The Kensington Society Registered Charity Number 267778 Statement of Financial Actlvities for the year endad 31 December 2024 The Kensington Society Regislefed Charity Number 267778 The Kensington Society Report of the Trustees The Trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024. Constitutlon and obJe¢ts The Charity's objects shall be to preserve and improvè the amenities of Kensington for the public benefit by stimulating interest in its history and records, promoting good architecture and planning in its future development and by protecting, preserving and improving its buildings. open spaces and other features of b&auty or historic or public inler8St. The Kensington Society was founded in 1953. The constitution is a trust deed adopted on 11 November 2010 and is available at www.kensin ton ociel .or Patron His Royal Highness th8 Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO President Lord Carnwalh of Notting Hill, CVO, PC Vl¢e-Pre8ident Nick Ross CBE Councll Bamabas Brunner Sir Angu8 Stirling Trustees Amanda Frame. chairman Martin Framè, treasurer and membership secretary Michael Bach, chairman of the planning committee Henry Peterson OBE. planning committee Sophia Lambert CB, planning commrttee Thomas Blomberg, planning Gommittee. website and newsletter Vanessa Bartulovic, planning committee Barry Munday. planning committee Shayan Keyhan-Rad, planning committee James Fairrie, planning committee Michael Becket Peter Mi5Ghcon The Kensington Society Registered Charity Number 267778 Chairman's review of the year's activlties and achievements 2024 was an 8venlful year for all of us, not least for the Kensington So¢iety. The Society's trustees have been extremely active, as the excellent planning committaè report within the annual oullines. The changes in govemment have created challenging debates. Having participated throughout the process since 2020. following the JunelJuly 2023 Examination in Publi¢ with the planning inspector, the Secretary of Slate approved the new RBKC Local Plan on 24 July 2024. It was a long haul but worth it. The inspector adjusted some fine points in the plan and we and the planners are pleasgd with the result. We have participated in multiple consultations from RBKC including Night Time Economy, revitalising Earl's Court Road, Public Space Protection Order IPSPOI - Nuisance Vehicles 2024, Clear Streets, Time-banded Commercial Waste Collections, and Double-glazed Windows for Listed Buildings in specific areas The highly contentious one with TfL being the consultation over the controversial proposal for the cycle roule through Holland Park roundabout. In addtticn. we have commented on the proposed revision of the National Planning Policy Framework INPPFI which was published before Christmas. A highly active year with constant support and attention by the tru81ees, particularly the planning committee. Our president's report draws attention to the continuous process that new govarnments go through with promises of transfomiation which seldom succeed in fully implementing the reforms. That does not mean we should not look for improvements or even variations which reflect the Ghanges in the need for additional housing, or as often today, with increasing Concem aljout the environment, or as we have seen with the Grenfell tragedy, design and construction methods. 11 is evident that promises made on the election trail are harder lo implement than politicians anlicipale in opposition. Even the obvious, 8uch as responding lo Grenfell Is taking too long. In her first budg8t speech on 30 October 2024 as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves staled that the planning system was 'antiquated° and 'as a graveyard of economic ambition. This follows from the Labour manifesto which said that'the current planning regime act8 8s a major brake on economic growth.. We disagree faulting the planning regime. We can agree that the process takes too long especially for large developments to come to fruition. There is no magic wand to wave for developments as large as Earf's Court and Kensal Canalside to be completed. The Eart's Court redevelopment has been going on for nearly 15 years first with Capco and now with Delancy. The Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area was also first designated in 2011, when there was the aspiration to build a new Crossrail station to overcome its poor accessibility. This has not malerialised. The visions for both sites have changed throughout the years and even if the current applications were lo be approvèd this year it would be a decade and more before the developments will be completed. To blame the planning system for delaying economic growth is not realistic. To blame planning comrnittees for holding up approvals shows a misunderstanding of the system. There are now proposals afoot to restrict the role of el&ded ¢ounGillors in docision-making and to allow planning officers lo approve or disapprove applications. What is not understood is the importance of checks and balan￿$ in the pro￿sS. The Kensington Society Registered Charity Number 267778 Hopefully both the long-standing 1947 Town & Country Planning Act's requirement to obtain planning pemiission to develop and 1968 Town & Country Planning Act that required public participation. will Continue to be ￿speCted. There will be an outcry not least by this society if rt is proposed lo limit public participation. Somewhat unexpectedly the stalled expansion of Heathrow airport for a third runaway has re-emerged. The Chancellor is using the economy as an excuse lo restart the process, while the Mayor of London is opposed to expanding London's airports on environmental grounds. We have a busy and particularly challenging year ahead. As our objects slate, we shall continue lo promote good architecture and development in Kensington by protecting, preserving and improving ils buildings. open spaces and other features of beauty and historic interest. Flnancial revlew The So¢iely thanks all the members who have generously subscribed £11,015, donations and legacies of £1,557 which qualified for Gift Aid of £2,923. The total income for the year was £33,833. a decrease of £20.029. The cost of administration is allocated on a time basis to the various charitable activities, The total expénditure was £32.667, a decrease of £27,746. The balance sheet has unrestricted funds of £62,842, an incr6asé of£1,165. Thes8 funds are necessary lo secure the futu￿ ofthe Society. Improving funds through subscriptions, donations and legacies is welcomed. The Kensington Society Registered Chaiity Number 267778 Statgment of flnancial a¢tlvrties for the year to 31 Decgmber 2024 Incomo 2024 2023 Donatlons and legaciès Membership SLbscriplions Donations and legacies Gift Aid Totsl donatlon8 and lega¢l08 Charitable a¢tivltles Events Annual report advertising Total Charflable actlvltl88 Incomo Invostment Incorne Bank intore8t rotal Incom• 11,015.00 1,557.00 2,923.38 15 495.38 11,005.00 10.963.67 4,810.92 26 779.59 4,650.00 12 350.00 17 000.00 14,178.21 11700.00 25 876.21 1337.84 1206,95 53 862.75 33 833.22 Expendltur• Charftablg actlvltl•8 Newsle118r Events Annual report Planning Membership Charitsble subscriptions Total Gharltsble actlvltl•6 oxpons• 3,462.32 6.108.66 15,914.OD 5.445.27 8￿.44 3,330.10 20,412.21 11,040.35 23,443.72 1,111.80 200.00 205.00 31991.69 59 538.18 Other Insurance Examiner Total other expens& Total éxpendlture 96.00 96.00 780.00 876,00 60,414.18 580.00 678,00 32,667.69 Net In¢ome/(expendlture) Total unre8tricted funds brought forward Total unrestricted funds carriod fonvard 1.165.53 61677.36 (6,551.43) 68 228.79 62 842.89 61,677.36 The Kensington Society Registered Charity Number 267778 Balance shoot as at 31 December 2023 2024 2023 Currgnt a88et¥ Debtor¥ Accruod Income and prgpayment8 Interes: Insurance Total a¢¢rued Income and pr•payment8 Cash at bank and In hand Nationwide Building Soci6ty Barclays 8ank PayPal Total ea8h at bank and In hand 137.84 64.00 201.84 133.61 64.00 197.61 60,000.00 7,568.43 1670.62 69.239.06 40,000.00 26.778.04 1437.14 68 215.18 Total current assets 68 412.79 Crgdltors". amount$ falllng due wlthln one year Deferrod Income Subscriptions and donation5 Crodltor8 and accruals Cr8dilor8 City Living L Angela Ktistakis ACA FCCA GMAK Chartered Accountants 517 Vemon Yard London W1120X Date.. q kpkl &)8<