OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2022-12-31-accounts

150 Directors’ Report 2022 and AGM Notice Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the AGM and receipt of the Directors’ Report for the year 2022 will be held in the David Sweet Hall at East Croydon United Reformed Church – Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, on Thursday 20[th] April 2023, commencing at 19:45.

Online and postal voting will be also be available – please see page 4 for details and closing dates.

In this Document Agenda for the Annual General Meeting Directors’ Report for 2022 The Society’s Accounts and Accountant’s Report

For a full programme of walks and talks please visit our website on www.cnhss.co.uk

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited

A company limited by guarantee registered in London No. 922278 Registered Office: 96a Brighton Road, South Croydon, CR2 6AD Registered charity No. 260739

For ways of contacting the Society online see box on back cover

2

AGENDA for the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. To receive apologies for absence

  2. To accept and agree the minutes of the AGM of 21[st] April 2022 The minutes are printed on page 3 of this Bulletin and are also available at cnhss.co.uk

  3. To receive, consider, and (if approved) to adopt the Directors’ Report, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Accounts, and the Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts for the year 2022, all of which documents are included herewith.

  4. To consider and (if approved) to adopt the motion ‘that nominations for election be considered en bloc ’. [Should the motion be not carried or there be excess nominations received, then names will be considered individually]

  5. To elect the President, the four Vice-Presidents (of which one is vacant), Hon. Curator, Hon. Editor, Hon. General Secretary, Hon. Librarian, Hon. Treasurer, and no fewer than five nor more than ten Ordinary Members of Council for 2023 / 2024. Valid online and postal votes will be combined with those voting at the meeting. [Officers and Members of the Council are Directors of the Company under the Companies Acts, and Trustees of the Charity under the Charities Acts.] Only Ordinary, Life or Honorary members are entitled to vote.

  6. To re-appoint Donald MacLeod as Independent Examiner for 2023, and to authorise Council to fix his remuneration. Donald MacLeod was first appointed for 2022 by Council in accordance with the empowering motion at the 2022 AGM.

  7. Presentation by the President of 50-year Membership Certificates. There are none this year.

Ian G PAYNE Company Secretary & Charity Commission Contact

Nominees for election are as follows [see page 4 for nomination procedures]: President: Carole Roberts Hon. Curator: Esther Mann Vice-Presidents: Hon. Editor: Mark Tyson Brenda Hawkins, John Hickman, Hon. General Sec: Tony Skrzypczyk Ian Payne, Vacancy Hon. Librarian: Tony Skrzypczyk Hon. Treasurer: Brenda Hawkins

Ordinary Members of Council: Pamela Buttrey, Jorn Cooper, John Greig, Edward Hart, Nicola Hunt, Kenneth Woodhams

After the formal business meeting refreshments will be served. There will then follow the Presidential Address given by Carole A Roberts, entitled: ‘Sources for Croydon’s local history’

CNHSS

Cmydon Nawrnl Htstory and S¢ienlifi¢ S￿[try 1515t A]￿Ual GetLetal Meelillg Tbutsday 2 151 April 2022 Cel¢braiirtg ihe 15¢)th Anni￿e[Sary of ihe Society Miniile5 (tDeeling opened al 20".(M)I CrtslE Robells. Presldei.vidtoJtted Atte￿bÈts d ge515 ' post w¢rf Added 10 ai tht mtrtl•z dryplkatlom). Apologle5 lor ab5emce AWlogi￿ were recei1.￿ fr￿n. E(Iward It￿. Celia Bail¢y. Jim Bush. E5th¢r MatUL. ADlllbllJlfflllflltS Member deaths Jn ?O?O.'?OTrl.' Mr Roben Gol(IstDith. Mary Mwre. Mr Arnold Sl￿w. Mr pder Ljsier. Mr Briatt slotte1￿￿ Mr Paul Mr Kett Harttwu MT John WeE1￿[L Mrfjeorge Mr Alan Atherton. Mr Ron Ete5on A srt¢Ja] i1￿￿1101) was ttk8de for HoJM)rary Paul &)watt. our Librariatt alld Pgst ident. A one Jninule 5ilenEe kneld for￿1 our lo￿ ]]]e]nkn. 8¢r¢pt g£iYr tbt mlDul¢s oTtrbr AGF+l of Jljtb Apill ZIIZI Dulvwqx)sa ￿K1$e¢l￿￿1 xlagrethl ￿71. C￿). ￿'1th ￿ abstaitl(Y]S. To i'frclb't, ¢(•sklfl'•d i( dfjpi the Dlrt¢i•is' Rfpfyii.Ibt Bal•ll¢t Sk¢tt,tkntStaten￿￿I of A(Co￿￿t5 and Ike llldryelldeDt Eiather'5 Rryorl the_4croullls for the!eai. 1021 There w'a5 oIie qiie5tion regatdiDg (bargi￿ a lee at J]￿e￿ID85 for bLb membe[5 and guests. A￿s￿er.. The ¢￿tS ol It￿[￿ b￿¢ atsd s￿2￿.￿( ￿.1￿¢￿ ￿￿￿¢85cdh ¥trC llo Iojjger coi'¢red bs. ¢b¢ At￿￿￿1 subscriwjotss I￿￿¢￿ cm'¢rPnx¢¢dwgs and BiilI¢tJ￿S etc.). DUlypwX￿ aJJJs¢ciubJand agreed Dem. con. bar l agall￿t ii.jth 3 abstemi(￿￿. The rhalT passed to Tan Fai"ie. C.owpa•i".Seryrtap". for Itew 4. 4 Dd fj To Ioll51deralld Ihe mDIID•'lthat no￿1110￿5 tltilloll to be COM5h1e￿d eRbivc' ror ihe d15ttlbttted 151 rfuoJulEe5". aDd a?re￿I nettL C(bn. To elert'e￿ blor. the Pre51dtttl, Ike l-kt-Pre51de15. H•. C'tttatof, Ho. Edltor. HfjrL GtDtI?I Seciyiaii, HOD. Llbrrtn. Holl. TrtA%•rcr Ordlnrb' Mtmbtrs ol CouDcll foi. 2n2212023 ID •¢¢(iyl#•rf Vifh Ibc •fyJDID•lloDs l• tbt Dliyrlois, RfPQi. The fo￿D￿l￿g eleCt&l." Presidetst Vi<¢-Presidettt Vice-President Vice-President Vice-Presidet Hott. Qirdtor Holl. Editor CaroleRoberts Celia Baiie%' John klickni)au Pavlle Pampla Bultrey JobttGr¢iQ EdTh'ard Hart Esijkr ma￿ Ravnx)nd I￿11e¢l£r HOD. Librar￿11 Hon Tteasurer TODY SkTZ%WZN HaMkiDs To autbot15e C'ouDdl lo zppDllll IMdtptMdeMI Eiz]ukner 202ZQ023 zDd lo ￿ b15 or ber tXLIN agr￿ Cott. ML8S P Bardett a￿l DT P 11 l. Il"nght m.ere both absent and ￿[￿rIcate￿wIll beposd The AGM Cl￿e￿ * 10..74. MetDber5 I4'etE iD%'iied 10 ￿fres1￿￿ll￿ Incl￿11￿8 theCNHSS 150" Cake. kitsliy orgatused bv Brellda Haivk]os atsd Pau]itte Pa Photographs were tyken of the ladL¢S lli pen CQ5mnJe. Foll￿4.￿ tbe ￿tern￿ssiO￿ ther¢￿Tte d￿¢¢Presen￿lI￿reI￿gIOthe ￿ldy'S Is￿ADDl&rr5ary P4si PreSIdet￿ ￿laD LaK*er. 1870 E￿I￿liaLAc¢ Pie5idetll Carole Robett5." Cwdon ￿ 1870aDd the lEg￿nIng50[￿e CNHSS. Diredors, Report 2022

4

HOW TO VOTE

Only Ordinary, Life or Honorary members are entitled to vote.

IN PERSON VOTING at the AGM on 20[th] April 2023. If you have voted online or by post, you may attend the AGM but not vote.

ONLINE VOTING will be available from 31[st] March and closes 16[th] April 2023. Please go to www.cnhss.co.uk/members-page and use the password CNHSSmembers53976 (case sensitive).

POSTAL VOTING: please cut out the postal voting form on page 21 of this report. Postal voting forms must be received at the Society’s Registered Office (see front cover) by 14[th] April 2023.

Following the AGM, minutes and other papers will be available at: www.cnhss.co.uk/members-page.

For other information and online contacts, please see back cover.

NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS

Nominations for election of members as directors are submitted by Council prior to the AGM and will include valid nominations made prior to the Notice of AGM in accordance with the following. Member nominations for Council may be made at any time only for and by fully paid up Ordinary, Life, or Honorary Members, and should be sent to the Honorary General Secretary at information@cnhss.co.uk or posted to the Hon. General Secretary at the Society’s Registered Office; each such nomination should be accompanied by an emailed or written statement signed by the nominee certifying her or his willingness to stand for election; non-members, Associates, and Group Members may neither nominate nor be nominated. Council has the power to appoint validly nominated members as directors prior to the next AGM.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Membership fees remain as those agreed at the 2022 AGM, namely: Ordinary and Group membership £18 p.a. Associate membership £10 p.a.

(living at the same address as an Ordinary, Life or Honorary Member) Life membership £250.

DONATIONS AT MEETINGS

Costs of open meetings have increased significantly, both room hire fees but particularly speaker fees. Council have resolved that at meetings with a speaker, both members and non-members will be requested to make a donation of £3.

CNHSS

5

DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR 2022

The Directors present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2022.

The Society is one of the oldest cultural societies in Croydon and was incorporated on 14th November 1967, under the Companies Acts, as consolidated by the Companies Act 1985, as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital, registered in England (922278). The Society is also registered in England as a charity (260739). Unlike many similar societies established during the reign of Queen Victoria, it has survived two world wars and entered the 21st century with, again unusually, an uninterrupted publishing programme (since 1871) and an actively maintained library and museum.

The Society traces its history continuously from the Croydon Microscopical Club (1870–1877), the Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club (1877–1901), and the unincorporated Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society (1902–1967).

The principal work of the Society is, for the public benefit, the encouragement of the study of the natural and local history and archaeology of the Croydon area, by organising lectures, members’ talks, discussions, exhibitions, field meetings and surveys, by issuing publications, by maintaining a library and a museum. The Society is unusual in owning property, a library and museum in one of the outer London Boroughs, and continuing to maintain a vigorous publishing programme.

After interruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns and other restrictive measures between March 2020 and February 2022, our in-person meetings resumed in April 2022. Our delayed 150[th] Anniversary celebrations could at last be held with a special programme of events between April and October 2022 (see sections on ‘150[th] Anniversary’ and ‘Meetings’).

We were very sad to lose Celia Bailey, dear friend and long-standing member of Council, who died in May. A eulogy and appreciation of Celia appeared in our Bulletin 174, Autumn 2022.

The Society’s responsibilities as a charity to benefit the public at large are met by, for example, collecting and arranging for the publication of biological records (primarily botanical and entomological); publishing materials of local historical interest; allowing access for researchers to

Directors’ Report 2022

6

materials held in the Society’s library and museum; answering enquiries from members and the public; responding to consultations by Croydon Council and other bodies; delivering exhibitions, lectures and presentations for other organisations including charities, schools and libraries.

Following the Annual General Meeting held in April 2022, various non-AGM elected posts were confirmed, various members were confirmed as section heads and appointments were made to the various committees. General members in addition to directors may be requested to stand on the Society’s committees. Council meetings of the Directors of the Company, who are also Trustees of the Charity, were held during the year either inperson or by Zoom. The Register of Directors’ Interests is updated annually. During 2022 there were no additional Director declarations of interest at any Council meetings.

PREMISES

The Premises Committee was re-established in 2017 to take responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the Society’s Headquarters and Library building at 96A Brighton Road, and to ensure adequate storage of CNHSS publications, now and in the future. The Committee met three times in 2022. On the retirement of the Society’s Museum Curator, the Premises Committee has added the Chipstead Valley Museum building to its remit. The contents of 96A and of the museum are the responsibility of the Library and Museum Committee.

Only minor external works have been required to 96A and the Museum, and these have been attended to by members of the Committee. Members and others are still sorting material at 96A and other locations. We have discussed the future needs of the Society, and have presented outline proposals to Council relating to future premises (unlikely to change in the near future), and for refurbishment of 96A to make it fit for use for the next few decades. We plan to make the most efficient use of space, create space to work, and improve energy efficiency and therefore reduce costs. Details for the proposals will be developed by the Premises Committee in 2023.

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES

Following the passing of our Hon. Librarian Paul Sowan who died on 4th June 2021, Tony Skrzypczyk was very pleased to be appointed at last year’s AGM as his replacement, albeit with the ongoing support of the Library and Museum Committee.

We aspire to adequate provision for working space for cataloguing and organising holdings and for more ease of accommodating visitors. However, at present the premises are inadequate to satisfactorily

CNHSS

7

accommodate the Society’s archives and library, and enable us to bring back those categories of materials that are currently dispersed. Also there is a severely restricted working area and minimal space for library users to consult materials. The costs of the operation and upkeep of the buildings of our library and museum prohibit us from taking a third building at present.

As reported last year, a small working party of Tony Skrzypczyk (Hon. Librarian), Carole Roberts, Brenda Hawkins, Jim Bush and Ken Woodhams, following a decision of Council, have identified more journals which we believe are readily available elsewhere, and several carloads were removed in February 2022. This has freed up more shelf space and, more importantly, space to be able to sort through other items prior to possible removal.

MUSEUM

The Museum remains in good condition.

A new self-maintenance fire extinguisher was installed at the Museum.

Negotiations on the new lease of the building to June 2030 continued, with completion expected in early 2023.

We were able to hold an open day on 18[th] June 2022, the first since 2019, although unfortunately we received insufficient notice that this could be held for it to be included in the Programme. Nevertheless it was a successful event with 211 visitors and several requests for further events.

For the second year running a loan was made of Museum items to Forestdale Primary School. This year the artefacts were from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Roman period and World War Two. A talk on World War Two was also provided to the school. This assistance was greatly appreciated with “Thank you” letters being received from the school children.

ENTOMOLOGY

In normal times, the Entomology Section meets once a month on the third Wednesday, organised by Graham Collins and Jovita Kaunang. Meetings include talks, accompanied by photographs and video, on insects and other wildlife plus areas of particular local interest, along with natural history contributions such as biographies of naturalists, autecology, wildlife gardening and the exhibition of specimens. Displays of specialist literature and copies of the Surrey Wildlife Atlases, many written by section members, are available for purchase.

Directors’ Report 2022

8

These meetings have not resumed in 2022, however, a meeting ‘Introduction to the Insects’ was given to the larger society by three of its members. Contact Graham Collins at stigmella.aurella@tiscali.co.uk

ORNITHOLOGY

The Ornithology Section has had its usual variety of outings ranging from nearer places like Beddington Park and South Norwood Country Park to more distant places like Dungeness and Cliffe in Kent. The number of species seen/heard ranged from 16 at Selsdon Woods, to 56 at Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve in Essex.

We have started to see cattle egrets. A member of the heron family, they are a rare breeding bird in the UK, but a more regular winter visitor now. Most common in the south of England and Wales, but wandering birds can be seen more widely. Although the cattle egret sometimes feeds in shallow water, it is typically found in fields and grassy habitats. Cattle egrets closely follow cows to feed upon the grasshoppers, crickets, horseflies, moths, spiders, and other insects kicked up by the hooves of the cattle. They literally follow the cattle around to feast upon a host of disturbed insects. Only a few decades ago, cattle egrets were still rare visitors to the UK, until a large influx over the winter of 2007/2008 saw over 200 birds recorded here, mostly in south-west England. This led to the UK's first record of breeding cattle egrets, with at least two pairs nesting in Somerset in the summer of 2008. Since then, they have become an increasingly common sight in the UK and, although still a rare breeding bird here, have nested in several other counties and look likely to become more established.

It is nice to be able to mention a species increasing in numbers instead of declining which is more usual.

If you would like a list of outings please contact information@cnhss.co.uk

MEETINGS

The Society’s general and other meetings are, with our publications, the main activities of which the membership at large is most aware. In 2022 we returned to holding an in person AGM however we retained the availability of voting online and by post, and will continue to do so. The delayed 150[th] Anniversary programme was resumed with a final event in October. We must thank the work over the past few years of the 150[th] Anniversary Committee. The Programme Team is again active and as well as holding talks at our usual venue, other venues have been used and some talks continue to be delivered by Zoom as during the pandemic.

Books and other items, surplus to our requirements, are usually offered to

CNHSS

9

members at our indoor meetings in return for appropriate donations to be set against the cost of hiring the room and paying speakers’ expenses and fees. Items offered are mostly duplicates from our library, or books bequeathed or donated by members or others.

Please see the Entomology and Ornithology sections for their activities.

During the year there were 14 walks (7 ecology through the seasons, 3 ornithology). The ecology walks looked at winter trees, ancient woods, bluebells, chalk downland, heathland, flowers and fungi. Other walks and visits looked at Wandle Park, Central Croydon buildings c. 1870, Woodside and South Croydon Railway, Croydon Minster (visit) and East Croydon and Addiscombe with reference to Napoleon and D.H. Lawrence. There were 9 Zoom talks, mostly between December 2022 and February 2023, and 7 other talks on a variety of subjects. We have now mostly returned to East Croydon United Reformed Church for talks, but during the year we used other venues – Shirley Methodist Church and St Matthews Church – on a trial basis.

150[th] Anniversary Opening and Closing including Focus Meeting

See also section on ‘150[th] Anniversary’. The opening and closing meetings were both held at Old Palace Great Hall, the latter being our annual Focus meeting and also a Ron Cox Memorial event. The Opening event on 9[th] April was attended by the Mayor of Croydon (Civic) and included talks on historic Croydon and Old Palace. The Closing event on 29[th] October focused on the theme of Open Spaces with talks by Tom Oliver, Information Ranger City of London and our own member Nicola Hunt on visiting 100 open spaces in Croydon in 100 days.

PUBLICATIONS

The Proceedings for the year (Vol 21 Part 3) was entitled ‘Remembering Paul Sowan through his Writing’. This contained a remembrance of Paul and a selection of his articles between 1969 and 2019 from the Society’s Bulletins and from Subterranea Britannica, Bourne Society, Wealden Cave and Mine Society, and Croham Valley Residents’ Association. We have taken the opportunity to modernise the format of the publication, and the Editor continues to welcome observations and comments on how we might improve and develop it for future editions.

Two Bulletins were published in Spring and Autumn. Our Bulletins are now in full colour. Issue 173 contained 80 pages and 16 articles. Issue 174 contained 64 pages and 21 articles and was our first issue to incorporate a full colour image covering both the front and back covers.

In addition to Members’ articles, relevant notices, announcements, letters

Directors’ Report 2022

10

and Society news may be submitted to the Bulletin editor. Submitted articles can be on any topic that may be of interest to members. The Bulletin editor would be glad to receive suggestions from members or feedback on previous articles or extending the subject matter thereof – see contact details on the back cover.

The Society is a member of ‘Publishers’ Licensing Services’ (PLS) and receives fees for the right to use extracts of our published materials.

PUBLICITY AND WEBSITE

Full length Programmes resumed in 2022.

In addition to our own programme of events, the Society has a boroughwide and beyond outreach programme of talks available to libraries and other societies. In 2022 talks were delivered to the Bourne Society, the Streatham Society, Sanderstead Women’s Institute, Sanderstead Neighbourhood Care and to Addiscombe Literary Society.

The Society’s website holds the status of our events. It also shows our directory, information about the Society and logo, the Society’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), how to join and the titles of our publications – the books, and our most recent Proceedings and Bulletins.

THE EXHIBITION: ‘CROYDON THROUGH THE LENS OF CHARLES HARRISON PRICE’

Having secured grants from National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, additional pictures were added to the original exhibition. After a very well attended reception on 2[nd] June, the revised show was open to the public in the gallery at Stanley Arts until 10[th] July. The exhibition was very well received with over 70 complimentary contributions to the Visitors' Book: some 12% requesting further such exhibitions.

CONSERVATION

Activities have been returning to normal as the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were eased.

The Society has continued to be an active member of the Association of Croydon Conservation Societies (ACCS), the umbrella group for local organisations concerned with green spaces in Croydon. We have continued to hold meetings by Zoom or Teams, but we had one outdoor meeting, a visit to Addington Hills after the fire just below the viewpoint.

We continue in membership of the City of London’s West Wickham, Spring Park and Coulsdon Commons Consultation Group. We had one meeting (virtual) in May.

CNHSS

11

We continue in membership of the Parks, Woodlands and Greenspaces Forum (Croydon Council), and we met twice by Zoom, in March and August. Vital staff have left Croydon Council and moved on to other posts, and have not yet been replaced. The volunteers of the 30+ Friends groups are doing outstanding work in the parks and green spaces, but replacement of the lost ecological expertise in Croydon Council is urgently needed.

Ecology walks have returned to a normal programme. In 2022 we visited seven varied sites in all parts of the Borough.

150[TH] ANNIVERSARY

After delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions of 2020 and 2021, we were at last able to hold our 150[th] anniversary celebrations between April and October 2022. A special 12-page Programme was produced to mark the occasion.

The events commenced with a prestigious event at the Old Palace Croydon on 9[th] April 2022. The Mayor of Croydon Sherwan Chowdhury formally opened the celebrations, and we enjoyed in this appropriate location talks from Janice Barter, Secretary of The Friends of The Old Palace, and from the Reverend Canon Andrew Bishop, Priest-in-Charge of the adjacent Croydon Minster. 150[th] Anniversary events later in the year covered all of our subjects of interest and included a CNHSS visit to the Old Palace, a programme of events from our Ornithology Group and a series of walks in our local wildlife habitats from our Ecology Section. The celebrations concluded on 29[th] October with a Ron Cox Memorial Event ‘Focus on the open spaces of Croydon’, also at the Old Palace thanks to the legacy left to the Society by Ron Cox, to which local Friends of open spaces groups were invited and at which displays were held.

REPRESENTATION ON OTHER BODIES

The Society continues as a member of the Croydon Local Studies Forum, and is represented on the Association of Croydon Conservation Societies, the Croydon Parks, Woodlands and Greenspaces Forum, West Wickham, Spring Park and Coulsdon Commons Consultation Group, Friends of Farthing Downs & Happy Valley, Friends of Shirley Windmill and the MidCroydon Conservation Area Advisory Panel and the North Croydon Conservation Area Advisory Panel. In respect of the latter, The Society has been recognised for its significant contribution to the South Norwood Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan.

The society itself is a member of various other societies, namely: British Association for Local History; London and Middlesex Archaeological Society; Entomologist’s Gazette – subscriber; British Trust for Ornithology; Council for British Archaeology.

Directors’ Report 2022

12

GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATIONS (GDPR)

The Society is a non-profit making organisation and as such is not registered under the GDPR. However, the Society needs to keep personal information about its members to ensure the smooth running of the Society. This includes name and address and (if provided) telephone number(s) and email address. The Society also keeps a record of the members’ subscription payments, including any Gift Aid donations.

Any member may request a copy of the information that the Society holds about him or her: such requests should be made in writing to the Company Secretary, at the Society’s registered office (see front cover). Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope.

The Society implements its obligations under the GDPR by issuing the following Data Privacy Statement.

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society (CNHSS – The Society) Data Privacy Statement – July 2018

The Society holds the following data on its Members: Name, Address, Telephone Number(s), Email Address, Membership type, Subscription record.

Only Council Members, Trustees and Post Holders who require access to this personal data needed to carry out their role within the Society are provided with access to the data. This includes mailings of CNHSS publications, maintaining membership and subscription records and contact details for finding volunteers for specific purposes.

Information will not be shared with third parties without express permission from the member concerned.

Ian Payne, Company Secretary

FINANCE AND INSURANCE

The Finance Committee is responsible for: ● Scrutiny of annual accounts ● Determination of Reserves Policy ● Consideration of necessary transfers between funds ● Consideration of cash flow and future expenditure affordability ● Scrutiny of value of investments ● Transfers of investments or re-investment of maturing monies. The committee reports and makes recommendations to CNHSS Council regarding all the above.

The Society updated its Reserves Policy in May 2022. The Society has ample reserves to continue its normal programme, but following various fullterm redemptions and the recent lack of secure investment opportunities, the society is running at a small annual deficit. Council will be considering

CNHSS

13

suitable strategies.

The Society has acquired a card reader to facilitate payments at meetings.

The Society’s insurance requirements are reviewed annually in respect of buildings, contents and other liabilities including a sum of £10 million in respect of public liability. Jim Bush, Chairman Finance Committee

MEMBERSHIP

Life Membership was increased from £175 to £250 as agreed at the AGM of April 2022. Other membership rates remain unchanged.

At 31 December 2022 there were 242 (243) members, of whom 136 (140) were ordinary, 22 (21) associate, 68 (67) life, 9 (9) group, and 7 (6) honorary members. Figures in brackets are those at 31 December 2021. 60% of our members live within the London Borough of Croydon.

Two individual members were awarded a certificate to celebrate 50 years in membership (joined in 1972).

We regret to report the deaths of Mr Alan Atherton (2021), Ms Celia Bailey, Mr Ron Eteson and Mr Philip Butt.

Membership recruitment increased in 2022, with 14 new members (8 in 2021). We are grateful for the continued support of our existing members.

We are extremely grateful to those members who have signed a Gift Aid declaration, because CNHSS then benefits from some money that would otherwise have been paid in Income Tax. We can only claim Gift Aid if you pay tax. The Personal Tax Allowance increases each year, so if your circumstances change and you no longer pay tax, please let us know and we won't claim Gift Aid from your subscription.

DIRECTORS AND SECRETARY

During the year the Directors have been C.E. Bailey (VP) to 15[th] May (death), J Bush to 21[st] April, P Buttrey, Dr J.B. Greig, B.J. Hawkins (Hon. Treasurer), E.A. Hart from 14[th] January, J.I. Hickman (VP), B. Lancaster (VP : Hon. Editor to 21[st] April), E. Mann from 14[th] January, I.G. Payne (VP : Company Secretary), C.A. Roberts (President), A. Skrzypczyk (Hon. General Secretary : Hon. Librarian from 21[st] April), M.A. Tyson (Hon. Editor from 21[st] April), Raymond E. Wheeler (18[th] February to 25[th] May) and K.E. Woodhams.

Ian G Payne / Company Secretary on behalf of the Directors and Charity Trustees

Directors’ Report 2022

14

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital)

Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31st December 2022

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT Report to the directors, who are also the trustees, of Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society (Charity Number 260739; Company Number 922278)

I report to the charity’s directors on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31st December 2022, as set out on Accounts pp 2 to 7.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s directors and trustees of the Company you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed… ……………………. Date……………………. 16[th] March 2023

Donald Iain MacLeod FCA Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

22 Bowes Wood New Ash Green Longfield Kent DA3 8QJ

Directors’ Report 2022

15

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital) Statement of financial activities (including summary income and expenditure account) For The Year Ended 31st December 2022

Notes
Income — unrestricted funds
Investment income
Interest income
Subscriptions
Donations
Book sales
Exhibition Grants
Bequest
[2]
Gift Aid
[3]
Lectures
Royalties
Expenditure — unrestricted funds
Website and computer sundries
Meetings
Postage and telephone
Printing and stationery
Rates and rent
Electricity
Depreciation
Repairs and Renewals
Proceedings
Subscriptions
Professional fees
Bank charges
Examiner’s remuneration
Insurance
Programmes
Bulletins
Exhibitions
Donations and Grants
Sundries
Excess of income over expenditure
Of which Paul Sowan Bequest Fund
Of which balance
Fund Balances
Balance at 1st January 2022
Excess of income over expenditure
Balance at 31st December 2022
of which General Fund
of which Bennett Fund
of which Fagg Fund
of which Paul Sowan Bequest Fund
2022
Fund
£
4,500
⅓G=B=F
112
⅓G=B=F
3,509
General
40
General
724
Fagg
2,100
General
50,052
PS Fund
546
General
310
General
699
Fagg
2021
£
3,373
4
2,950
0
1,192
0
0
0
240
670







































62,592
£
341
General
2,840
General
696
General
108
General
1,365
Bennett
1,084
Bennett
47
General
297
Bennett
655
Fagg
350
General
0
General
0
General
290
General
1,541
General
845
General
1,360
General
0
General
100
General
194
General
8,429
£
85
344
960
144
1,294
891
63
640
341
427

13

0

290

1,524

232

1,242

0
100
254
12,113
50,479
50,052
427
2022
£151,686
50,479
£202,165
£56,583
£51,954
£43,576
£50,052
8,844
–415
–415
2021
£152,101
–415
£151,686
£57,251
£53,163
£41,272

Accounts – page 2

Directors’ Report 2022

16

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital) Balance Sheet at 31 December 2022

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed Assets
[5]
Fixed Asset Investments
[6]
Current Assets
Stocks
Debtors
Bank and cash
[7]
Other creditors
[8]
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
NET ASSETS
Financed by — unrestricted funds
General Fund
Bennett Memorial Fund
C C Fagg Memorial Fund
Paul Sowan Bequest Fund
2022
£
1,187
74,638
75,825
2,000
624
128,544
131,168
–4,828
200,978

202,165
£202,165
56,583
51,954
43,576
50,052
£202,165
2021
£
1,234
74,638
75,872
2,000
920
77,067
79,987
–4,173
150,452
151,686
£151,686
57,251
53,163
41,272
£151,686

Accounts – page 3

CNHSS

17

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital)

Balance Sheet at 31 December 2022 (continued)

The company is entitled to exemption from audit for the year ended 31st December 2022 under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2022 in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.

These financial statements have been approved by Council.

Treasurer ............................................................... B.J. Hawkins

Company Secretary ............................................... I.G. Payne

24 February 2023

Accounts – page 4

Directors’ Report 2022

18

Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Limited (A Company Limited by Guarantee Without Share Capital)

Notes to the Accounts

1. Accounting Policies

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with: Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), SORP FRS102, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006 .

INCOME

Accounts – page 5

CNHSS

19

buy services or other benefits are recognized as income earned from the provision of goods or services as income from charitable activities.

EXPENDITURE

ASSETS

2. Paul Sowan Bequest Fund

During the year, the Society received monies from the bequest of Paul Sowan. The monies less expenses are shown as income in the Income and Expenditure Account but are allocated to the Paul Sowan Bequest Fund. Substantial further amounts are expected from the Bequest when legal ownership of various assets is settled.

3. Gift Aid

Gift Aid has yet to be claimed for the years ending 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2020. The deadlines for making these claims are 31 December 2023 and 2024 respectively.

4. Related Party Transactions

Where it has proved difficult for the Society to make prompt one-off payments, some expenses have been paid online by individual trustees. All such expenses have subsequently been reimbursed upon proof of payment.

Accounts – page 6

Directors’ Report 2022

20

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

5. Tangible Freehold 96a Furniture and Furniture and
Fixed Assets Brighton Road Equipment Total
At cost Jan 1 1,046 14,011 15,057
Additions
At cost Dec 31 1,046 14,011 15,057
Depreciation at
January 1 0 13,823 13,823
Charge for year
2022 0 47 47
At 31 Dec 2022 0 13,870 13,870
Net Book Value:
31 Dec 2022 £1,046 £141 £1,187
31 Dec 2021 £1,046 £188 £1,234
The freehold premises are stated at cost as, in the directors’ opinion,
market value would not be appropriate.
6. Fixed Asset Investments Market value Cost Cost
2022 2022 2021
19913 M & G Charibond 21,567 25,000 25,000
4894 Charifund units 71,911 44,638 44,638
National Savings Bond 5,000 5,000 5,000
£98,478 £74,638 £74,638
7. Cash at bank 2022 2021
Santander deposit account 66,926 66,883
Bank current account 20,128 8,824
Bank deposit account 41,370 1,340
Cash in hand 120 20
£128,544 £77,067
8. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2022 2021
Subscriptions in advance 352 788
Sundry creditors 4,476 3,385
£4,828 £4,173

Accounts – page 7

CNHSS

152nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023 POSTAL VOTING FORM- Please vote online if you are able {see page 4 of Directors, Report) I Please ￿mplete this fom) and send il to-. I CNHSS Company Secretary 1 96A Brighton Road I South Croydon CR2 6AD Only Ordinary. Life or Honorary members are ent￿ed to vote. I Postal voles, to ￿ eligit￿e, must ￿ le￿ived later Ihan 14th April 2023 l mob.ons 1. To ac￿p1 and agree the minutes of the AGM of 21st April 2022 The AGM 2022 minutes are printed on page 3 ofDiwtors' Report 2022 Accept and Agree= Y '. Disagree = N .' Abstain = blank 1 2. To appfove the Direclot5' Rewrt, Balance Sheet, Statement of Account and Independenl Examiner's RerK>rt on Ihe A(xx>unls for the year 2022 Approve- Y ' Disagree - N .' Abstain - blank 1 3. To ele¢t 'en blo¢, as per the nominations.. the President, four I Vice-Presidenls, Hon. Curator, Hon. Edrtor, Hon. General Secretary, Hon. Librarian, Hon. Treasurer and Ordinary Members of Council Ele¢t= Y . Disagree= N .' Abstain = blank 1 4. To re-appoint Donald MacLeod as lThlependenl Examiner for 2023, and lo aulhorise Counal to fix his remunerat￿. Donald MacLe(xJ was first appK)inled for 2022 by Council in a¢(ordan(e with the empowering motion al the 2022 AGM. Re-aprK>int= Y . Disagree= N '. Abstain = blank Please complete: Name.. . Phone.. Address.. Email address..

22

Reverse of voting form – intentionally blank.

23

This page is intentionally blank.

Directors’ Report 2022

24

Large Print Copy

If any member wishes to have a large print copy of the documents in this issue of the Bulletin would they please contact the Company Secretary at Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Ltd, 96a Brighton Road, South Croydon, CR2 6AD or email co-secretary@cnhss.co.uk or phone 01737 554449.

Contacts

Information email: information@cnhss.co.uk Twitter https://twitter.com/cnhssprogramme Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Croydon-NaturalHistory-Scientific-Society/106522816087133 Programme email: programme@cnhss.co.uk Bulletin email: bulletin@cnhss.co.uk Membership email: membership@cnhss.co.uk Sales email: sales@cnhss.co.uk Company Sec. email: co-secretary@cnhss.co.uk Website https://cnhss.co.uk

Company Secretary, c/o registered office, co-secretary@cnhss.co.uk

© Copyright 2023 Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society Ltd CNHSS Print code: DR2022/250