Registered Charity No: 500480 President: Dr Sarah Furness PhD
CPRE Rutland and Lincolnshire Annual Report and Accounts
January to December 2025
1. Introduction
This Annual Report for the new CPRE branch of Rutland and Lincolnshire is published at a noteworthy time of change and opportunity for CPRE given that 2026 is the national charity’s Centenary Year. It is also the first year that the local charity income has exceed £25K, thereby necessitating its annual accounts be witnessed and signed by a qualified Independent Examiner. The charity is indebted to Uppingham Rotarian Chris Sworn MA PhD FCA for undertaking this role on pro bono basis. The accounts are appended to this report.
2. Financial Review
The financial statements appended to this report provide the detailed financial results for the year. In summary, total income for the year was £58,760 and total expenditure was £3,789. At the year end the charity held total funds of £75,108, comprising unrestricted funds of £40,108 and restricted funds of £5K and designated reserves of £30K held as a One year Fixed Rate (3.75%) Community Bond with the Saffron Building Society.
The Trustees have continued to monitor the charity’s financial position carefully during the year, with particular focus on accumulating funds for projects intended to mark the CPRE Centenary Year, detailed financial reporting of all transactions by volunteer Treasurer Margaret J Simpson MA MEd, and the anticipated need for significant expenditure in 2026.
3. Reserves Policy
Thanks to increased funds from the branch merger, the Trustees have been able to establish a reserves policy designed to ensure that the charity can meet its obligations, manage fluctuations in income and expenditure, and continue to support both county communities effectively. The Trustees will now review the level of unrestricted free reserves regularly, taking account of operating costs, any restricted fund obligations, committed expenditure, creditor obligations and foreseeable risks.
The Trustees will now aim to hold unrestricted free reserves equivalent to at least three months of core operating expenditure, unless the Board determines that a different level is appropriate because of restricted fund commitments, operational commitments or exceptional circumstances. At 31[st] December 2025 reserves were £30K, which the Trustees consider to be above target for the charity’s current circumstances.
4. Activity Update
The year has seen much preparation for the CPRE Centenary in 2026. A garden was designed for the Chelsea Flower Show, a new book on the history of CPRE is to be published, and a PowerPoint presentation on 100 years of significant milestones for CPRE has been prepared for use by branches.
Via its membership of the CPRE Nominations Committee, the branch is supporting a major initiative to recruit a new Chair for the national charity.
1 | P a g e
The Branch regularly attends the monthly meeting of all county Chairs held by Zoom. It also attends the quarterly meetings of the CPRE National Assembly which aspires to help the charity’s many voices speak as one; a not insignificant challenge. For 2026 the branch is redesigning its website www.cprerutlandandlincs.uk and still has a social media presence on Facebook. Posts revolve around its projects and events with specialist support being sought for the new year. During the year the branch has championed a number of planning application challenges in collaboration with local parish councils. The branch was successful in securing a £5K grant for a Centenary Year project to restore up to 5 K6 telephone boxes in 2026.
5. Partnerships
Rutland County Council Strategic Partnership
The Leader of Rutland County Council and her Chief Executive, Mark Andrews, lead this half yearly partnership meeting with the venue rotating around partners’ premises. Organisations and representatives at the table include RCC Officer Leads on Environment, Place and Planning, for tourism ‘Discover Rutland’, the Army, the Police, the Prison Service, Business Representatives, the Wildlife Trust, Citizens Advice and Volunteer Action Rutland. The collective object is to share data, experience and research in the interest of a safe, productive and sustainable county community. The county council is to be applauded for creating such interaction.
Rutland Water Partnership
Following a request from Rutland County Council over three years ago, and thanks to the commitment of CPRE Rutland and Lincolnshire Administrative Officer and Trustee Geoff Clyde, the Branch now hosts and chairs this quarterly Forum. It brings together organisations which share an interest in the activities and environment in, on and around the county’s major reservoir and tourism attraction, Rutland Water. Partners include Anglian Water, Rutland County Council Members and Officers; Parish Council and Parish Meeting Officers from around the reservoir, Discover Rutland, the Wildlife Trust, Rutland Sailing Club and the Fly Fishing Club. Environmental matters lie at the heart of most debates in this group. Presentations have included a presentation by the County Council’s Environment and Climate Change Officer.
Countryside Access Forums
The Branch is now collaborating with the Rutland and Lincolnshire Countryside Access Forums. Countryside Access Forums are groups of volunteers who provide independent advice on ways to improve public access to land. This ranges from issues like public access to private land and disability routes, through to environmental initiatives and planning applications that affect parks and open spaces. The Forums meet up to four times a year and are particularly interested in hearing from landowners and farmers with an interest in public access around the county as well as people with disabilities, walkers, cyclists and horse riders
The possibility of a joint disability access leaflet project for 2026 is being explored.
Postscript
CPRE branch activity to date has only been possible thanks to the hard work of its dedicated volunteers and Trustees. Leadership is effortless when it is empowered by such commitment and support. There are so many to thank for what we have all achieved together. They include our President, Dr Sarah Furness, Vice Chair Rachel Burkitt, Admin Officer Geoff Clyde, Membership Officer Annabelle Meek, Planning Lead Carolyn Cartwright whose husband sadly died during the year and Trustee Giles Clifton. We are also fortunate to have been supported by members Margaret Simpson BEM (Treasurer) Malcolm Touchin (Research Officer) and Cliff Bacon (Planning Support).
Ron Simpson BEM Chair 2025/26
2 | P a g e
CAMPAGN FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND- RUTLAND & LINCOLNSHIRE BBANCH Receiptsand PaymentsAtcountfortheyearended31 Detembet2025 2024 2025 Receipt5 5ub5cripiions-. Branch Share Fundraislng and Sales Rland Round Christmas Quiz 3,115 51,899 105 160 389 1,014 4876 1,954 117 AGM and Miseellaneous ProjectGranVCentenary GIftd Intèiest S,707 Total Reteipts 58.760 Payments Administr*ionlMeetinÉs Insurance Trèvel AGMIEGMIAnnual Lunch Websiie PostaEe and MisceliarFeous Bank charges Project- Agricultural Shows SupportConiractor5 Quiz 221 1.055 375 1.273 67 1.017 1.105 Ios Total Payments SuTpIu5foTtheyear 54.971 Funds brOughtfoard 2Qa3Z Fund5 Cathed fotward The FundScaled forward at 31 December2025land at31December 20251 are repfe5entd by deposits ina bank and a buildingsocietyaccount I certifyihatl have certlfied thÈattount5 of CPRE Autnd and Llncoln$hirepre5ented to meandfoundthatthe receipts and payme satcount Sho above arein accord8nceIhthefft. C H Sworn MA. PhD. FCA Hazel Farm PrestOD 2&Jun-26