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Annual report and accounts 2011 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 2

THE OPEN SPACES SOCIETY Vice-presidents, officers, trustees and staff 31 December 2011

Vice-presidents David (Lord) Clark Edgar Powell Len Clark John Riddall Paul Clayden Bernard Selwyn Roger de Freitas Ronald Smith Tony (Lord) Greaves Anne Wilks Richard Mabey Pat Wilson Chairman Tim Crowther (F) (L) (from Mar 2011) Vice-chairman Tim Crowther (to Mar 2011) Jean Macdonald (from Mar 2011) Treasurer Vacant Trustees Chris Ambrose (from Jul 2011) John Ives (to Sep 2011) Chris Beney (F) Peter Newman (L) Chris Borland (F) Hugh Pratt (from Jul 2011)

Trustees F = member finance subcommittee L = member legal subcommittee

Custodian trustees Paul Clayden Phil Wadey Rodney Legg (to Jul 2011)

Staff General secretary Kate Ashbrook Case officer Nicola Hodgson Financial administrator Mark Taylor Administrative assistant Julie Jiggens Office manager Ellen Froggatt Support Officer Esther Finch (from Jun 2011)

Bank: Barclays Bank plc, Mid Thames Group, PO Box 1, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2AX Solicitors: Mercers, 50 New Street, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BX. Zermansky & Partners, 10 Butts Court, Leeds LS1 5JS . Henmans LLP, 5000 Oxford Business Park South, Oxford OX4 2BH Surveyor: Severage Greaves Ltd, 9 St Mary’s Street, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0EL 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 1

Open Spaces Society Trustees’ Report for 2011

Reference and administrative information

Registered charity name and number The Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society (short title being [The] Open Spaces Society); registered number 214753.

Principal and registered office 25A Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2BA

Names of trustees, advisers and staff The trustees are listed on the cover of this document, together with details of advisers and the names of the staff.

Structure, governance and management

Nature of the charity’s governing document Constitution, the latest version of which was adopted by the annual general meeting on 1 July 2008 and amended on 30 June 2009.

Methods of recruiting and appointing trustees Encouraging members to consider standing as trustees, by advertising in the society’s journal and making appeals for involvement at annual general meeting, plus personal approaches. Most trustees are elected by the annual general meeting and there is a limited power of co-option.

Details of any outside party who can appoint trustees None

Related party disclosures No transaction which would need to be disclosed has been notified by any trustee, in relation to the year, nor any balance outstanding from previous years.

Declarations of interest An agenda item for recording these, if any are declared, appears on the agenda for each trustee meeting. The society’s insurers require a statement to be minuted at each meeting that the trustees are not aware of anything arising which might lead to a claim on the society’s indemnity policy. 1 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 2

Risk management statement The society maintains a risk register which is regularly reviewed by trustees with practical precautions being implemented by officers and staff.

Public benefit statement

Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 requires the charity trustees to comply with their duty to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

The trustees are very mindful of this obligation and have been referring to the guidance when reviewing their aims and objectives and in planning their future activities. In particular, they have considered how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Objectives and activities for the public benefit

Summary of the charity’s objects and strategy for achieving them Campaigning to create and conserve common land, village greens, open spaces and rights of public access in town and country, in England and Wales. These objects are furthered both locally and nationally. The society is building up a network of correspondents who can visit problem places on the ground and make representations regarding proposed changes to the path network in particular. Initiatives are also securing the registering of new village greens and the resistance to encroachments on common land.

At a national level the society’s unique expertise is its accumulated knowledge in the complicated case law and common law that apply to common land and its user rights. Bodies such as the Countryside Council for Wales, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the National Assembly for Wales (NAW), the National Trust and Natural England acknowledge the society’s primacy in this area. The society is a statutory consultee for applications for works on common land.

We are grateful to the following trusts and funds for donations and grants Big Lottery Fund, Dennis Curry Charitable Trust, Gatliff Trust, Marsh Christian Trust, The Millennium Oak Trust, JHF Green Trust.

It also endeavours to improve the law for the benefit of the public by protecting places of beauty and interest and achieving better public access to such locations. This is done by challenging unacceptable proposals––sometimes through the courts––and more generally by lobbying and media attention. 2 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 3

Achievements and performances, delivery of public benefit Summary of main achievements during the year These are listed below under headings which reflect the four main objects in our constitution. 1. To protect commons, greens and other open spaces In January our general secretary represented us at the biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons in Hyderabad, India. Closer to home, she advised managers of commons on consideration of the public interest in preparing plans for the land. She visited a number of commons in England to look at issues concerning management, grazing and fencing. Our staff ran training on commons and greens for parish councillors in Buckinghamshire.

In preparation for the new Welsh Government, we published our 12-point action plan for Wales and were delighted when 18 of the elected Assembly Members, seven of them ministers, signed up to it. We attended a meeting in the Senedd, organised by Wales Environment Link, with party environmental spokesmen whom we asked to commit themselves to expediting the implementation of the Commons Act 2006.

We continued to express our dismay at the threatened cuts, by government and its agencies and by local authorities, to public paths and access, pointing out that this was a false saving since they contribute to the economy and to people’s health and happiness. Our general secretary was appointed to Defra’s Red Tape Challenge Sounding Board, to advise on plans to cut regulation. We launched an appeal to our members for funds to help us combat the cuts, which raised £12,660.

The society responded to calls from members for advice on protection and management of at least 62 commons, 28 registered greens and 44 other open spaces. Many more cases and disputes came to us from consultations from official bodies, or were dealt with by our local correspondents.

Defra and the NAW sought our advice on 81 applications for works on, or exchanges of, common land. We objected to 27 of them.

Of the 66 applications which were determined during the year, ten were rejected following our advice. These included wind turbines on Mynydd y Gwair Common, Swansea and Cefn Gwrhyd Common, Neath Port Talbot, and fences on Kingwood Common, Oxfordshire; Buckland Common, Brecon Beacons National Park, and Braintree Green Common, . Sixteen applications were approved despite our objections. 3 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 4

Our case officer continued to be active on Defra’s National Common Land Stakeholder Group and Landscape and Access Group, the Chilterns Conservation Board’s Commons Network and various Wildlife and Countryside Link working parties including the Greenest Planning Ever Coalition. With the British Horse Society, she oversaw a project by Steven Byrne to claim commons in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen District under part 1 of the Commons Act 2006.

We celebrated a success in the Court of Appeal for the registration of land as a green at Yeadon Banks near Leeds, but were concerned at the decisions in the High Court for Merton Green at Caerwent in Monmouthshire and Markham and Little Francis at Weymouth in Dorset. We persuaded a landowner to remove an unlaw- ful fence at Braintree Green in Essex. 2. To protect and enhance public rights of way and public access. The office dealt with 65 requests for advice on paths and our local correspondents pursued innumerable others.

We prevented paths from being diverted out of school grounds at Hughenden in Bucks and Caldicot in Monmouthshire. John Fawcett, our local correspondent for Kirklees, persuaded the council to reopen a blocked path at Mirfield after he threatened legal action.

At the year’s end we were awaiting consultation from government on the stakeholder working party’s proposals for unrecorded rights of way. 3. To secure the creation of new public paths and open spaces. We consulted our members and published A framework for green space to advise government for its proposed new Local Green Space designation. Unfortunately the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, did not even acknowledge receipt. Thus we were not surprised when the draft National Planning Policy Framework was published with vague references to the designation and total lack of clarity about how it would work. Along with many of our members we condemned the framework and urged greater clarity.

We launched our first Open Space Award to encourage people to celebrate their successes in enhancing and protecting open spaces and paths.

We advised at least 132 members about registering greens and were pleased when at least 13 greens were registered during the year. Bradwell Town Council in Derbyshire voluntarily registered the Peace Garden, an excellent example. We won publicity for unveiling a fine plaque on Sugary Green at Dartmouth, Devon.

We led the campaign against Defra’s plans to alter the law to make it more difficult 4 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 5

to register land as a green and consulted our members to inform our response to Defra’s consultation.

Our appeal to members, for funds to help us campaign for green spaces, raised £6,623. 4. To protect the beauty of the countryside. We spoke at the celebrations to mark the handover of Blackdown Woods, near Dorchester in Dorset, from the Forestry Commission to Dorset County Council. We had campaigned for the woods to remain in public ownership and were pleased with the outcome.

We joined the campaign earlier in the year against the sale of Forestry Commission woods to the private sector and were delighted when the environment secretary, Caroline Spelman, did a U-turn and instead set up a panel to consider the future of forestry in England. We submitted evidence to the panel and with other user bodies formed the Forest Access User Group, to make joint submissions. Organisational management We created a new post of support officer, and appointed Esther Finch, to recruit and support local correspondents, develop networks of members to help with our casework, and encourage new members to join the society.

Esther organised a regional meeting for our local correspondents in the midlands. We ended the year with 37 local correspondents. John Bumpus retired and we welcomed Maggie Coleman, Peter Fenning and Jay Kynch. We thank all our correspondents for their invaluable work and hope to recruit new volunteers to join them.

A highlight of the year was the September open day for members, organised by the Northwick Park Group, with a walk through the leafy Boroughs of Brent and Harrow.

We mourned the death of our former chairman, Rodney Legg, and wrote obituaries for him for the national press.

In November we held a special general meeting to approve the formation of a company, which will exist alongside the charity with effect from 1 January 2012, providing trustees with indemnity.

At a well-attended annual general meeting in July our vice-president Paul Clayden took the chair. Instead of a guest speaker we invited our members to give presentations on their campaigns. Two members joined the board of trustees, Chris Ambrose and Hugh Pratt, both from North Somerset. John Ives resigned 5 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 6

from the board shortly after the September meeting. We made a presentation to Peter Newman, the society’s longest-serving trustee, in honour of his 25 years as a trustee.

During the year the trustees and staff worked on the first phase of a project to promote our work and raise our profile. We secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All to make a video about ourselves next year. Our vice- chairman Jean Macdonald gallantly raised funds for us by taking part in the Coventry fun run.

We issued an unprecedented 112 press releases which gave further publicity to our concerns. We published three issues of our magazine Open Space. Members and staff were interviewed on three television programmes and 23 radio programmes. We developed the website to enable members to take part in discussion fora.

On 31 December, membership stood at 2189. We welcomed 250 new members and lapsed 333 (22 of whom died) during the year, a loss of 83.

We warmly thank all our staff, Kate Ashbrook, Esther Finch, Ellen Froggatt, Nicola Hodgson, Julie Jiggens and Mark Taylor, for their commitment and hard work.

Financial review

Financial operations Our finance subcommittee continued to meet a few weeks before each board meeting to review the society’s financial position and bring forward recommendations on financial operations for board approval.

It continues to be the case that the society’s operating income does not cover its operating expenditure and that the society has sufficient cash reserves to cover its operating deficit. Legacies received in 2011 Jim Kerr Gilbert Payne Harold Lock Kenneth Payne Anthony Mosses Margaret Smith

The budget-setting process, begun in September, once again recognised this and the board agreed that the society should aim for a break-even operating budget by the end of 2015 (not including legacies). The 2012 budget was agreed for the first quarter at which point the board would review progress in conjunction with short-term (30 days to one year) and long-term (two to five years) plans to be drawn up by the finance subcommittee. 6 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:07 Page 7

Reserves policy The four-year rolling reserves policy continues to be followed, thus giving enough time to respond to both upward and downward trends in non-operating income. Full details of the policy can be seen under notes 1(b) (a) and (b) in the notes to the financial statements on page 10 of this report.

Plans for future periods

2011 was a busy year. Incorporation is a significant milestone for the society and provides a real opportunity for innovation and change. We have started on that process.

We continue to need to secure sufficient income to fund the society’s activities in the longer term and, to this end, we encourage all our members and supporters to join us in any initiatives announced over the coming year.

Signed

Tim Crowther (chairman, on behalf of the trustees)

Our representatives on national and regional bodies at 31 March 2012 British Standards Institution Standards Technical Committee Chris Beney Campaign for National Parks Kate Ashbrook Countryside Council for Wales Access Forum David Bateman Chilterns Conservation Board Commons Network Nicola Hodgson Defra’s National Common Land Stakeholder Group Nicola Hodgson Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee Nigel Ley Hampstead Heath Management Committee (joint representative with the Ramblers) Maija Roberts London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies Mark Green London Green Belt Council Chris Beney National Forest Access and Recreation Working Group Chris Peat National Trust council (appointee) Beverley Penney Parliamentary agent John Lavery Ramblers’ general council Jean Macdonald Rights of Way Review Committee Kate Ashbrook Chris Beney Thames Basin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership Board Kate Ashbrook Wales Wildlife and Countryside Link David Bateman Wildlife and Countryside Link Kate Ashbrook Nicola Hodgson

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COMMONS, OPEN SPACES AND FOOTPATHS PRESERVATION SOCIETY Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2011

2011 2010 note FIXED ASSETS Tangible fixed assets 1(e) 2 5,639 7,153 Investments 3 232,425 126,882 ––––––– ––––––– 238,064 134,035 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 4 5,530 5,202 Fixed and short term deposits 5 471,317 483,063 Bank current account and cash in hand 11,761 14,978 ––––––– ––––––– 488,608 503,243 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 6 39,740 13,022 ––––––– ––––––– NET CURRENT ASSETS 448,868 490,221 ––––––– ––––––– NET ASSETS 686,932 624,256 ––––––– ––––––– REPRESENTED BY: Unrestricted funds: General fund 145,893 83,080 Strategic reserve fund 485,000 485,000 ––––––– ––––––– 630,893 568,080 Restricted fund: Creech Jones fund 34,613 34,700 Endowment fund Buxton fund 21,426 21,476 ––––––– ––––––– 7 686,932 624,256 ––––––– ––––––– Signed on behalf of the trustees on 6 March 2012 Chairman: Tim Crowther Vice Chairman: Jean Macdonald INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE COMMONS, OPEN SPACES AND FOOTPATHS PRESERVATION SOCIETY I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2011. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the financial statements under section 43 of the 1993 Act; - follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act); and - 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 Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, 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, no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 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 41 of the 1993 Act; and - to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 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 financial statements to be reached N M Smith ACA,CTA Villars Hayward LLP, Chartered Accountants, Boston House, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1DY 7 March 2012 8 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:08 Page 9

COMMONS, OPEN SPACES AND FOOTPATHS PRESERVATION SOCIETY Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2011 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Totali fundsnn fundsml fundsnn funds funds note 7 7 7 2011 2010 Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income: 1(c) Subscriptions 69,051 - - 69,051 88,459 Donations 20,205 - - 20,205 27,327 Appeals 23,623 - - 23,623 17,805 Gift Aid 14,491 - - 14,491 13,146 Legacies 176,313 - - 176,313 27,941 Activities for generating funds: Investment income 1(c) 13,488 1,700 969 16,157 13,072 Sale of publications etc 10 18,504 - - 18,504 23,893 Grants received 10,000 - - 10,000 5,000 ––––––– ––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– Total incoming resources 345,675 1,700 969 348,344 216,643 ––––––– ––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of generating funds Other publication costs 113 - - 113 140

Charitable Activities Staff costs 11 155,022 - - 155,022 133,719 Premises costs 12 14,878 - - 14,878 14,173 Administration costs 13 27,285 - - 27,285 22,909 Local correspondents 1,253 - - 1,253 1,505 Open Space and web site 7,052 - - 7,052 8,344 Other costs 14 34,505 - - 34,505 19,338

Governance costs Independent examiner 1,860 - - 1,860 1,998 Incorporation costs 17 23,004 - - 23,004 - AGM and trustees 4,969 - - 4,969 3,794 Professional fees 1,271 - - 1,271 1,621 ––––––– ––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– Total resources expended 271,212 - - 271,212 207,541 ––––––– ––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– Net (outgoing)/incoming resources before transfers 74,463 1,700 969 77,132 9,102 Transfers between funds ---- - ––––––– ––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– Net (outgoing)/incoming resources before other recognised gains 74,463 1,700 969 77,132 9,102 Other recognised gains Gains/(losses) on revaluation of investments 15 (11,650) (1,787) (1,019) (14,456) 8,661 –––––––) –––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– Net movement in funds 62,813) (87) (50) 62,676 17,763 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 568,080 34,700 21,476 624,256 606,493 ––––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– Total funds carried forward 7 630,893 34,613 21,426 686,932 624,256 ––––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––– ––––––– 9 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:08 Page 10

COMMONS, OPEN SPACES AND FOOTPATHS PRESERVATION SOCIETY Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011 1 Accounting policies The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year. (a) Basis of Accounting The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the inclusion of fixed asset investments at market value, and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005. (b) Fund accounting (a) General fund - This is an unrestricted fund which is to be invested for the benefit of the Society but remains available to the trustees to be used for the objects of the Society or for making allocations to the Strategic Reserve fund. (b) Strategic Reserve fund - This is an unrestricted fund derived from allocations from the General fund. It is the policy of the trustees that, at the end of each financial year, the level of this fund should be sufficient to cover the Society’s following year’s net outgoings, those of the three following years and to allow for an orderly closure of the Society thereafter, should this become necessary. In line with this policy, the trustees agreed that, at 31 December 2011, the level of this fund should remain at £485,000. This fund is to be invested for the benefit of the Society but remains available to the trustees to transfer back to the General fund in case of need. (c) Creech Jones fund - The income from this restricted fund may be used for the objects of the society that would not normally be met from the General fund. (d) Buxton fund - The income from this fund is transferred to the society’s General fund. (c) Incoming Resources All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: - Voluntary income received by way of subscriptions, donations, appeals and legacies is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. - The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these financial statements. - Investment income is included when receivable. (d) Resources expended Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes VAT which cannot be recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. - Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. - Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and includes the independent examiner’s fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. (e) Fixed assets Fixed assets (excluding investments) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Following a change of policy in 2010 depreciation is now provided on a fixed (straight line) method at the following rates: Office equipment 1/3 Computer equipment 1/3 This policy applies to the balance on existing assets so as to reduce the value of those assets to nil over three years. Investments held as fixed assets are revalued at mid-market value at the balance sheet date and the gain or loss taken to the Statement of Financial Activities. 2 Tangible fixed assets Officeiii Computer Total equipment equipment Cost At 1 January 2011 10,341 26,614) 36,955) Additions - 1,376) 1,376) Disposals - (556) (556) ––––––) ––––––) ––––––) At 31 December 2011 10,341 27,434) 37,775) ––––––) ––––––) ––––––) Depreciation At 1 January 2011 7,733 22,069) 29,802) Charge for the year 869 1,948) 2,817) Disposals - (483) (483) –––––) ––––––) ––––––) At 31 December 2011 8,602 23,534) 32,136) –––––) ––––––) ––––––) Net book value at 31 December 2011 1,739 3,900) 5,639) Net book value at 31 December 2010 2,608 4,545) 7,153)

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3 Investments 2011 2010 Quoted Securities and Unit Trusts 232,425 126,882 ––––––– –––––– All investments were held within the .

4 Debtors Accrued income 2,857 4,460 Rent deposit re lease assignment 1,950 - Professional indemnity insurance prepaid 723 742 ––––––– –––––– 5,530 5,202 ––––––– –––––– 5 Building society deposits CAF Gold Account 156,317 383,063 AIB (GB) Fixed Term Deposit 130,000 100,000 Santander Business Bond 85,000 - RBS Fixed Rate Bond 85,000 - NS&I 5 Year Index Linked Certificate 15,000 - ––––––– –––––– 471,317 483,063 ––––––– –––––– 6 Creditors Trade Creditors 34,292 8,227 Accruals 1,500 1,500 Other taxes and social security costs 3,948 3,295 ––––––– –––––– 39,740 13,022 ––––––– –––––– 7 Analysis of Funds Opening Net income/ Transfers Investment Closing balance (outgoings) gains/(losses) balance Unrestricted funds General fund 83,080 74,463 - (11,650) 145,893 Strategic reserve fund 485,000 - - -) 485,000 Restricted funds Creech Jones fund 34,700 1,700 - (1,787) 34,613 Endowment Buxton fund 21,476 969 - (1,019) 21,426 ––––––– ––––––– ––––––) ––––––) –––––– 624,256 77,132 - (14,456) 686,932 ––––––– ––––––– ––––––) –––––––) ––––––

8 Bradbury bequest - the society acts as trustee for the Bradbury bequest, the income from which may be used for the erection of public footpath signs within a six-mile radius of the Cheltenham general post office. This fund is not included in the society’s assets. Movements during the year: 2011) 2010) At 1 January 2011 7,136) 8,509) Interest received 14 ) 16) Erection of footpath signs & Mgmt Fee (50) (1,389) –––––––) ––––––) At 31 December 2011 7,100) 7,136) –––––––) ––––––))) 9 Parliament Piece - The society owns this land in Kenilworth which is leased, under a 99-year lease, to Warwick District Council and managed locally. No value has been placed on this land in these accounts.

10 Activities for generating funds Sale of publications 2,711) 3,760) Special projects and training 1,750) 10,840) Trusts, Royalties, Commissions etc. 14,043) 9,293) –––––––) –––––– 18,504) 23,893) –––––––) ––––––) 11 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:08 Page 12

11 Staff costs comprise: 2011) 2010 Gross wages 136,161) 118,744) Employer’s NI 13,331) 11,484) Pension contributions 3,802) 2,954) Recruitment costs 1,728) 537) ) –––––––) –––––––) 155,022) 133,719) –––––––) –––––––) Employees with emoluments exceeding the Charity Commission reporting threshold of £60,000: Nil Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year - five (four in 2010). 12 Premises costs comprise: Rent 7,800) 7,800) Rates and water 616) 638) Light and heat 1,257) 1,287) Insurance 813) 899) Cleaning 1,274) 1,162) Consumables 129) 97) Repairs and maintenance 1,001) 621) Depreciation of furniture and equipment 869) 460) Loss on disposal of fixed assets 73) 139) Other 1,046) 1,070) –––––––) ––––––) 14,878) 14,173) –––––––) ––––––) 13 Administration costs comprise: Postage, telephone and stationery 7,580) 7,177) Printing and photocopying 4,049) 2,674) Costs of appeals for funding 2,827) 1,527) I T costs 4,048) 4,136) Depreciation of computer equipment 1,948) 2,274) Professional indemnity insurance 742) 717) Travel and subsistence 4,270) 2,883) Welsh Manifesto 687) -) Other 1,134) 1,521) –––––––) –––––– 27,285) 22,909) –––––––) ––––––) 14 Other costs comprise: Subscriptions and donations 13,292) 10,524) Local Correspondents’ Weekend -) 6,787) Professional fees - Marketing 20,641) 1,763) Books and maps 70) 69) Conferences and training 502) 195) –––––––) ––––––) 34,505) 19,338) –––––––) ––––––) 15 Gains/(losses) on revaluation of investments –––––––) ––––––) Unrealised gain on revaluation of investments (14,456) 8,661) –––––––) ––––––) 16 Remuneration of trustees None of the trustees received any remuneration (2010 - nil). An aggregate of £2,751 (2010 - £1,641) was reimbursed to eight (2010 - eight) trustees for expenses incurred in relation to the society’s activities, including attending meetings and/or acting as local correspondents. 17 Incorporation - Post Balance Sheet event At the Extraordinary General Meeting held in November 2011 the membership agreed that the Society should become an incorporated entity (company limited by guarantee) with effect from 1 January 2012. These costs represent the necessary legal, professional and administrative expenses associated with that process and have been borne in their entirety by the unincorporated charity.

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The Open Spaces Society’s trustees appoint individual members of the society, known as local correspondents, to represent the society in certain local-authority areas. They are listed below.

Local correspondents at 31 March 2012 England Bath and North East Somerset John Ives [email protected] Bournemouth B Harry and [email protected] Aimée Alexander C Chris Bloor [email protected] CountyDurham former Teesdale D Jo Bird [email protected] and Wear Valley D Cornwall Penwith D (former) Jan Beare [email protected] Coventry C Leslie Menzler 0121 429 9652 Cumbria Carlisle C Ken West [email protected] Derbyshire South Derbyshire D Barry Thomas [email protected] Dorset Christchurch B Peter Fenning 01202 469001 Gloucestershire Cotswold D Gerry Stewart [email protected] Hampshire Dave Ramm [email protected] Herefordshire East Edgar Powell 01905 351670 Herefordshire HerefordCity, Owen Morgan 01989 770302 South Herefordshire D (former) Herefordshire Leominster D (former) Peter Newman [email protected] Herts Hertsmere B, Three Rivers D Chris Beney 01923 211113 Kent Canterbury C, Dover D, Shepway D Graham Wanstall 01304 242493 Kent Thanet D Gordon Sencicle [email protected] Kent Tonbridge & Malling David Thornewell 01732 847415 Kirklees John Fawcett [email protected] London Bromley B, Croydon B, Lambeth B, Mark Green [email protected] Lewisham B, Southwark B London Hillingdon B David Williams [email protected] London remainder Bernard Selwyn 020 7370 0854 Medway towns Pat Wilson 01634 831887 Medway parishes Maggie Coleman [email protected] Norfolk Breckland D, Broadland D, King’s Ian Witham [email protected] Lynn & West Norfolk B, North Norfolk D North Somerset John Ives [email protected] Oxfordshire Chris Hall [email protected] Poole B Harry and [email protected] Aimée Alexander Shropshire Harry Scott [email protected] Solihull B Leslie Menzler 0121 429 9652 Somerset South Somerset D Peter Kidner [email protected] Somerset Taunton Deane B Paul Partington [email protected] Southampton C Jack Candy 02380 790834 South Gloucestershire Chris Bloor [email protected] Harry Scott [email protected] Stoke-on-Trent C Harry Scott [email protected] Suffolk Mid Suffolk D, Suffolk Coastal D Bob Philpot [email protected] Surrey Elmbridge B Rodney Whittaker [email protected] Surrey Guildford B, Surrey Heath D Bob Milton 07860 718464 Surrey Waverley B Ralph Holmes [email protected] Telford and Wrekin Harry Scott [email protected] Warwickshire (Wildlife & Countryside Act Leslie Menzler 0121 429 9652 orders only) Warwickshire Stratford D Peter Bolton 01789 840814 Worcestershire Malvern Hills D, Edgar Powell 01905 351670 Worcester C, Wychavon D Wales Caerphilly Maggie Thomas [email protected] Monmouthshire Owen Morgan 01989 770302 Rhondda Cynon Taff south Jay Kynch [email protected] B = borough, C= city, D = district 312400 Open Spaces Accounts 03 14/6/12 12:08 Page 14

25A Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 2BA tel: (01491) 573535, fax (01491) 573051, email: [email protected], website: www.oss.org.uk

Highlights of 2011 During the year we • researched, wrote and published A framework for green space as our contribution to the new Local Green Space designation • won support for our Action Plan for Wales from 18 Assembly Members in the new Welsh Government • led the campaign against law changes for registering land as greens • launched our Open Space Award • held a members’ day in Harrow, run by the Northwick Park Group • created the new post of support officer, to provide backing and support for our local correspondents and other members • were represented by our general secretary at the conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons in India • helped our members protect 331 commons, greens, open spaces and paths under threat of loss, and local correspondents helped many more • incorporated the society as a limited company following a special general meeting • assisted members with queries about the registration of 132 greens.

Annual General Meeting 2012 The Annual General meeting will be held on Tuesday 10 July at 11.00 am at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ

Membership rates from 1 January 2009 Individuals: ordinary £30; joint ordinary £45; life £600. Local organisations: parish, town and community councils: £40. National organisations; district and borough councils: £150. County councils and unitary authorities: £350.

The front-cover illustration is ‘On the common’ by Michael Edwards, tel: 07979 497907. Higgs Group, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, RG9 1AD