The PCC as a charity George Colville Director of Finance Diocese of Chester

The PCC is a charity Excepted from registration In other respects just like a registered charity PCC members are charity trustees

PCC Governing Documents the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 the Church Representation Rules “promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical”

Charity law brief history -Statute of Elizabeth Charities Act Charities Act 2006

-Since 2006 Act -13 descriptions of charitable purposes -Some new ones -Public Benefit -Advancement of religion for the public benefit Charitable purposes

Charity’s Act 2006 So what has changed? For PCCs very little -Public benefit test -Thresholds/ Small trusts -Registration starts >£100k

Trusteeship Leaflet produced by Church and Charity Commission Ensure compliance Duty of Prudence Duty of Care

Report and Accounts Values of openness transparency and accountability Important to communicate with donors and community About 12,000 PCCs with aggregate annual income of over £0.75 billion.

Report and Accounts Accruals limit now £250,000 Audit £500,000 R&P accounts –Trustees Annual report –Independent examiners report –Receipts and Payment Account(s) –Statement of assets and liabilities

Funds Unrestricted, Restricted, Endowment Must comply with donor wishes Watch appeal literature New procedures for small/outdated

Internal Control “Church treasurer stole cash to treat husband” “Church's treasurer stole £88,000” “Treasurer stole from church and pre- school”

Internal Control Put in place standard controls –Dual cheque signatories –No blank cheques signed –Significant cash counted in presence of more than one person –Contracts signed by more than one person For protection of Treasurer/ Churchwardens as well as protection of PCC Look at Charity Commission Checklist CC8

Reserves Trustee duty to spend money given to them within a reasonable time Hold reserves only if in charity’s best interest –What For? How much? Reserve policy Charity Commission CC19

Don’t forget other law Health and Safety Employment law CRB If in doubt seek advice Practical Church Management James Behrens

Liability PCC members are entitled to meet the PCC’s liabilities out of its resources. Gross failure to act in accordance with their legal responsibilities as trustees Will probably find there is already some cover in PCC insurance policy

Private Benefit PCC members can receive payment for services provided to the PCC, if a certain procedure is followed. PCC members cannot become employees of the PCC unless the Charity Commission gives permission.

Trusteeship You can delegate tasks – not responsibility Take it seriously Act together and try to ensure decisions are taken as a body. Avoid dominant trustees, or leaving task to one of number. MOST IMPORTANTLY - Remember what the PCC is for

Public Benefit acts of public worship open to all provision of sacred space for personal reflection and contemplation

pastoral work, including visiting the sick and bereaved teaching Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups. Public Benefit

NOT Public Opinion 'Charitable status is not decided on the basis of popularity. I am well aware that, if we held a charity version of the X Factor, some of the most pioneering and innovative work done by charities would not necessarily be successful in winning the public vote.'

Remember it is the ADVANCEMENT of religion for the public benefit that is Charitable Public Benefit

Regulator, Registrar, Adviser To increase charities’ efficiency and effectiveness and public confidence and trust in them.

So how should we see the Charity Commission

Dame Suzi Leather Chair Charity Commission Church of England Newspaper “There are 25,000 charities on the register set up for the purpose of advancing religion, and they provide our communities with a wealth of charitable activity…

from counselling the bereaved and helping the homeless to providing places of worship and promoting ethical and moral codes.

The benefit delivered by these charities is the very stuff of charity and no regulator in its right mind would want to discourage this.”

So how should we see the Charity Commission Take them seriously BUT no need to fear if acting appropriately

Register of Charities Updates of Charity matters General advice -CC3 The Essential Trustee -CC8 Internal Controls -CC10 Hallmarks of an Effective Charity

Registration PCCs >£100k Others in future Building projects If limit is reduced Voluntary registration

1. Preparation - gathering the necessary data for registration 2. Opening a User Account 3. Entering details about your PCC, about what it does, and about the Trustees. 4. Checking that the data is correct, and then submitting it to the Charity Commission electronically. 5. Returning to the Commission a signed Trustee Declaration. Registration

Process overview Get Trustee Details sheets completed Preparation Complete and sign Trustee Declaration It is suggested that these are done at a PCC meeting with those PCC Members that are there – this will allow questions to be answered. Then follow up with PCC members who were not present. Complete OLAR process and submit to Commission Read through the Guide, print out Trustee details sheets, get the Accounts. Send Trustee Declaration with cover sheet

Registration Stick to standard wording Follow advice in the leaflet Legal advisers have checked Charity Commission have agreed Ring me or Nigel if questions

Registration What Changes? Not much Annual return Copy of accounts Quote registered charity number

Parish resources Website

Diocese of Chester