Including the churches of All Saints, Hanley; Christ Church, Fenton; St Paul's, Mount Pleasant and Stoke Minster (St Peter ad Vincula) Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of Stoke-upon-Trent & Fenton For the year ended 31st December 2019 Charity registration number: awaiting registration The Parochial Church Council of Stoke-upon-Trent & Fenton Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2019 Charity registration number: awaiting registration Aims and Purposes Stoke-upon-Trent & Fenton Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Rector, the Reverend Canon Andrew Wickens, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The parish comprises of four districts, each with its own place of worship and associated district church council (DCC) that is responsible for the maintenance of the district’s church building. The Reverend Geoffrey Eze has special responsibility for the district of All Saints, Hanley, where the DCC is also responsible for the maintenance of All Saints Church Hall, adjacent to the church. The Reverend Father Tommy Merry has special responsibility for the districts of Christ Church, Fenton and of St Paul’s, Mount Pleasant. The district of the Minster Church of St Peter ad Vincula rests directly under the responsibility of the Rector. Objectives and Activities The PCC is committed to supporting each district church welcome as many people as possible to worship and enabling them to become part of the Christian community. The PCC coordinates the activity of district church councils as they promote worship locally. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. The trustees of the PCC are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit and have had regard to it in their administration of the Charity. The trustees believe that, by promoting the work of the Church of England in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Stoke-upon-Trent & Fenton it helps to promote the whole mission of the Church (pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical) more effectively, within the Ecclesiastical Parish, and that in doing so it provides a benefit to the public by: Providing facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and for anyone who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers; and Promoting Christian values and service by members of the Church in and to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole. To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the four district churches and All Saints Church Hall. Achievements and Performance During 2019, the PCC met four times including the inaugural PCC meeting following the annual parochial church meeting (APCM). The Council has considered policy issues affecting the parish as a whole including safeguarding, finance issues as well as oversight of buildings. Financial Review The accounts for the parish are consolidated from the accounts of the respective district church councils as well as the team account which helps support the activities of the parish as a whole. Each of the district churches is responsible for meeting the local costs of ministry and mission. With the exception of Christ Church, for the time being, each of the district church councils makes contributions towards central costs for the parish in administration although these costs reduced significantly in the course of 2019 in an effort to cut costs. Parish share is the contribution made by each church to the costs of ministry and mission across the Diocese of Lichfield. Although the benefice is one parish, it continues to receive two distinct 2 parish share allocations. Christ Church, Fenton, which was a distinct parish until 2017, receives a parish share allocation from the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance (LDBF). The district church council (DCC) of Christ Church has entered into a parish share agreement with LDBF in order to make additional payments over three years so that by the end of 2019 its historic arrears in parish share contributions may be cancelled. The accounts reflect the success of Christ Church in achieving this goal. The other three district churches comprise what was the historic Stoke Team Ministry. The PCC accordingly receives a parish share allocation from LDBF for the historic Stoke Team each year. The PCC then reaches an agreement on the allocation of parish share amongst the district churches. Currently, this is in proportion to the allocation of stipendiary clergy across the Team. The accounts show that despite reaching with LDBF a special assessment of £49,000 for the historic Stoke Team as a whole, the churches have continued to face difficulty meeting their financial commitments. St Paul’s, Mount Pleasant met its contribution in full. Both All Saints, Hanley and Stoke Minster have additional parish share arrears at the end of 2019. The PCC decided in the course of 2019 that parish share arrears that had not previously been linked to any church (and thus the responsibility of the Stoke Team as a whole) should instead be allocated to the three district churches concerned. These additional arrears amounted to £7,405 in total and have been allocated to the district churches in the same proportion as for parish share. Parish share arrears do not themselves constitute a legally enforceable debt. Were they such, the PCC would be required to take consideration of arrears in reaching a judgement as to whether it continues to be a ‘going concern.’ The PCC would clearly wish to meet its responsibilities in full but this has not been possible over the last year. It continues to review its activities in the light of financial reporting. Risk Management The Church Wardens carry out regular Health and Safety Reviews and regularly inspect premises for potential hazards. We have safeguarding policies in place for child protection and for work with vulnerable adults, including rigorous DBS checking of staff and volunteers. Our insurances are reviewed annually to ensure adequate cover. An informal review of any new risks which may impact the work of the Church in the Parish is ongoing. Statement on Safeguarding The Parochial Church Council has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). Mrs Susan Sayer has been appointed as the Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator. The Parish Safeguarding Policy was reviewed in November 2019 and is available to view at www.safeguarding.stokeminster.org. A copy is also available on display on the noticeboard of district churches. Reserves Policy It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance on free reserves (net current assets) which equates to approximately £25,000. This is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. Free reserves at year end were £26,050. The trustees are currently looking at ways to increase income, and thus increase free reserves. It is our policy to invest the short term investment fund balances with the CCLA Church of England Deposit Fund and the remainder in the CCLA Church of England Investment Fund. Climate Change and Investment Policy The CBF Investment Fund is managed by CCLA whose statement on investment policy is outlined at www.ccla.co.uk/our-policies/climate-change-and-investment-policy – the PCC also notes the Church of England’s General Synod motion on Climate Change approved in February 2020 (see 3 www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/general-synod-sets-2030-net-zero-carbon- target). Fundraising The PCC reports on the fundraising activities of the respective district churches in the parish. The PCC is very grateful to all donors – whether regular or occasional – for their support of the church and church events. All money raised is either by donations, fundraising events, special appeals or legacies for which the PCC are most grateful. Neither the PCC or its respective district church councils has used commercial organisations or professional fundraisers. Volunteers The members of the PCC would like to thank all the volunteers who work across our district churches in the parish to ensure that we are the welcoming, attractive and inclusive communities that the Church is called to be. Without the support of volunteers, including from those who would not consider themselves necessarily a part of the worshipping community, our churches could not serve their communities as they do. Structure, Governance and Management The PCC is a Body Corporate established by the Church of England (PCC Powers Measure 1956, and the Church Representation Rules 2006) and is a Charity awaiting registration with the Charity Commission. The PCC is governed by the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended that came into effect on 2nd January 1957, and the Church Representation Rules (CRR). A Scheme for the parish was made under CRR Rule 18 of 1 February 2018. This explains how district church councils are constituted as well as their delegated powers. The method of appointment of the PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, a representative of the Readers, those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, by those on the Electoral Roll. The PCC members receive training from courses run by the Diocese. Members of the congregation are always urged to join the Electoral Roll, and to stand for election to the PCC as well as their respective DCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish, and for all financial matters.