ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF LAVENDER HILL THE ASCENSION AND BAThERSEA ST PHILIP WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW Ann Warwlck For and on b8haM of the Pam¢hl Church Council 31 May AD2026
Annual Report 2025 for the Parochial Church Council of the AsnsIon. Lavender Hill Aims and purposes The Parochial Church Council IPCCI of The Ascension. Lavender Hill proclaims and celebrates the Catholic faith as received by the Church of England and in so doing promotes the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The PCC has passed the resolution under the House of Bishops Declaration and supports the aims and objertives of Forward in Faith. We have a responsibility of co-operating with our incumbent Father Philip Kennedy- we work alongside him to address the needs and mission of the parish community, to include the whole of our parish people and beyond. We are a living, vibrant parish community in Battersea, and part of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark Objectives and Artivities The PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent. Philip Kennedy, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church. pastoral. evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the church building, a grade 2*_listed building, consecrated for worship in 1883. The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship in our churches and to become part of our community- Our vision is: to see those in our pastoral cure come to worship God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, through regular attendance at Mass and other public worship. and through daily personal prayer: to nurture a strong. welcoming and inclusive Christian community, whose values are underpinned by the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ: to reach out to the local community, by recognizing and pledging our individual skills and talents for the benefit of all; and to act as sensitive stewards of the resources we have. so that God's work can continue to develop and meet the changing needs of our parishioners.
When planning our programme of activities for the year. the Vicar and PCC have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular. the specific guidance to charities for the advancement of religion by: offering people the opportunity to gather together for and participate in public worship, prayer and teaching at our range of Sunday and midweek services and events: providing pastoral care through baptism. wedding and funeral ministry as well as the visitation of the sick. providing a 'gathering place. for those in particular need or with particular circumstances, through our Lavender Circle and social activities. and by giving practical help to people in need,. offering teaching to people of all ages and providing opportunityfor them to explore matter5 of the Christian faith; supporting our local state primary school in the Parish promoting and supporting mission partnerships with other churches, as well as other local organisations. The PCC encourages everyone in the Parish community and beyond that whatever stage their journey of faith is at, they are all welcome to come and join us in our Anglo-catholic church for traditional worship. Our aim is to offer worship throtjghout the week, with morning and evening mass providing worship with sacraments, prayer, hymns and scripture. Fr Philip offers the mass 6 days a week at different times to accommodate those from our community and beyond. The times are offered for the parish and people and on occasions there are additional daily masses to look out for especially on solemnities and holy days. The church's calendar of social events for the current year is advertised weekly in the Ma5S booklet available at the back of church. this is also added to the outside notice board for those passing by. During 2025 the fundraising events of raffles, summer fair and winter fair all took place with additional events for the community. We continue to have our Pilgrimages to Walsingham throughout the year and have this year taken a small group of pilgrims from Christ Church, Battersea, along with our own pilgrims. There are other fundraising events like the pancake evening on Shrove Tuesday and other social events for church members, their families, friends. the parish community, other churches and ecumenical friends during the year. We offered a warm space in the Lavender Circle run on Wednesday from Ipm-3pm for anyone who was lonely and needing a space to meet and have a chat with friendly people, refreshments were offered too. The local funeral dirertors Ernest Larner and Son held their Christmas Carol event at the church for families of those who had lost loved ones during the year and anyone who wanted to attend. This was a very successful evening and has been running now for a few
years. We welcomed children and their families from Shaftesbury Park School and Parkgate House school in the run up to the Christmas period which was a great success. The Walsingham Cell for help of Christians had a yearly calendar of events for 2025, some of these events were held in the church building during the year. The Lavender Circle days continue to run throughout 2025 for the lonely. bored and anyone at a loose end, with some events being out and about, these run alongside the Church's calendar for a full and inclusive programme, so that all the parish community can be part of this, as and when desired. Achlevements and performance Worship and Prayer The worship that has been offered by the Parish Priest is traditional and inspiring. Sunday Mass takes place every Sunday at eleven- we encourage families to attend thi5 Mass by offering a Children's Corner for babies, Parents/Carers are encouraged to sit close by the tiny tots to lend a hand if needed. This work5 well as everyone can still be in the presence of the Lord for worship. At present the Sunday school has not been running during mass times in the under croft as there are no children attending on a regular basis of the correct age group, normally up to confirmation age. Once the children have been confirmed they are encouraged to participate in the mass, helping on occasions With the readings and intercessions. Weekday Masses are offered daily at the high altar. along with Morning Prayer and Rosary on Saturdays. Stations of the cross are held weekly during lent, with participation in readings and reflections from those attending. Holy days of obligation are always observed, and holy week had a full programme of events leading up to the culmination of Easter. Baptism take place throughout the year and confirmations are held on a yearly basis for adults and juniors, these confirmations take place in the presence of the Bishop of Fulham. Wedding banns are called throughout the year and are covered in the notices during Sunday worship. The Church is available for Funerals and there have been a few during the past year that the service has been held in the church. Fr Philip is always on hand to help with a funeral that is directly at the crematorium for anyone who requests it. The PCC acknowledged that there is always a need for mission and growth ongoing all the time and is undertaken to be looked at regularly.
Deanery Synod We had two members representing us at the Deanery Synod from Jan 2025- Dec 2025 these were elected at our APCM .This is our full allocation allowed based on our Electoral Roll figures. A separate report is received for this annually for the purposes of the APCM. Mlssion and Evangelism We have our weekly sheet printed for Sundays worship and this is sent electronically to those who have requested it, this inform5 of the Notices and Mass times throughout the week. These can also be seen on our website which has information of upcoming events. Twitter and face book are a150 used by the parish priest to do so to get the message out in to the community. The Signage at the front of Church 15 Used to keep the passing community up to date with events that take place during the year. The Lavender Circle is also advertised to the community on a board outside the church and in the porch too. Programmes for the Lavender Circle and Walsingham cell events are available at the back of church for all members and anyone who is interested in getting involved. The Lavender Circle had a successful year in 2025, often people come in when the church is open and they are made to feel welcome. A separate report will be produced for the APCM. Financial Revlew We are a registered charity, known as THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF THE ASCENSION.LAVENDER HILL AND 5T PHILIP WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW.BAThERSEA IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK Our registered charity number is 1210919. The Accounts have been prepared on a different accounting system this year, but are still on a receipt and payment basis being an acceptable format for churches with income of less than 250.000.They will continue to be examined by our external examiner, Alison Pierazzini. Our Current assets are held within accounts that are restricted and unrestricted,. these are shown separately on the accounts. The unrestricted fund that IS Used for day to day running is held in a current account. We also have a deposit account with Barclays Bank. The other funds. both the restrirted and unrestrirted accounts are held in CBF deposit accounts. The total assets and current liabilities brought forward @ 01101/2025 are £333,538 and at the c105e of the financial year ending 3111212025 the total is £365,791.
The total receipt5 on the unrestricted funds were £121,094.41 of which £13,514.38 is made up of Christian Aid £122.00 in and out during 2025, Funeral fee's £523.CQ for the diocese, to be paid out during 2026, CBF and Deposit acct interest £12,869.38 shown separately in the accounts. leaving an income balance of £107,580.03. The Gift aid shown in the accounts will be the payment received from HMRCfor the 2024 claim and the current year income is that of Gift Aid repaid through the Parish giving scheme. all other 2025 Gift Aid has been claimed and received and will be shown in the 2026 accounts. The financial situation for the year ending 2025 over all the assets is Showing more receipts than payments of £32.252.96. During 2025 our Giving through standing orders, envelopes and donations ha5 increased, this is due to the stewardship campaign we undertook at the end of 2024. The weekly envelope5 have increased in amounts but it is important for those who use this method of givin& to aim to fill their envelopes in weeks when they are not at church. Tax is claimed on the loose plate under the GASDS.The Wall safe is also used throughout the year for donations towards the church running; this can also have the tax claimed on it under GASDS. The Kindergartens are still paying rent under the terms of their lease for The Bumble Bee School area of the sacristy, undercroft, shared upstairs toilet and kitchen area. this will remain in place until June 2026. after this time this income will cease and an alternative will need to be found to help support the life of the church and keep the financial situation sustainable. We continue to receive rental charge5 from the Christmas Forest (Pines and Needle51 that sets up at the front of the Church during the lead up to Christmas. We Invoice them for the electricity they use for lighting durin8 this period with readings taken from the December billing from British Gas. This is seen in the following yearfs income. I'm sure we all agree that having them present during the Christmas period is not only good for our church but also for the community and the public that we serve. The church building and grounds have been used during 2025 for a number of events that have raised revenue, including the hire for London Philharmonica Orchestra, Charm Ltd (Antiques and Collertables), Pines and Needles, and Parkgate House School totalling £7885.42. Table top sales on a monthly basis came to an end in December 2024 due to lack of helpers, but we were able to hold a summer and winterfair. These are always popular event5 Wlthin our community, for people to come along and socialise and in the process help raise funds to support the church.
We held a Raffle during the I, qvarter of 2025 and the 3rd quarter we donated funds to the church in support of Fr Philips Sabbatical by making donations for the church floor repairs that are hopefully going to take place in 2026. Our expenditure this year totals £ 88.841 being le55 than that of last year 1£ 94,513,2024). However, that did included the sound system. There is a contra of expenses and income of £122.00 for Christian Aid that is in and out during the year, also a payment of 523.00 for funeral fees for the diocese that are not part of the PCC funds but due to be paid out in 2026. The designated funds from 2024 for the following were distributed in February 2025, Aid to the Church in Need. St Georges Hospital Charity. National Churches Trust. Action For Children. all receiving £310.00 each, which was inclusive of the Lenten donations given by individuals. The Church of The Resurrection grant received in 2022 £ 2254.91 partly used to purchase altar frontals for the amount of £801.32.and for altar cloths £767.00 in June 2022 leaving balance of £686.59.This balance remains unspent at 3111212025 and will be carried forward to 2026. The b/fwd balance of 195.00 at 0110112023 being the Grant from Battersea United Charities -to be used for hardship fund was made up of the following.. Hardship fund Received in 2022 for £625.00 was partly dispersed to the following.. The Lavender Circle for £ 130.00 and St Nectarios Church to help fund their food bank £300.00 leaving a balance of £195.00 which remained unspent at 3111212023 and was carried forward to 2024.The balance blfwd of 195.00 above has been used in 2024 to pay £123.00 to St Albans PCC for the cancelled children's pilgrimage 2024. this now leaves a small balance of £72.Cil which will be carried forward to 2026. Grant from Society of Mary for statue restoration £ 1000.00 received in 2023 Remains in full at 31.12.2025 thi5 will be carried forward to 2026. A donation received in Dec 2023 of £ 500.00 designated for purchasing church linen in memory of lan Guthrie, remains unspent at 3111212025 and is being carried forward to 2026. The Grant received from City of London for the amount of £ 900.00 was used to pay for the access audit which was completed on the church premises in March 2025,but the grant making body will no longer support Grants based on acce55ibility, SO this has now come to its end. We received a Grant from Fellowship of St John, in March 2025 for 1100.00 to be used for the Children's Pilgrimage to Walsingham.funds of £1015.64 for board and travel for 6 pilgrims were used during the trip which leaves a small balance of £84.36, and carried forward to 2026.
We have been able to pay our promised pledge for 2025 in full to the diocese and the church insurance, utility bills and all expenses have been covered throughout the year. The net result for the year end was an excess of receipts over payments of £ 31.630.96 on the unrestrirted funds and on the restritted fund account 1003 a net receipt of £622 totalling £32,252.96. The receipts on the CBF deposit accounts during 2025 are that of interest received during the current year and transfers made from our current and deposit accounts with Barclays. The Barclays Bank Deposit Account is no longer being used a5 3 reserves account as the PCC agreed the 50K would earn a better interest in the CBF account 1075. The PCC are aware that it is their responsibility as charity trustees to balance risk with obtaining the best return for our resources when considering the funds in our accounts and where best to invest them. With exception to the restricted account CBF 1003 the other funds are not restricted in any way and are able to be used as the PCC sees fit for the benefit of The Ascension Church and the parish and in doing so considering the public benefit. We will continue to look at the funds held within our accounts to see that they are invested wiselv. Adding together the closing balances of both the current account of £37.846 the Barclays deposit account of £1588 the unrestricted CBF deposit accounts of £ 311,319 and £100 petty cash brought forward from 2024, we are carrying forward a balance at 3111212025 of £350,853 on unrestritted funds and £14,938 on restrirted funds. totalling £365,791. There are funds of 1000.00 designated for charity payments for 2025 to be sent in 2026 for the four supported charities that were chosen by the congregation as follows: Christian Aid, London Hearts, The Listening Place. and Churches Conservation Trust as agreed by the PCC and to be divided equally by all four charities. each receiving £250.00.There is also a restricted payment from Lenten giving of £240 to also be sent to the above charitie5 equally divisible by four. Each Charity will receive £310.00 in total. There is a restricted Balance for The Walsingham Cell held in the church account which at the 31112/2025 has an amount of £3813.02, for use of incoming and outgoing amounts for Walsingham events during the year.
Reserves policy In June 2023 The PCC agreed a reserves policy as follows.. The PCC decided that cash shall be held on deposit with a uk financial institution and should ideally not fall below the level required to maintain the running of the church for a six month period, the amount would be no less than £50.000 and should funds increase substantially this will be addressed in future PCC meetings. It was mentioned in the PCC meeting when the accounts were accepted in March 2025 that the funds held in the Barclays deposit account could make better interest if they were invested in one of the unrestricted CBF accounts held on our behalf. So therefore. these reserved funds of £ 50,000 showing in the Barclays deposit account @3111212024 have now been moved to the CBF account 1075 during 2025, the Barclays deposit account remains open to support the current account from having an excessive amount of money in it that would not be earning any interest, but there in case needed urgently. The Restricted funds (known as The May Gething Fund) holds a balance of £14,938 and this continues to be invested in the permanent endowment account CBF 1003,£6511 of the balance should remain untouched but the cumulative interest of £8427 is available for anv repair works that we undertake to the fabric of the Church. This could possibly be used towards the church floor repairs hopefully to be started in 2026. Governance and Management The structure, governance and management of the parish is determined by the rules of the Church of England, in particular the Church Representation Rules 2025. The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Power5 Measure. The PCC had previously been a charity excepted by order from registering with the charity commission but is now a registered charity, number 1210919. The appointment of PCC members follow5 the method as is set out in the Church Representation Rules IPCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 20251 The PCC consists of a standing committee, made up of the Incumbent Ichair), Two Southwark Pastoral Auxiliaries ISPAI, Churchwardens, Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice Chairperson and of which at present some of these positions are held by the same persons. Governance of the parish is provided bythe Vicar, Churchwardens and PCC. whilst day-to- day management is the responsibility of the Vicar, Churchwardens and Officers of the Parochial Church Council. Whether ex-officio or elected, together. all PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
Administrative information The Parochial Church Council is a body corporate IPCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 20251, and a registered charity, number 1210919. Our correspondence address Is: The Ascension Clergy House Pountney Road London SWII STU Bank: Barclays Bank 7 St John's Hill SWII ITR Independent Examiner: Alison Pierazzini 10 Harford Faringdon SN7 8JF Inspertin8 Architert las from March 20261: Heather Cerowski East Grinstead Insurers: Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Beaufort House Brunswick Road Gloucester GLI IJZ
PCC Members who have served throughout the financial yearJanuary-December 2025 Ex- 01¢10 member5 Jan 1 2025- May 25 2025 Incumbent- Father Philip Kennedy (Chair) Churchwarden: Cheryl Harper ChurchwardennreasurerlSPA: Ann Warwick During the Three Year tenure: David Neil-Smith-. Deanery Synod Representative Ruthlyn Cansdale: Deanery Synod Representative/Parish Safeguarding Officer Elected Ordinary member5 Jan 2025- May 25th 2025 Dean Warwick= Vice Chair Barbara Marcham = Secretary/SPA. Jacqueline Wilkinson: Electoral Roll Secretary. Carlene Powell Robin Farquhar Thomson Ekow Banson Michael Waller Alex Banson served as the second Parish Safeguarding Officer, but was not a member of the PCC,durin8 this time . Ma 2025 -Dec 2025 Ex- OFficio members May 25 May 2025- Dec 31" 2025 Incumbent: Father Philip Kennedy (Chair) Churchwarden.. Cheryl Harper Churchwardennreasurer/SPA: Ann Warwick During the three year tenure- David Neil-Smith: Deanery Synod Representative Ruthlyn Cansdale: Deanery Synod Representative/Parish Safeguarding Officer io
Elected Ordinary members May 25 2025- Dec 31st 2025 Wice Chair: Dean Warwick Secretary/SPA . Barbara Marcham Electoral Roll Officer.. Jacqueline Wilkinson Michael Waller Ekow Banson Isaiah Cansdale The second Parish Safeguarding Officer is Alex Banson, however,. he was not a member of the PCC during this period. Serious Incident Report We are obliged to report here, for the information of our independent examiner, 3 Serious Incident from August 2025 - a data breach that occurred involving data processed by Access Personal Checking Services IAPCS} Ltd the provider m05t parishes in Southwark Diocese (including our own} used to process Disclosure and Barring Service IDBSI checks for parish officers. This was a fault with their servers rather than with any of our equipment or data storage/retention policies and practice5 We followed all advice from Jackie Pontin (Deputy Diocesan Secretary) and others in the Diocesan Office including informing the four people potentially afferted by this breach from our parish in a timely way, as well as reporting the breach to the Charity Commission (reference number.. 830161 CRM25:0301001241 and to the Information Commissioner's Office. The Diocesan provider for DBS checks has since changed and we continue to follow all procedures, policies and guidance provided by the Diocese in respect of DBS checkin8. li
Approved by The Parochial Church Council on Date: by Fr.Philip Kennedy, Chair .v. 2026 and signed on their behalf 12
General{unréstricted) Recelpts & Payments 2025 2024 T)tsl Recelpts Voluntsry Reeelpts Planned glving tax efficient other planned giving Legacie5 collection51donations Income Tax recovered Grants Recelpts from Actlvltles for generating Funds Fund ralslng 14,286 1.736 9,928 915 11,431 9.716 4.864 10.900 1.100 3,395 Interest Interest on legary Interest on tax recovered 49 26 other Recelpts Fees (WdingS & FuneralslPCC Trading & Lettings Sundry Receipts 1.355 58.046 10.567 1,655 57,183 8.406 Totsl recelpts 10&225 106.988 Payments Grdnts (outward tni55i0n giving) Dlotrsan Pash Share Heat and light lutilitiesl Church runnlng costsllnc lve¥ance) Other Expenses Oryan and Organist Insuran Benefice and cleryy expe5 Miscellaneous expense5 Fund raising expense5 1.240 31,0() 11,716 20,083 2,038 3.390 11.024 598 7.572 179 1.130 30.500 10.941 29,819 4,395 2.IfA) 9.803 6.068 Totsl payments 88.841 95.582 Surplus for year Transfer to CBF Deposlt 1075 Opening current account Closing ¢urrent •ttourt 19.384 (25.000) 43.462 11,406 32,056 13
The Ascension Lavender Hill, Financial Statements Year to 31st December 2025 Barclay's Deposlt Account(unrestrlcted) 2025 2024 Receipts Transfer from Current Account Interest Barclays 315 315 760 760 Payments Transfer to CBF 1075 50,000 50,000 {Defi¢lt)/Surplus for year (49,685) 760 Opening balance Closing balance 51,273 1,588 50,513 51,273 14
The Ascension Lavender Hill, Financial Statements Year to 31st December 2025 CBF A¢¢ount 0826 (unrestricted) 2025 2024 Recelpts Interest CBF deposit fiJnd Transfer of legacy 2.408 2,714 2.408 714 Payments Transfer to Barclay's bank account (Defi¢lt}/Surplus for year 408 714 Openbng balance Closing balance 55,429 57,837 52,715 15
The Ascension Lavender Hill, Financial Statements Year to 31st December 2025 CBF Account 1003 (restricted) 2025 2024 Receipts Interest CBF deposit fvnd CBF income fund 622 701 622 701 Payments Transfer to Barclay's bank account Surplus for year 622 701 Opening balance Closing balance 14,316 13,615 16
The Ascension Lavender Hill, Financial Statements Year to 31st December 2025 CBF Account 1075 {unrestricted) 2025 2024 Receipts Interest CBF deposit fund CBF income fund 9,524 75,000 8,272 84,524 8.272 Payments Transfer to Barclay's bank account Surplus for year 84.524 ,272 Opening balance Closing balance 168,958 253,482 160,686 168 958 17
statemert of Assets and UabilitTres at 31.12.25 CBF 0826 COF 1075 Bartlays CBF 1003 2025 2024 Monetsry assets Current account Deposit Account C8F deposit account Petty Cash Suspense Account 37.846 1.588 37.846 1.588 326.257 loo 43,462 51,273 238,703 loo 57,837 14.938 253.482 100 Totsl assets 253 482 333 538 The As¢enslon- notes to the assets and Il•blllt IIThe assets and liabllities of the Current account.De)sit COunt.CsF account 0826 & CBF account 1075 have unrestricted use with exception to 3 below. The reserve value of 50k from the bardays depJsÈt account has now been added to acct 21The assets and liabllities of the CBF Account 1003 have restrlcted use.The May Gething Legacy of which £6511 is permanent endowment and the interest on which can only be spent on the fabn"c of the church. 31There are restrlrted funds in the current account for Walsingham Cell £3813.02 Statue restoration £IOOO,Chanty donation5 £24o.fi>r restoratson£2556 4)There are deslgnated funds of £500 in rnemory of lan Guthrie.Funeral & Wedding fees for Dl(Kese £523, & Charitie5 for EIOOI Notes to the Flnanclal Statements l) The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordan vlith Ihe ChuT£h Accounting Regulatiorts 2006 using the eipts and payments basis The Financial Statements for The Ascension wert adopted by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 315t M6y 2026 Churchwarden Churchw•rd 14
Independent examiners report to the parochial church council of Lavender Hill The Ascension and Battersea St Philip wlth St Bartholomew for the year ended 31" December 2025 . Responsibilities of members of the PCC A5 members of the PCC. you are responsible for maintaining proper accounting retords and for preparing accounts which have been prepared in accordan with the Regulations. You are also responsible for detemining whether. in respect of the year land the preceding two years). the PCC meets the conditions for exemption from an aucrrt of the accounts set out in section 14411) of the Act and the Regulations. and for providing me with information and explanations required for my examination. Responsibilities of the independent examiner 1 shall plan my work on the basis that an independent examinerfs report on the accounts is required for the year, unless you inform me in writing to the contrary. As an independent examiner I have a statutory duty to stste in my report whether any matter has come to my attention in connection wtth the examination which give5 me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect= al Accounting records have not been properfy kept in accordance wrth secbon 130 of the Act; or bl The accounts do not accord with the accounting records or do not comply with the Regulations. l also have a statutory duty to disclose in my report matters coming to my attention in connettion with the examination to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable 3 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Should rny work lead me to conclude that the PCC is not entitled to exemption from an audit of the accounts or should I be unable to reach a conclusion on this matter. then I w51 not issue any report and will notify you in writing of the reasons. In these circumstances, if appropriate. I will discuss wtth you the need to appoint an auditor. Scope of the independent examinerf5 work My work will be carried out in accordance with general directions setting Out the duties of an independent examiner Issued by the Charity Commission and as contained in the Church guidance. My work as independent examiner will be a less onerous form of Scrutiny than an audit of the accounts in accordance with Auditing Stsndards. My examination will include a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts presented with those record5. It will also include a review of the accounts and consideration of any unusual items or disclosures identified. In such cases where l identify an unusual item, I will seek explanations from the PCC. and may carry out verification and vouching procedure5 where I require further clarifirdtion. My work cannot be relied on to identify the occasional omission or insignificant error, nor to disclose breaches of trust or statute. neglert or fraud which may have tsken place and which rt is the responsibility of the PCC to guard against. However. I would be obliged to report direct to regulators any matter5 of material significance coming to light in the course of my work. Should I become aware, for any reason, that the accounts may be misleading and we tannot agree appropriate amendrnents, and I then conclude that the matter cannot be adequately dealt with in my report, I will not Issue any report and will withdraw from the engagement, and will notify you in writing of the reason5. As part of my normal procedures, I may request you to provide written confirmation of any information or explanations given by you orally during the course of my work. Signed A .Pierauini 10, Hatford. Faringdon, Oxfordshire, Sn7 8JF 10 May 2026