 of the Pastoral Scheme for the Parish of Gornal & Sedgley, dated 27th April 2008. (The scheme is pursuant to Church Representation Rule 18.)

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Elected Members:

Mrs Tracey Bate (St Peters)

Ms Suzanne Bradley (St Peters)

Mr David Moss (St Peters)

Mrs Joan (Margaret) Dain (St Andrews)

Mrs Rosemary Reid (St Andrews)

Mrs Maureen Matthews (All Saints)

Mrs Elizabeth Jeanne Williams (PCC Electoral Roll Officer)

Report approved by the Parochial Church Council of the Parish of Gornal and Sedgley 2[nd] October 2024

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Year Endin 2023 P.C.C. Treasurerfs Re ort Overall. there was an increase in the Parish's financial assets of £20k. The main areas of change we￿..- The value of shares held by All Saints. was up by £11.6K. Ministry Share payment was less by £10k. There were other lesser variations, perhaps the most signtficant of which was that total offertories reduced by £5k. with the knock on affect that Gift Aid IGASDS refund of tax was down by £800. All Saints, obviously have the most assets of our three churches but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the majority of these are held in restricted funds and, looking at the unrestricted fijnds. they hold the least of the three churches. They also have liabilities in excess of £1 Ook associated with work required to the Stained Glass and £8k assocaated with the cl(￿ and potential expenditure with regard to their quinquennial inspection. The year ahead will be interesting, athough at the same time challenging with the prospect of the New Worshipping Community taking shape and coming to fruition. We are having to change our accounting procedures to Accruals and so the presentation of our accounts will look a little dtfferent next year. Sheila Moss

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LC) LC) Ln O o ￿ a) o ￿￿)00￿)￿o too ¢Li O iL £> In Q)>O(o(OOQ)>acotL

Parish of Gornal and Sedgley All Saint’s, Sedgley St Peter’s, Upper Gornal St Andrew’s, The Straits

Acting Team Rector: Rev Catherine Mitchell

27[th] December 2018

7[th] August 2024

Re: Independent Examiners Reports for accounts Year ending 31/12/23

The Parish of Gornal and Sedgley Year End Accounts Statement is an amalgamated statement containing the year end accounts statements for each church, therefore there is no Overall Independent Examiners Report.

Each church is responsible for its own finances and accounts as per Pastoral Scheme in 2009, at the creation of the Parish of Gornal and Sedgley.

The end of year accounts for each church are examined by independent examiners and the reports are contained within this document, for year ending 31[st] December 2023.

Rev Catherine Mitchell, Acting Team Rector Parish of Gornal and Sedgley

FINANCIALSTATEMENrs FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31- DECEMBER 2012 Independent Examinerfs Report to All Sainvschurth. SEd I re￿rt lo the members tsn tny exatnifiation ofthe atts￿nts of All 5ainVs Churrh forthe year ended 31 December 2022 which are5et out on pages I to 3. Respon5ibilillesar￿ basisof repryt A5 All Saint's Churth you a￿ reswnsiblefof ihe p￿parat￿n of the accounts. I report in respect of rny exarnnatK)n of the account5 in accordance with instructions gNen to us by inspertingviithour carryingout an audit rhe annexed fLnancial siaternents from the a£count¢ng records of I Sainvs Church-Sed8ltyand from infomiation and e￿lanlOnS supplied to us. Independentex•nlnerfs stateme I hove completed myexamination. l (onfimi that M) material malter5 haVe￿rne to my attention in toi)nectioTh with the exafflirbation 8Nln8 me causeto believe that in any rnaterial ￿peCt- adequate accounting records were kept in resFect of the church.. or the accounts do not accord with tw records,. or The accounts do not comp￿ with the a￿1rAble requiremeThts concerning the fomi and content. I have ￿ concerns and have come across no other Matte￿ in tonnErtK)n with the examination to which attention should bÈ drawn in thi5 report in orderto enable a proper unde¥standi)B of the 3ctounts to b reached. David GUYCIO Guy & Co Chortered Certifled Accountants 12 johnson Slfeet Wthlcr055 Coseley West Midlands WV14 9RL Date..

Page 6 tNDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE DISTIUCT CHURCH COUNCIL OF UPPER GORNAL This report on the accounts of the D.C.C. for the y&v ended 31si DeCe￿ber 2022. vAJich are sd out on pages I to 5, is in respect of an eXa￿]n￿on caTricd out under regulation 3(3) of the ch￿￿h knunting liegulations 1997 S.43 of the cI￿ltieS Act 1993. A5 the member5 of the D.C.C. you are resFK>ll5ible for the preparation of the xcounts. It is Iny r¢SEK)Dsibikn"ty lo issue this report on those accouuts in accordaI￿e the terlljs of regulation 25 of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 and regulation 7 of the Chan"tie5 (Accounts alld Rq￿Its) ReguiatiOD5 1995. My w&s carried out in accordallce with the gencral direction5 ￿Ven by the Chatity comm￿10￿ under S.43(7)Ib) of the Act alld to be found in the guidance from the C.B.F. That exallLiIktion Rncludes a rcview of the accounting records kept by the D.C.C. and a comparison of the acco¥mts with tbose rttord& It aiso includes eonsiderdtion of ally unusual iiems ill the accoullts alld seekillg explanatiODS from you &8 tswtees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide the idellce that would be required in an audiL and ¢oLswntly I do not expTe&s and audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. tn connection with my examinatioo no matter has come to my attention.. l) Which gtves us reasonable Cause to believe that in any material respect the a) to keep accounting ￿cordS ID accordance with section 41 of the Act and b) to pware a¢¢ounts which accord with the accounting recoids and io comply wilh the requirements of the ACL as also containoj in the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 I￿¢ noi been mel or 2) To which in my ¢)pInio￿ attention should be drawn ID. 9r4y.ts). ethable a pr(Trper J. ￿ Howell BA

cFor¢ls WLtstets (tr￿￿1er tstan aLklr( 15 Trjt wmred year 144121 Ck4rth5 kn 2011 (the 2011 W aThJ De￿¢￿. exam￿¢ tsk accourK% 145 dthe 2011 A lolkmv ttt pr(edLW G￿er&I DYectimE by Clwty 5ectyorL 14515Mbl ofthe 2011 Ao" arKI Comms5KTr. ¢¢OL￿ ye5ented wllh those recerdk mclxles of arry disc105ure5 in procedures do rAx proyth all be fequirvj ￿ a full audi an C(rnqE￿Y I do ex¢we$5 an aud¢w on Independ•nt Examinerfs Statement keep rec￿0$ in accwthrttviffh >130 (rfthe 2011 * cr