RICHMOND PARISH LANDS CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Chairman's Report

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 30 June 2008 The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2008. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s Scheme, the Charities Act 1993 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities 2005.

Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is governed by a Charity Commission Scheme sealed on 13 May 1991, is a registered charity number 200069. Richmond Parish Lands Charity administers a royal gift made in 1786 to help the community in Richmond . Through grant-giving and social housing we seek to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people within our benefit area which comprises the London postal code regions TW9, TW10 and SW14.

For over 200 years the aim of RPLC has been to relieve need in our borough. It is important that we seek to offer continuity of support to this and future generations. With the limited resources available to the charity, Trustees have reaffirmed that RPLC should concentrate its efforts in two areas: the support through grants to individuals in need and to charitable organisations active in the borough, and the provision of social housing.  Over many years the RPLC had combined two distinct activities in support of the needy in Richmond : grant giving and social housing.  The Charity seeks to continue its philanthropic work through the careful stewardship of its existing resources.

RPLC appointed Trustees are recruited through advertisement. Trustees have particular regard for the need to co-opt people with a broad range of relevant skills and experience to carry out the work of the charity.  Following an interview with a sub committee of Trustees, recommendations are made to the full Board for approval.

All new Trustees are introduced to the Committee Chairmen, meet the office team and are offered an opportunity to visit some of our investment and residential properties.  New Trustees are offered briefing material, including a copy of the Charity Scheme, key policy documents and minutes from the Board Meetings and the Committees to introduce and explain their role and the full remit of the Charity.

Trustees and co-optees serve initially for a four-year term which may be extended for a further four-year term. Co-opted committee members bring particular skills and expertise to each committee and serve the same length of office as Trustees. The Charity Scheme provides for a minimum of 9 Trustees, to a maximum of 15 Trustees.

At their regular meetings (between 6-8 a year) the Trustees agree the broad strategy and areas of activity for the Charity, including consideration of grant making, investment, reserves and risk management policies and performance monitoring.

The day to day administration of grants and the processing and handling of applications prior to consideration by the relevant spending committee is delegated to the Director and the office team.

Assisting the Trustees, the Education, Finance & Investment, Grants and Property Committees meet at least quarterly.  Among other things these committees assess new grant applications, make recommendations for funding, oversee our property portfolio, and undertake strategic financial management.  The Sub Committees also consider the monitoring of information concerning the performance of grants to date, and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the extension, cessation or suspension of existing grant approvals. The sub committees have the power to co-opt additional advisers.

The Board remains grateful to Colin Craib for chairing the Finance and Investment Committee, Margaret Dangoor for chairing the Education Committee, Margaret Marshall for chairing the Grants Committee and Martin Taylor for chairing the Property Committee.

Fortunately the year just ended has seen a much lower level of retirement of Trustees or personnel. Councillor Marc Cranfield-Adams has completed his term as Mayor of the Borough; we thank him for his input to our discussions and welcome his successor, Councillor Helen Lee-Parsons . We also welcome Jonathan Brewer as a Trustee, having served as a co-opted member of the Education Committee for some three years.

At the time of writing this report we have just learnt of the death of Penny Wade who was a Trustee of RPLC for eight years and played a huge role with tenants and grant applicants. Penny Wade epitomised what is so great about this borough and some of its most distinguished residents. Through her energy and altruism she founded one of the borough’s most important charities, SPEAR, and worked tirelessly for others. RPLC is proud to continue its support for those charities.

The RPLC Director, Jonathan Monckton and our excellent team at Vestry House continue to bring real energy, enthusiasm and ideas to this charity which, with the commitment of the Trustees, gives us the confidence that we shall continue to fulfil those objects which King George III set for us in 1786.

Jeff Harris
Chairman, RPLC

© 2008 RPLC