**Wiltshire Mid Branch Registered Charity 205295** RSPCA WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 ## Contents ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** Trustees CommiBee Contact InformaFon ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** Branch Management ## **OBJECTS, OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES** AlleviaFng suffering PromoFng kindness and prevenFng cruelty Volunteering support ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** Joint Report of the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary CollaboraFon with the NaFonal Society CollaboraFon with the community CollaboraFon with other Branches CollaboraFon with the local Inspectors ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **FUTURE PLANS** ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE** ’ **S RESPONSIBILITIES** ## **BALANCE SHEET / ACCOUNTS** As at 31[st] December 2022 ## **ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2022** ## **CHIEF INSPECTOR** ’ **S REPORT 2022** **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** The RSPCA Wiltshire Mid Branch operates in central Wiltshire, covering the four towns of Devizes, Melksham, Warminster and Westbury and the surrounding villages. It is a registered charity and its charity number is **205295** . ## **Trustees** The commiBee comprises thirteen volunteers with a broad range of life experiences and careers, all sharing a common passion for animal welfare – specifically prevenFng cruelty, alleviaFng suffering and promoFng kindness. ## **CommiMee** Mr. Andrew Sheppard (Chairman) Mr. Richard Pearce (Treasurer) Miss Jane Barton (Secretary) Mrs. Elizabeth Davies Mrs. Lesley Pawlak Mrs. Jo Sheppard Mrs. Lorna Gough Mr. Duncan Thom (Regional RepresentaFve) Ms. Maddy Goodman Ms. Amber Dunham Mrs. Caroline Davy ## **Contact InformaOon** For communicaFon purposes the principal address is C/o Rangebourne Pet Care, New Park Street, Devizes, the business address of the Chairman Mr. Sheppard. The web site is hBps://www.rspca.org.uk/local/wiltshire-mid-branch/ This site shows details of how to get in touch for animal welfare purposes alongside current news and naFonal and local campaigns/events. The financial accounts are independently examined by Alanbrookes Group Ltd., t/a J S Weeks & Co., 10 Market Place, Devizes, SN10 1HT. Branch funds are held by Lloyds Bank PLC, Devizes. **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The Branch is consFtuted as an unincorporated associaFon. The Branch operates as an autonomous Branch of the NaFonal RSPCA subject to its rules for Branches. A commiBee of Trustees, elected at the Annual General MeeFng governs the Branch. All Trustees are briefed on their responsibiliFes as Trustees prior to their acceptance of the role. The Branch operates within a naFonal network of organisaFons that pursue the same objecFves, known collecFvely as the Royal Society for the PrevenFon of Cruelty to Animals. The network comprises independent Branches operaFng within a defined geographical area for the purposes of fundraising and the provision of animal care faciliFes and treatments. A regional structure which is overseen on a naFonal basis, brings several Branch colleagues together with Inspectors, regional and naFonal representaFves. The purpose is to discuss regional funding, co-ordinate policies and objecFves as well as provide opportuniFes for colleagues to share knowledge and experiences. The regional representaFve for the Wiltshire Mid Branch in 2022 was Mr. Duncan Thom. RepresentaFves of the Branches, regional and naFonal organisaFons meet at this forum on a regular (at least bi-annual) basis. The Branch also has links with other Branches and organisaFons commiBed to the same objecFves including among others, Cats ProtecFon, Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital and RSPCA Bath Cats and Dogs Home. ## **Branch Management** The Trustees meet every eight weeks to discuss progress on the year’s acFviFes and to agree any required acFons. The Branch finances are reviewed at each meeFng to ensure donated funds are used appropriately and to miFgate any risks. The Trustees also examine other operaFonal and business risks and confirm that they have established systems to miFgate any significant risks, such as:- 1. Loss of reputaFon through error or fraud 2. Loss of income through error or fraud 3. Insufficient funds to cover the costs of animal welfare acFviFes These meeFngs are also used to ensure that the Branch operates in accordance with any relevant NaFonal Society rules, processes and iniFaFves – guided by the Branch Partnership Manager. **OBJECTS, OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES** The objects of the Branch are to promote the work and objecFves of the NaFonal Society of the RSPCA – to prevent animal cruelty, to promote kindness to animals and to alleviate the suffering of animals through all lawful means – with parFcular reference to the Branch area and in accordance with the policies of the Society. The Trustees have reviewed the outcomes and achievements of the Branch’s objecFves and acFviFes for the year to ensure they remain focused on the charity’s aims and conFnue to deliver benefits to the public. The Trustees have complied with the duty under the ChariFes Act 1993 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission which can be illustrated as follows: - ## **AlleviaOng Suffering** A priority for the Branch is to ensure appropriate veterinary care is available for animals whose owners are on benefits or a low income and may be reluctant or anxious about the costs of seeing a vet. The Branch provides contribuFons towards veterinary treatment for sick or injured animals owned by local people on low incomes through a voucher scheme. During 2022 vouchers to the total value of £28,437.80 were issued in the Branch area. The neutering campaign amounted to a further £11,105.80 a separate issue from the voucher system. For a greater understanding of this issue please find detailed below an analysis of veterinary charges incurred in 2022:- |Cats|Female Spay|10874||25.20%|| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Cats|Male neuter|4418||10.24%|| |Cats|Medical/Surgical|14119||32.72%|| |Cats|Microchipping|1027||2.38%|| |**Cats Total**|||30438||70.54%| ||||||| |Dogs|Female Spay|622||1.44%|| |Dogs|Male Neuter|1410||3.27%|| |Dogs|Medical/Surgical|10067||23.33%|| |**Dogs Total**|||12099||28.04%| ||||||| |Others|Neutering|133||0.31%|| |Others|Medical/Surgical|478||1.11%|| |**Others Total**|||611||1.42%| ||||||| |**Grand Total**|||**43148**||**100%**| ## **PromoOng kindness and prevenOng cruelty** We use our Community AcFon Days to encourage owners to take responsibility for rouFne care such as flea treatments and worming to avoid issues developing into acute or chronic situaFons, causing the animal greater distress. We provide free treatments, which are administered on the spot by the Wiltshire Council Dog Wardens and local vets, who kindly support us at these events. The Branch also offers subsidised neutering of companion animals for owners on low incomes, this helps to control dog and cat populaFons and promotes responsible pet ownership. ## **Volunteering Support** RSPCA Wiltshire Mid Branch provide volunteering opportuniFes for those who wish to support our work including Trusteeship, fundraising and event parFcipaFon. The Branch conFnues to make efforts to aBract new Trustees. **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Joint Report of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer for 2022** Another year has passed us by since our last report and as usual before we begin a record of our endeavours for 2022, our thanks must in the first instance be directed to the conFnued support and dedicaFon provided by the members of the commiBee and to our helpers and supporters who conFnue to assist when needed. Thankfully with the decline in Covid, some degree of normality in our day-to-day living has returned and during this year we have been able to interact more fully with the public. As will be recollected from previous reports, the Branch conFnues to financially support the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital at Newton Tony, Salisbury, following a financial crisis a few years back. The financial assistance takes the form of a percentage of the running costs of the Hospital, based upon the numbers of animals / birds which originate from the Mid Wilts Branch area. All payments are open to debate and approval by the commiBee. In line with that arrangement, in February 2022 an invoice was duly received and based upon the figures provided, it was agreed that the sum of £11,547.86 should be donated to the Hospital; this figure would represent our total financial support for 2021 up to and including the 1[st] January 2022. Details of our contribuFon to cover 2022 was not available at close of play of this year and will be included in our report to cover 2023. The CommiBee are very happy to conFnue supporFng the Hospital which provide dedicated care of injured and rehabilitaFng wildlife originaFng from our community area, this in turn has the knockon effect of helping to reduce the workload of our Inspectors, who, without the Hospital’s intervenFon would be required to aBend and deal with many of these casualFes. In line with World Spay Day and as in previous years, the Branch Treasurer Mr. Pearce expressed a desire to carry out a neutering campaign in support of this event which would be run in conjuncFon with the Cats ProtecFon League (Frome and District Branch), the RSPCA Inspectorate are very supporFve of these events. The CommiBee members approved of this suggesFon, and it was agreed that the campaign should take the form previously used, by uFlising computer-based applicaFon forms which have proved very successful in the past. The event was to run from February to the end of May 2022. Mr. Pearce was ably assisted by members of the commiBee in monitoring and processing the applicaFons. At the end of May, at the conclusion of the neutering campaign, 276 applicaFons had been received to neuter 378 cats of which 249 were covered by the Branch, the remainder by Cats ProtecFon (Frome Branch) and adjoining Branches. During the course of the year, we have, as always, provided financial support in the form of vouchers issued to veterinary pracFces for owners who cannot afford to take their animals for treatment. Whilst the call for this type of support has considerably lessened from that which we experienced during the Covid Pandemic, it sFll amounts to one of the larger expenditures that the Branch makes, and whilst financial support conFnues to be one of our prioriFes, the commiBee is very much aware that for the Branch to conFnue to be sustainable, some reducFons need to be made in this area and budgetary restricFons set. The Branch had for a considerable period picked up the shornall for members of the public who lived in the Bath Branch area, parFcularly in the Trowbridge district and the crossover of boundaries, this was due to the fact that the Bath Branch which consFtutes the Bath Cats and Dogs Home were unable to provide monetary support in this capacity, the majority of their funding being directed to the upkeep of the Home. However, due to increasing numbers of requests being received during 2022, this situaFon is in the process of being re-assessed and steps are being taken by the Bath Branch to address this issue. To that end the commiBee decided to take the stance not to support any further applicaFons from people residing in the Bath Branch area. Bath Branch has started to take up this need and are in the process of seong up a fund to provide financial assistance. Further restricFons are being made in respect of the amount of money the Branch will give in parFcular situaFons and when the need for more expensive assistance is required i.e. operaFons, benefit status would be taken into consideraFon. This is a very difficult area to police and every case is individual and needs to be considered carefully to ensure that each animal that comes to our aBenFon receives at the very least, emergency care. We have on occasion been most fortunate to receive legacies from some amazing people which has enabled us to carry out the work which we do, without that monetary support the degree of financial assistance we could provide would be minimal. Fundraising in this day and age is very difficult, the majority of people, due to the rise in cost of living are unable to assist chariFes as they once would have done. The commiBee have considered at length how this might be addressed, and Mr. Thom (trustee) has devised and had printed some leaflets detailing how people, who may be intending to make a will, could leave a gip / legacy to the Branch, this was an excellent iniFaFve and hopefully may allow people to make such a consideraFon in favour of the Branch in their wills in the future. In respect of neutering, during the year a number of feral cats from various colonies in our Branch area have been successfully trapped, neutered and returned to sites, sincere thanks are extended to trustees Mr. Thom and Ms Goodman for their hard and diligent work in this respect. In July, we were fortunate to welcome a new trustee to the Branch, Miss Jess Scull. Miss Scull has previously been involved with various animal welfare chariFes and her experFse and knowledge will be of great benefit to the branch. In June 2022 we held our Annual General MeeFng; unfortunately no members of the NaFonal Society or the Inspectorate were able to aBend. The meeFng was as usual small in aBendance but maBers of business were progressed and the meeFng was concluded with light refreshments. At a meeFng prior to the AGM Mrs. Sheila Colcomb and Mrs. Claire Maggs had both informed the commiBee that they would not be standing for re-elecFon. Mrs. Colcomb had been a long-standing member of the commiBee for some twenty years, but due to age and health reasons felt it was Fme to reFre. Mrs. Maggs, who not only being a trustee but was also the Auxiliary Secretary for the Warminster area, had decided that due to work and family commitments she was unable to conFnue in her role. Both ladies would be sincerely missed, at the conclusion of the AGM both ladies were presented with bouquets of flowers and gip vouchers / cards in appreciaFon of everything they had done for the Branch. On the 4[th] September 2022 aper a lot of hard work by members of the commiBee we held a Dog Show / Animal Event on The Green, in Devizes. The event was amazingly supported and contrary to the weather forecast rain held off and we were blessed with sunshine. A number of associated animal chariFes aBended promoFng all forms of animal welfare, the day was a great success, and everyone had a most enjoyable Fme. The event raised £1,801. 90 in support of the Branch. It may be recollected that the North Wilts and Newbury Branch of the RSPCA have a charity shop located in Warminster, as part of that agreement to host the shop in our Branch area the Branch receive 10% of any profits accrued together with any donaFons, this year that sum amounted to in total £2,120. At close of play for 2022, the Branch have agreed that we should hold another Animal Event / Fun Dog Show on the Green in Devizes next year, probably early September 2023, posters will be displayed nearer the date and informaFon regarding any events we have planned can be found on the Branch website / Facebook page. The possibility of holding a Community AcFon Day in one of our towns is also under consideraFon. As an aside, if there are any members or supporters who could assist in any form with any of our events / fundraising iniFaFves it would be greatly appreciated, the commiBee are small in number, many with a number of addiFonal responsibiliFes and limited free Fme and any offers of assistance would be greatly appreciated. That brings us to the end of another year, we feel that the Branch has made a very worthy contribuFon in support of our local communiFes during the past year, and hopefully have helped to make people’s lives and financial situaFons more bearable. In conclusion, as always, our grateful thanks are extended to everyone who has supported us in whatever way during the past year either financially or by the generous gip of their Fme. Our thanks go to our Branch Partnership Manager, Mrs. Rogers, local authoriFes and Veterinary PracFces and our dedicated Inspectors and their colleagues. **Detailed below are bullet points in support of the following topics: -** ## **CollaboraOon with the NaOonal Society** It is a given that we always support the NaFonal Society objecFves, where appropriate, and within our capability. Guided by our Branch Partnership Manager we use the regular Branch CommunicaFon circulaFons to idenFfy opportuniFes to get involved. As part of our commitment to running a properly regulated charity we have established several Branch policies and have adopted the principle of a Branch Annual Review through which we may reflect on past work and to plan future acFviFes. ## **CollaboraOon with the Community** This is a core objecFve for the Branch, which during the Covid pandemic had to be put on hold, however in September 2022 we were able to hold an Animal Event / Dog show in Devizes, which was hugely supported by the local community. ## **CollaboraOon with other Branches and ChariOes** As will have been seen from previous reports the Branch agreed to North Wilts Branch siFng an RSPCA shop in Warminster, under the terms of the arrangement the Branch receives a percentage of the profits and all donaFons received, which this year amounted to £2,120.00 to benefit the Mid Wilts Branch. Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital conFnues to receive monetary support from the Branch to assist in their work of caring for and rehabilitaFng local wildlife. ## **CollaboraOon with the Local Inspectors** The RSPCA Inspectors provide knowledge and experience to the Branch which is invaluable, the wide range of issues and problems they face can be seen from the Chief Inspector’s Report included within this Report. ## **Fundraising** Over the years we have been fortunate to receive several legacies which by careful investment has enabled us to fund our current range of acFviFes, no bequests were received by the Branch in 2022. With a view to allowing us to conFnue to provide the current level of support, the Branch is acFvely seeking fundraising iniFaFves. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The total incoming resources for the year amounted to £30,889. 87, the reducFon compared to the previous year relates to legacies which the Branch received during 2021. Expenditure for the year amounted to £57,998.37 considerably less than last year following the high demand for veterinary assistance during the Covid pandemic. It is the policy of the Branch to maintain free reserves for the Branch at a level equal to approximately five years’ unrestricted expenditure, to allow for fluctuaFons in donaFons and legacies on which the Branch relies. Our Trustees are keen that money should not be retained unnecessarily simply to ensure sustainability. Free reserves are defined as unrestricted reserves (rather than funds donated for a specific purpose which cannot be used for anything other than the purpose for which they were donated). In line with the Branch Rules, an annual donaFon is made to the NaFonal Society, this amount is calculated as a percentage of our free reserves. This donaFon is deducted at source from our share of the Door-to-Door collecFon that we receive annually from the NaFonal Society. The investment policy, taken on advice following receipt of legacies, takes into account our cauFous aotude to risk, with investment funds stored in NaFonal Savings Income Bonds. The Trustees have no designated funds for expenditure in the next twelve months, apart from an amount in the region of £9,000 which will be donated to the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital during 2023. ## **FUTURE PLANS** Together with our regular and conFnuing support provided to those in need of financial veterinary assistance, our plans include a neutering campaign in support of World Spay Day 2023 and an Animal Event / Dog show in September 2023. We conFnue to look to increase our Volunteer / Trustee base with a view to bringing fresh ideas into the group. We will conFnue to work with our local Inspectors, supporFng them on specific animal welfare projects as idenFfied by them. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES** ’ **RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and their financial statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulaFons. Law applicable to chariFes in England and Wales require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs and the net incoming and outgoing resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, Trustees are required to: - 1. Select suitable policies and then apply them consistently; 2. Make judgements and esFmates that are reasonable and prudent; and 3. Prepare financial statements on a going-concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Branch will conFnue in operaFon. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounFng records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any Fme the financial posiFon of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the ChariFes Act 1993. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open, to safeguard the assets of the Charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregulariFes. So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit informaFon of which the Charity’s auditors are unaware. AddiFonally, the Trustees have taken all the steps needed in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit informaFon and to establish that the Charity’s auditors are aware of that informaFon. **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022** **ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF** **CRUELTY TO ANIMALS** ## **WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH** **CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 205295** **REPORT AND ACCOUNTS** **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** 2 ## **ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS – WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH Report of the Independent Examiner To The Officers and Committee of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Wiltshire Mid Branch** I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 3 to 5. ## **Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:- - examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act); - to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner** ’ **s Report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent Examiner** ’ **s Statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act, have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ……………………………… Mrs A M Cross FCCA The Alanbrookes Group Ltd t/a J S Weeks & Co 10 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1HT 7 June 2023 3 ## **ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH** ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022** |**2021**||**2022**| |---|---|---| |**£**||**£**| ||**Accumulated Fund**|| |130,157.61|Balance Brought Forward|133,571.93| ||Add Surplus of Income|| |3,414.32|Over Expenditure|-.-| ||Deduct Excess of Expenditure|| |(-.-)|Over Income|(27,108.50)| |---------------||---------------| |133,571.93||106,463.43| |=========||=========| ||**Represented By:**|| ||**Investments**|| |120,000.00|National Savings Income Bonds|100,000.00| |22,000.19|Bank Deposit Account|15,010.94| ||**Current Assets**|| |9,795.60|Bank Current Account|2,316.30| |---------------||---------------| |151,795.79||117,327.24| |(18,223.86)|Less:- Creditors|(10,863.81)| |---------------||---------------| |133,571.93||106,463.43| |=========||=========| 4 **ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH** ## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** |**2021**|**INCOME**|**2022**| |---|---|---| |**£**||**£**| |837.17|Subscriptions and Donations|2,926.66| |588.40|Warminster Shop – Share of Profit|1,828.00| |2337.92|Warminster Shop – Donations|292.00| |-.-|Dog Show Receipts|1,801.90| |64,898.47|Legacies|-.-| |5,252.89|BEF Donation Refunded|-.-| |24,134.00|Door to Door Collection|23,218.00| |---------------||---------------| |98,048.85||30,066.56| ||**Investment Income**|| |24.19|Interest Received|823.31| |---------------||---------------| |98,073.04||30,889.87| |=========||=========| 5 **ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH** ## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** |**2021**|**EXPENDITURE**|**2022**|**2022**| |---|---|---|---| |**£**
**£**||**£**|**£**| |1,378.00|Branch Contribution to RSPCA|551.00|| |52,874.62|Veterinary Fees – General|28,437.80|| |18,274.71|Neutering Campaigns|11,105.38|| |4,942.23|Feral Neutering/Rehoming|3,604.42|| |3,862.92|Feral TNR Expenses|3374.42|| |403.13|Goods Purchased|145.88|| |7.00|Bank Charges|-.-|| |360.00|Independent Examiner’s Fees|360.00|| |275.72|Telephone|296.05|| |11,547.86|Wildlife Hospital|9,000.00|| |-.-|Dog Show Expenses|279.50|| |79.42|VAT Repayment|-.-|| |94.00|Room Hire|180.00|| |35.00|ICO Fees|35.00|| |524.11|Insurance|628.92|| |--------------- 94,658.72||---------------|57,998.37| ||Surplus of Income over Expenditure||| |3,414.32|Carried to Accumulated Fund||-.-| ||Excess of Expenditure over Income||| |(-.-)|Carried to Accumulated Fund||(27,108.50)| |---------------||---------------|| |98,073.04|||30,889.87| |=========||=========|| 6 **MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR YEAR ENDING 2022** # **RSPCA WILTSHIRE MID BRANCH** # **ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 29[th] JUNE 2022** # **IN THE NURSTEED CENTRE, NURSTEED ROAD, DEVIZES** ## **IntroducOon** The Chairman, Mr. Sheppard opened the meeFng and welcomed everyone. ## **Apologies for Absence** Mrs. Gail Pearce Mrs. Liz Davies Mrs. Caroline Davy Mrs. Lorna Gough Miss Maddy Goodman Mrs. Donna Rogers (BPM) ## **Approval of Minutes of Last MeeOng** The minutes of the last Annual General MeeFng (25/08/21) were approved and signed. ## **MaMers Arising** There were no maBers arising from the minutes. ## **Joint Report of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer** The Chairman drew the meeFngs aBenFon to the Annual Report for 2021 and specifically the Joint Report from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, the Chairman asked whether there were any comments / quesFons in relaFon to the report – none were forthcoming. The Chairman thanked the Secretary for compilaFon of the Report. ## **AdopOon of the Accounts / ElecOon of the Auditors** The Chairman drew the meeFngs aBenFon to the financial accounts as detailed in the Annual Report requesFng any comments be directed to Mr. Pearce (Treasurer). No issues were raised, and the Chairman requested a proposer and seconder for adopFon of the accounts – Mr. Duncan Thom proposed, and Ms. Amber Dunham seconded, the accounts were duly adopted. The Chairman requested the commiBee’s approval of the re-elecFon of JS Weeks & Co., of Devizes as Auditors, Mr. Duncan Thom proposed, and Mrs. Lesley Pawlak seconded the proposal, JS Weeks and & Co., were duly elected. 7 **ElecOon of the CommiMee** The Chairman drew the meeFngs aBenFon to the ballot papers which had been circulated with eleven nominees standing for elecFon, in the absence of Mrs. Rogers (BPM) or anyone else from the Inspectorate, Mr. Sheppard asked Mrs. Barbara Myers, ex Chairman of the Branch and as someone unbiased, whether she would count the votes, Mrs. Myers readily agreed and having counted the papers Mrs. Myers announced that all nominees had received 100% of the votes and were duly elected as CommiBee Members for 2022/2023. ## **Chief Inspector** ’ **s Report** In the absence of anyone from the Inspectorate aBending the AGM the Chairman drew the meeFngs aBenFon to the Chief Inspector’s Report which was incorporated into the Annual Report, having been compiled by Chief Inspector Lewis Taylor, Manager of the re-structured Dorset / Wiltshire group of the Inspectorate. ## **Any Other Business** The Chairman concluded the meeFng by thanking two members of the previous commiBee, Mrs. Sheila Colcomb and Mrs. Claire Maggs who had decided not to stand for re-elecFon. Mrs. Colcomb has been involved with the RSPCA and the Branch in parFcular for many years and had decided the Fme was right to reFre, Mrs. Maggs who was also a long serving member was standing down due to increased family and work commitments, both were sincerely thanked for their years of support and dedicaFon to the Branch and were presented with bouquets of flowers, cards and gip vouchers for Marks and Spencer in recogniFon of everything they had contributed to the Branch. Mr. David Myers asked for clarificaFon with regard to the monies received from the Branch Emergency Fund, Mr. Pearce (Treasurer) explained that these were monies which had been refunded following closure of the BEF which had been set up during COVID to support Branches who were struggling to conFnue. Mr. Myers was happy with the response. The Chairman concluded the meeFng by expressing his thanks to the commiBee for all their work and support over the year with parFcular reference to the Treasurer and the Secretary. There being no other business, the meeFng was concluded and was followed by light refreshments. 8 Please help us to continue our work by becoming a member. Details on how to join the different options provided are shown on the main RSPCA website: ## **https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/becomeamember** You can find out about and donate to your local Branch (RSPCA Wiltshire Mid Branch) through our web pages: - ## **https://www.rspca.org.uk/local/wiltsire-mid-branch** If you live in our Branch area and need advice or to apply for financial support with your companion pets please email us on:- ## **rspcawiltsmid@gmail.com** or, in an emergency, please take your pet to a vet and ask the vet to call us to discuss, if you receive state benefits and are in need of financial assistance, how we may be able to help. ## **To report incidents of cruelty or an animal in distress call the RSPCA National Society 24 hour cruelty line:-** ## **0300 1234 999** You can also use the secure online reporting facility on the National Society’s web page: - **https://rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty**