Parochial Church Council Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024
Contents
Annual Report ............................................................................................................................................ Page 2 Administrative Information .................................................................................................. Page 2 Achievements and Performance ........................................................................................ Page 3 Church Attendance .................................................................................................................. Page 3 Deaths in 2024........................................................................................................................... Page 3 Review of the Year ................................................................................................................... Page 3 Financial Review ........................................................................................................................ Page 4 Reserves Policy .......................................................................................................................... Page 5 Financial Statements ................................................................................................................................ Pages 6-9 Summary of Receipts and Payments ................................................................................. Page 6 Statement of Assets and Liabilities ..................................................................................... Page 7 Notes ............................................................................................................................................. Page 8-9 Report of the Independent Examiner ............................................................................................... Page 10
Incumbent (Address for Correspondence):
The Reverend Felix Smith, St Michael’s Vicarage, 117 Penhill Road, Lancing BN15 8HD
Independent Examiner:
Mrs Rosanne Nulty, 135 Stamford Road, Kettering, NN26 8YA
Bankers:
HSBC UK Bank PLC and Barclays Bank PLC
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Parochial Church Council of South Lancing and Sompting Annual Report for 2024
Administrative Information
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of South Lancing and Sompting is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (number 1205535). Its governing document is the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956.
During the year the following served as members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC):
Ex-officio Members:
The Reverend F.A.J. Smith (Chairman and Parish Priest) The Reverend B. Scott (Assistant Curate)
Ms R.E.G. Connolly (Churchwarden and Vice Chairman) .......................................................... Until 2025 Mrs A.M. Gisby (Churchwarden and Vice Chairman) ................................................................. Until 2025 Mr I.L. Tout (Deputy Churchwarden and PCC Treasurer) .......................................................... Until 2025 Mr M.G. Tristram (Deputy Churchwarden) ..................................................................................... Until 2025 Mr D.M. Mackey (Deanery Synod Representative)...................................................................... Until 2026 Mrs A. Hunniball (Deanery Synod Representative) ..................................................................... Until 2026 Mrs A.C. Upfield (Deanery Synod Representative) ...................................................................... Until 2026 Mr P.N. Walpole (Deanery Synod Representative) ...................................................................... Until 2026
Elected Members:
Miss C. Allen ............................................................................................................................................... Until 2026 Mrs K.H. Ayling .......................................................................................................................................... Until 2025 Mrs M.A. Burton ........................................................................................................................................ Until 2026 Mrs S.L. Brake ............................................................................................................................................. Until 2025 Mrs J.L.W. Excell ......................................................................................................................................... Until 2026 Mr S. Gates .................................................................................................................................................. Until 2027 Mr A.C. Kerney .......................................................................................................................................... Until 2027 Mrs G.E.M. Kerney (Parish Safeguarding Officer) ......................................................................... Until 2027 Mrs D.L. Mackey ........................................................................................................................................ Until 2026 Mrs L. Mitchell ............................................................................................................................................ Until 2025 Mrs J. Offord ............................................................................................................................................... Until 2025 Miss E.J.R. Weekes .................................................................................................................................... Until 2027 Vacancy ......................................................................................................................................................... Until 2025 Vacancy ......................................................................................................................................................... Until 2026 Vacancy ......................................................................................................................................................... Until 2027
Co-opted Members:
None
Standing Committee:
Revd Smith (Chairman) Ms Connolly (Churchwarden and Vice Chairman) Mr Tout (Deputy Churchwarden and PCC Treasurer) Mrs Kerney (Parish Safeguarding Officer)
Revd Scott
Mrs Gisby (Churchwarden and Vice Chairman) Mr Tristram (Deputy Churchwarden) Miss Allen (Assistant Churchwarden)
Membership of the PCC is determined under the Church Representation Rules and consists of certain exofficio members (the incumbent, the churchwardens and members of the Deanery Synod) and fifteen members of the church who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
Aim of the PCC
The aim of the PCC is to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
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Achievements and performance
Church attendance
On 31 December 2024 there were 226 names on the church electoral roll, 122 of which are of people resident within the parish. Eleven names were added during the year and two were removed. The average Sunday attendance was 125 adults and 15 children (based on October attendance figures). Attendance at Messy Church events was restricted to 35 and was booked out very quickly.
Deaths 2024
From the Electoral Roll, the PCC was sad to say goodbye to Margaret Venn and Ella Winstanley.
Review of the Year
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The PCC held six ordinary meetings during the year. The Parish Mission Action Plan (MAP) has been used as a focus for its discussion and action through the year. The sections of the MAP follow those of the Diocesan Strategy – Church Growth, Reimagining Ministry and Contributing to the Common Good.
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Safeguarding has continued to be a permanent agenda item. We have complied with the duty to have due regard to the House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. People working with children and vulnerable adults have attended online training sessions as appropriate to their roles with further support given as necessary. Safer Recruitment guidelines have been followed with recruitments to all posts either new or as roles becomes vacant.
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Services: Regular Sunday and weekday services have been maintained. Good congregational numbers across all three churches have been seen with growth in all Sunday congregations. The number of funerals remains steady, particularly those held at crematoriums. Numbers of baptisms remain fairly consistent but the number of weddings remains low.
Messy Church has continued to run at St Michael’s on a bi-monthly basis incorporating a range of activities on different themes through the church year. Numbers are restricted to assist with catering with an online booking system used.
In 2024 St Michael’s celebrated its centenary. Events to mark this included:
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a Celebration of Marriage during Marriage Week UK when eighteen couples renewed their marriage vows.
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A visit from the Bishop of Lewes to celebrate the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone in March (it had been laid by the then Bishop of Lewes in 1924).
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An evening of music and praise entitled ‘Centenary Praise’ with The Boundstone Chorus and Worthing Salvation Army Band compered by BBC Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes in September.
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The Archdeacon of Chichester, the Venerable Luke Irvine-Capel visited to preach for St Michael’s patronal festival in September.
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The Bishop of Chichester visited to celebrate and preach for the centenary of the dedication of the church in December, and to conduct a confirmation service.
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Memories from the congregation were collected into a Centenary Book of Witnesses and an exhibition of newspaper stories covering the church’s story was put on display. This was also made into a history book available for purchase.
Other guest preachers have included Bishop Nicholas Reade who was the celebrant and preacher for Corpus Christi at St Michael’s, Bishop Lindsay Urwin who preached at Choral Evensong at St Mary’s for the patronal festival in August, and Archdeacon Luke Irvine-Capel to preach and bless the new doors at St Peter’s.
The regular pattern of services has been maintained across the parish - 9 am Mass with Hymns at St Peter’s (1st, 2nd, 4th Sundays) and Mass with Hymns at St Mary’s (3rd Sunday), 10.30 am Sung Mass at St Michael’s, 5 pm Choral Evensong at St Mary’s usually when there is a fifth Sunday in the month (about four times each year). 9 am Morning Worship at St Peter’s and 6.30 pm Evening Worship about six times
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per year led by Authorised Lay Minister Ian Tout. Weekday Masses at St Michael’s on Thursday and Saturday have continued as has daily Morning Prayer.
Members of the congregation have continued to take part in the monthly Ecumenical Morning Prayer and breakfast with people from all the churches in Lancing and Sompting. We coordinated the organisation of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with prayers being held at each of the churches and members of the congregation took part in these. The United Service took place at St Peter’s. In common with many other churches in the diocese we followed the diocesan Lent course as part of the Year of the New Testament.
Time to Remember, our annual service for bereaved people and families, took place in October and was attended by the families of people whose funerals had been taken by the clergy over the last two years. Home Communion has been made available to housebound parishioners and those in rest homes in the parish by the Parish Priest, Curate and Lay Ministers of Communion.
- Church Growth: All of our regular groups have continued to run, these include Alive! (children’s group), Rise (youth group), XYZ (group for those in 20-60 age group) and Ancient and Modern (group for those over 60), Home Group, Social Afternoon at St Peter’s, Baby Boomers and the Craft Club. Each add their own something to the social and spiritual life of the parish. Our Mothers’ Union branch continues to offer us a valuable link with their work supporting families worldwide.
An Alpha course run by Marion and David Peskett, and Cathy Allen was open to everyone across the parish. They all enjoyed a Holy Spirit Day at the Bishop’s Palace, Chichester.
The parish employs a Parish Administrator, Heather Crookes. Heather’s employment assists in lifting some of the administrative burden from the clergy and helping to streamline and develop working processes and practices. Heather also oversees the management of the two church halls which includes overseeing bookings and invoicing for use. Heather also carries out work for the Parish of Lancing with Coombes and Worthing Deanery as Parish Administrator and Deanery Development Officer. There are Service Level Agreements in place for this work.
- Reimagining Ministry: A volunteer group have continued to address general items of maintenance and small items as highlighted by the Quinquennial Inspection. The PCC have also discussed continue to discuss major works including the required stonework replacement at St Mary’s, the proposed redevelopment of the church hall at St Michael’s. One project to install new external doors at St Peter’s was realised early in the year.
Ian Tout completed Authorised Lay Ministry training in Preaching and was commissioned by the Bishop of Horsham in Chichester Cathedral.
A stewardship campaign was launched in February with presentations given by the Treasurer in all three churches. Responses were received from about 50% of those who received information packs. Whilst the campaign was successful in encouraging existing givers on the Parish Giving Scheme to review their giving and did result in some new joiners to the Parish Giving Scheme, it wasn’t totally successful in encouraging those who are regular attenders but currently giving using the contactless card machine or using gift aid envelopes to convert to using the Parish Giving Scheme. Contactless giving devices are available at St Michael’s and St Mary’s. All three churches have online giving sites.
- Contributing to the Common Good: The charity supported for 2024 was Lancing and Sompting Churches Foodbank and £579 was raised through Lent Lunches, donations, and a collection at the Crib Services. Some incidental support for other charities including Turning Tides and other charities through concerts held in the church.
We have continued links with schools in the parish. Fr Felix Smith is Vice Chair of Governors at Seaside Primary School and other members of the congregation are also similarly involved at other schools both within the parish and beyond. Seaside Primary School held their Christmas Carol Service at St Michael’s Sompting Abbotts School held their Christmas Carol Services at St Mary’s. The Worship Workshop at Seaside was restarted with good numbers attending. This is run jointly by Fr Felix and Fr Ben. School visits from Sompting Village Primary School and Bramber Primary School were received at St Mary’s. In his capacity as Rural Dean, Fr Felix is also a Governor of St Andrew’s CE High School, Worthing.
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Usage of the halls at St Michael’s and St Peter’s as a venue for community groups has been continued but usage at St Michael’s has declined. A cleaner is employed at both halls. The PCC also allowed the use of the churches for concerts during the year. These included performances by the Strawberry Fair Folk Trio and Cotillion (St Mary’s), Northbrook Community Band (St Peter’s), The Boundstone Chorus and Lancing Orchestra (St Michael’s).
Plans to run a Job Club in conjunction with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) were discussed with preliminary work taking place. Training to become churches which are dementia friendly was discussed and would take place in January 2025.
A range of fundraising and social events were organised throughout the year across the three churches. This included a Celebration Weekend of events at St Mary’s in August. An art exhibition, as part of Worthing Open Houses Art Trail, was held at St Mary’s.
The Net our quarterly community newsletter for St Michael’s has continued with circulation increased to 2400. It is funded by advertisements from local businesses and delivered to homes in the former St Michael’s parish by members of the congregation. It is also available on the website and highlighted on the St Michael’s Facebook page.
Financial Review
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The total receipts on general unrestricted funds received was £149,826, restricted funds of £52,129 – a total received of £201,955 across the parish. We had unrestricted payments of £158,515, restricted fund payments of £62,850 leaving a total deficit of £19,410. The deficit in the restricted funds was caused by using funds received in a previous year for projects in 2024. The unrestricted deficit is largely down to overpayment on gas at St Michael’s which will refunded early in 2025.
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We continue to offer a range of opportunities for members of the congregation and visitors to support the work and ministry of the church financially. Gift Aid envelopes are made available for tax-paying visitors and worshippers not currently part of a regular giving scheme. Membership (individual and joint) of the Parish Giving Scheme, which offers the opportunity to give by direct debit with gift aid (if relevant) being added and an optional yearly inflationary increase, is at 74 (up seven from 2023). Contactless giving devices and online giving opportunities are also available for donors and are being well used.
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The PCC has not been able to give directly to charity this year but has continued to rely on the generosity of the congregation in organising events or taking charity boxes.
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The largest expenditure of the PCC was the sum of £66,865 paid to the Diocese to cover ministry costs. The Parish Share covers the housing, stipend and pension costs of the clergy together with a standard sum for diocesan central costs, clergy training and a contribution to national church funds. In line with a challenge from the Diocese we have put in place an ambitious plan to reach 100% of our Parish Ministry Costs. It was hoped that this would be achieved by 2025 but this is now not possible.
Reserves Policy
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It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on the general unrestricted funds which equates to approximately two months’ worth of unrestricted payments as contingency against unforeseen circumstances.
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The balances of the restricted Restoration and Development and Walsingham Cell funds are retained towards the costs of works to the church and church hall buildings and ongoing costs of the Walsingham Cell group respectively. The designated mission fund is for mission purposes.
Signed by the Chairman, Reverend Felix Smith (13 March 2025)
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South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council Summary of Financial Receipts and Payments 2024
| Income Donations and Legacies Charitable Activities Other trading activities Investments Other Receipts Restoration and Development Funds Walsingham |
Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds |
Designated Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total All Funds 2024 |
Total All Funds 2023 |
|
| £ £94,669 £13,763 £38,000 £2,867 £527 |
£ | £ - £ 4,810 0 £36,482 £10,837 |
£ £94,669 £18,573 £38,000 £2,867 £527 £36,482 £10,837 |
£ £91,895 £23,280 £40,504 £2,705 £560 £13,297 £14,867 |
|
| Total Received | £149,826 | £0 | £52,129 | £201,955 | £187,108 |
| Expenditure on Cost of raising funds Charitable costs Trading costs Other payments Restoration and Development Funds Walsingham |
£1,262 £156,903 £210 £140 |
£2,123 £48,270 £12,457 |
£1,262 £159,026 £210 £140 £48,270 £12,457 |
£1,432 £161,255 £423 £19,490 £13,968 |
|
| Total Paid | £158,515 | £0 | £62,850 | £221,365 | £196,568 |
| Net income or (net expenditure) | -£8,689 | £0 | -£10,721 | -£19,410 | -£9,460 |
| Bank accounts as at 1st January 2024 | £212,481 | £222,132 | |||
| Bank accounts at 31st December 2024 | £193,071 | £212,481 |
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South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Receipts and Payments presentation) 2024
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Total All Funds 2024 |
Total All Funds 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Michael General Funds |
St Mary General Funds |
St Peter General Funds |
St Michael R&D Fund |
St Michael Walsingham Fund |
St Mary R&D Fund |
St Peter R&D Fund |
|||
| Assets Bank Current Accounts Parish account Savings Accounts |
£ £2,515 £445 £56,394 |
£3,515 £222 |
£ £28,611 £445 |
£41,530 | £5,855 | £ £52,096 |
£ £1,443 |
£ £36,084 £1,112 £155,875 |
£ £82,064 £1,887 £128,530 |
| Bank and Savings Accounts | £59,354 | £3,737 | £29,056 | £41,530 | £5,855 | £52,096 | £1,443 | £193,071 | £212,481 |
| Debtors | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | |||
| Chancel trust income (held on trust by Chic 130 CBF Investment Fund Shares |
hester DBF) £3,006 |
£2,126 | £2,126 £3,006 |
£2,019 £2,939 |
|||||
| Investment assets at market value | £3,006 | £0 | £2,126 | £0 | £5,132 | £4,958 | |||
| Total assets | £62,360 | £3,737 | £29,056 | £41,530 | £5,855 | £54,222 | £1,443 | £198,203 | £217,439 |
| Total liabilities | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
This Financial Report for the year ended 31st December 2024, including the notes following, was approved by the PCC and signed on its behalf by the Reverend Felix Smith
Date: 13 March 2025
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South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council Notes to the Financial Report 2024
1 The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the current Church Accounting Regulations, using the Receipts and Payments basis
2 Analysis of total received
| Planned giving (excl tax refunds) Planned giving (no tax refunds) Loose cash collections Donations Donations to supported charities Gift Aid Recovered Fundraising |
Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Total All Funds 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Michael General £ |
St Mary General £ |
St Peter General £ |
St Michael £ |
St Mary £ |
St Peter £ |
||
| £29,964 £3,719 £3,420 £10,721 £1,317 £7,530 £11,637 |
£8,378 £1,067 £1,151 £4,502 £187 £2,095 £498 |
£4,651 £720 £562 £504 £52 £1,163 £831 |
£42,993 £5,506 £5,133 £15,727 £1,556 £10,788 £12,966 |
||||
| Donations and Legacies | £68,308 | £17,878 | £8,483 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £94,669 |
| Fees for weddings and funerals | £4,679 | £9,084 | £0 | £2,397 | £2,413 | £0 | £18,573 |
| Charitable activities | £4,679 | £9,084 | £0 | £2,397 | £2,413 | £0 | £18,573 |
| Hall Hiring Charges Magazine fees |
£11,327 £859 |
£0 £0 |
£25,814 £0 |
£37,141 £859 |
|||
| Other trading activities | £12,186 | £0 | £25,814 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £38,000 |
| Banks and CBF interest | £1,809 | £593 | £465 | £2,867 | |||
| Investments | £1,809 | £593 | £465 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £2,867 |
| Other receipts Restoration and Development Fund Walsingham TOTAL OTHER |
£86 £86 |
£0 £0 |
£441 £441 |
£1,090 £10,837 £11,927 |
£35,268 £35,268 |
£124 £124 |
£527 £36,482 £10,837 £47,846 |
| Total received on all funds | £87,068 | £27,555 | £35,203 | £14,324 | £37,681 | £124 | £201,955 |
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South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council Notes to the Financial Reports 2024
| 3 Analysis of totalpaid | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenses for Fundraising | Unrestricted | St Michael St Mary St Peter Restricted |
Total All Funds 2024 |
||||
| St Michael General |
St Mary General |
St Peter General |
|||||
| £ £1,262 |
£ £0 |
£ £0 |
£ | £ | £ | £ £1,262 |
|
| Cost of raising funds | £1,262 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £1,262 |
| Charitable grants and donations Parish share to Chichester Diocese Salaries and honoraria inc NI Expenses of Clergy and Church officials Mission and evangelism costs Insurance Water, Gas and Electricity Administration Other regular church running expenses Church maintenance and redecoration Hall maintenance and redecoration |
£1,435 £41,972 £4,584 £6,012 £191 £4,699 £30,342 £2,944 £4,291 £411 £0 |
£110 £8,485 £3,127 £862 £0 £2,957 £8,206 £208 £1,900 £248 £0 |
£47 £16,408 £3,647 £1,589 £60 £756 £6,147 £636 £3,815 £814 £0 |
£1,419 | £704 | £0 | £1,592 £66,865 £11,358 £8,463 £251 £8,412 £44,695 £3,788 £12,129 £1,473 £0 |
| Charitable costs | £96,881 | £26,103 | £33,919 | £1,419 | £704 | £0 | £159,026 |
| Magazine printing | £210 | £210 | |||||
| Trading costs | £210 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £210 |
| Other payments Restoration and Development Fund Walsingham |
£140 | £7,315 £12,457 |
£33,318 | £7,637 | £140 £48,270 £12,457 |
||
| Other payments | £0 | £0 | £140 | £19,772 | £33,318 | £7,637 | £60,867 |
| Total paid on all funds | £98,353 | £26,103 | £34,059 | £21,191 | £34,022 | £7,637 | £221,365 |
The Parish share to the Chichester Diocese is for the payment of Clergy and other central costs. The full cost of parish ministry and church insurance amounts to approximately £79,000 (2023)
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the part year ended Set out on pages |
South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council | South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council | South Lancing and Sompting Parochial Church Council |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1stJanuary to 31stDecember 2024 | Charity no (if any) |
1205535 | |
| As attached | |||
| I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the period 1/1/24 to 31 / 12/ 2024 |
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
| Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
11thMarch 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rosanne Nulty | ||
| Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors |
||
| 135 Stamford Road | ||
| Kettering | ||
| NN16 8YA |
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Section B Disclosure
No items to disclose
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
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