MINUTES OF THE NORWICH DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE LTD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND NORWICH DIOCESAN SYNOD Tuesday 8th June 2021 at 6:30pm, held via Zoom Present: All Members of Diocesan Synod were in attendance, excepting those who had submitted Apologies for absence were noted, as detailed below. Minute Secretary: Mrs Alison Steward Welcome +GN welcomed all to the Summer Diocesan Synod meeting and Annual General Meeting of the Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance and sought permission for the meeting to be recorded, to aid with Minute-taking. Permission was granted. Apologies for absence: Revd Canon Chris Copsey, Revd Rob Baker, Susan Martin, Revd Canon Howard Stoker, Revd Miriam Fife, Revd Matthew Jackson, Constance Tyce, Revd Canon Catherine Dobson, Harry Verney, Revd Peter Leech, Revd Alaric Lewis, Fr. Glen Brooks, Revd Mark McCaghrey. Opening prayers were led by The Venerable Karen Hutchinson, Archdeacon of Norwich. NORWICH DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE LTD – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 1) Introduction of the DBF Chair and Chair’s Comments +GN advised that it was his pleasure to introduce and warmly welcome Mark Jeffries, as the new DBF Chair in this, his first meeting, within the role. +GN thanked him for the considerable time he had committed so far. The Chair was invited to provide his opening comments. The Chair advised that he had joined the Diocese at an interesting time; a time of great enthusiasm and excitement for the new Diocesan Vision and of contemplation and reflection upon the completion of several Reviews (the Governance Review, Peer Review, the ongoing TriO Review). The Chair outlined that his initial impression was that of the pressures on finance for the Diocese and outlined that the Interim Diocesan Secretary and Diocesan Director of Finance had already discussed their initial early thoughts on next year’s budget with him. The Chair confirmed that the implementation of the Central Services Review was underway and thanked the Interim Diocesan Secretary and Diocesan Director of Finance for taking the lead on these very difficult and sensitive discussions; the handling of which was particularly important in order to ensure that a motivated team remained in place to fully support the Vision. The Chair commented that, within his statement for the Annual Report, he had commented on the need to instigate a greater understanding of stewardship and he is hopeful that the TriO Review would go some way toward achieving that. The Chair also commented on the possibility of increasing the remit of the work of the Norwich Diocesan Churches Trust, as part of the strategy for dealing with excess church buildings. Following discussion with Board members of Spire Support Services, the Chair commented that he looked forward to working on some good opportunities to grow trading income and, hence, the profit that is covenanted up to the Diocese from that company. Page 1 of 12 The Chair also wished to review the opportunities for the spread of the Diocesan investment assets. As referenced within the papers issued ahead of the meeting, there is an aim to increase the Parish Share collection rates back to a pre-pandemic level of 90% by 2023. There is a risk that this may not be achievable, and we must therefore explore the opportunities for securing higher return from the investment assets we have. The Chair felt that this is something the Diocese should be doing anyway, irrespective of the pressures brought about by the pandemic, as it does make good sense in the context of ensuring that the Diocese has the resources needed in delivering the new Vision. The Chair advised that he is looking forward to working within the new Governance structure as the Diocese looks to restore a well-balanced financial position. The Chair also greatly looks forward to working with Lindsey Rix who is going to be Chairing the Asset Management Committee, following confirmation of her appointment by the Nominations Committee. Lindsey is the outgoing CEO of Aviva UK Savings and Investments and is shortly to take up the role of UK CEO of Canada Life. The Chair commented that he looks forward to reporting to future Synods on what he hopes will be a well-balanced financial position. The Chair invited questions from Synod members. None were received. 2) Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting held on 10th October 2020 The Chair referenced the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th October 2020 and asked if there were any amendments required. None were received. The Minutes were therefore adopted/approved. Matters Arising The Chair enquired if there were any Matters Arising not sufficiently covered by the Agenda (the appointment of Auditors to be covered under item 4). None were received. 3) Receive and adopt the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020 Moving to the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020, the Chair handed over to Susan Bunting, Diocesan Director of Finance. The Director of Finance gave a detailed presentation, copies of which are available via the Diocesan website. The following items were particularly noteworthy: AUDIT: • There were no management letter points; • There were no recommendations for improvement in financial procedures. TRUSTEES REPORT: • Pages 9 and 10 make mention of the new Committees already established (Audit Risk and Assurance, Nominations and Remuneration). Later in the year there will be an increased number of Committees as we move through the new Governance structure but those listed were those in place at the time of the signing of the accounts. The Audit Risk and Assurance Committee also had a thorough review of its accounts before they went to the DBF Executive, the DBF Trustees and to Bishops Council. • Page 12 – Highlights the Achievements of 2020. • Page 15 – Highlights the plans for the future. The Chair thanked the Director of Finance and invited questions. None were received. The Chair therefore proposed that the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020 be received and adopted. Synod provided their unanimous agreement to this. Page 2 of 12 4) To consider the re-appointment of Messrs Lovewell Blake as Auditors at a fee to be arranged Within the Minutes of last years’ Synod Revd Heather Wilcox had raised a point as to how long Lovewell Blake had been in post as the Diocesan auditors. The Director of Finance confirmed that there had not been a tender process for some time and it was agreed that this should be given attention over the coming twelve-month period. For obvious reasons, that has not come to fruition. The Chair suggested that we go out to tender over the course of the coming year and, in the meantime, sought Synod members approval in appointing Lovewell Blake again as the auditors for this year. All Synod members were in favour. +GN thanked all for their input in the NDBF A.G.M and handed over to the Chair of the House of Laity. NORWICH DIOCESAN SYNOD Mrs Kandi Kammoun, Chair of the House of Laity, thanked the DBF Chair and the Diocesan Director of Finance and formally opened the meeting of Diocesan Synod. 1) Minutes of the Diocesan Synod meeting held on 20th March 2021 The Chair referenced the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th March 2021 and asked if any amendments were required. Jennifer Vere (Redenhall) : wished to highlight that Item 5 of Page 7 of the Minutes had provided a figure of 140 church schools. There are, in fact, 110 church schools and Jennifer asked that this be amended. This was duly noted by the Minute Secretary. The Chair asked the members if, aside from this change, the Minutes could be regarded as a true and accurate record of the meeting. All agreed that it could. 2) Matters Arising None received. 3) The 2020 Annual Reports of the Boards and Committees The Chair asked that the following Reports be received and invited questions on each. (i) Diocesan Synod – No questions received (ii) Bishop’s Council – No questions received (iii) Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee – No questions received (iv) Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) – No questions received (v) Diocesan Board of Education Question received from Mervyn Wilcox (Bishop’s Appointee, Diocesan Synod): Mr Wilcox had understood that the work of the Children, Youth & Families Team came under the remit of the Board of Education but noted that this has not been mentioned within the report. Response from Paul Dunning (Director of Education): Mr Dunning explained that the line management for the CYF team had since moved away from the Board of Education and they therefore had no involvement within the time period captured by the report. (vi) Diocesan Children, Youth & Families Team Question received from Revd Dr Patrick Richmond (Chair, House of Clergy): The Chair of the House of Clergy noted that Page 14 of the report referenced the fact that the Children, Youth & Families Team has now moved to report to The Venerable Ian Bentley, Archdeacon of Lynn, as part of the Mission Forum. Revd Richmond asked what is a Forum (in this particular context), how does it relate to the team or Committee, who has made a decision on such things and will a report from the Mission Forum follow? Page 3 of 12 Response from Mervyn Wilcox (Bishop’s Appointee, Diocesan Synod): Mr Wilcox outlined a brief history of the CYF team, advising that Bishop Graham James initiated it back in 2002, when it then sat under the remit of the Bishop of Thetford. At this point it was known as a Forum, noting that Norfolk County Council still had a Youth Department in full operation at that time.