Report to Wimbledon PCC on PCC business in 2022 – for APCM 2023
1. Scheme of PCC business
The PCC met in February, April, June, September and December. The PCC has operated since the 2022 Annual Parish Church Meeting (APCM) under a scheme of governance directly aligned with the Church Representation Rules published in 2020.
To make up the PCC each of the 4 churches may send 2 District Wardens and 2 Deanery Synod representatives. As well as this, one such representative (from St Mary’s) also serves on both Deanery and Diocesan Synods, thus the PCC has a lay voice at Diocesan level. In addition, there is a Treasurer, 2 Parish Church Wardens, all serving parish clergy (6), an Insurance Officer and a Secretary.  At the time of writing the PCC has 25 members.  The PCC is supported by sub-committees known as the Housing Committee and the Standing Committee. 
All members of the PCC are trustees of the Parish, which is registered with the Charity Commission. The PCC makes an annual return to the Charity Commission describing its aims and accounts. The Auditors and the Secretary are responsible for this. Any changes of membership must be notified immediately to the Commission. 
The PCC met on 5 occasions in 2022: in February, April, June, September and December.  Each meeting has common items as well as special areas of business. The common items are: reports from district church wardens; reports on safeguarding; reports on housing controlled by the Parish; and the financial health of the Parish. 
2. Report on the 5 meetings in 2022
At its February meeting it appointed Adrian Hodgson as Honorary Treasurer and at the meetings following, he gave an account of the financial position in the period preceding.  At that meeting it also approved the appointment of a Parish Operations Manager (POM) to succeed Jane Johnson, who had left. Initially the post was fixed term.
In April 2022 the PCC was addressed by the Auditors. Points requiring improvement were listed. These were described in the report published for the APCM. Churches and the Parish Office have worked together to address these. The April meeting also converted the POM post to a permanent role, supported by an assistant. The meeting also approved a policy covering compulsory jury service.
In June, following adoption by the APCM of the revised scheme of governance (see the Parish website), the PCC was led in discussions as to its detailed application by former PCC Secretary Wendy Ziegler. As well as this an important resolution was for the churches and Parish Office to share best practice on expenditure authorisation as the Audit had highlighted a need. Finally, to note: it was agreed to move to a new provider of payroll services.
The diocese asks each year for the Parish to agree what it should pay to the Parish Support Fund. This is the largest single outgoing in any year. At its September meeting the Parish pledged £403k. (In 2021 £384 was pledged.) 
As well as this, the PCC agreed to centralise the payroll function for efficiency using the new provider; and also agreed appropriate use of a legacy from the estate of Jean Robertson.
There was one more meeting in the calendar year, namely in December. In previous years this meeting might have been used to agree the following year’s budget. However, owing to escalating costs and uncertainties the PCC, advised by the Rector and Honorary Treasurer, agreed to mothball the proposed project to build two new parsonages and demolish the house in Arthur Road until times were more settled. (A fresh budget for 2023 was agreed when the PCC met in February 2023.)  
Two further items were brought to the PCC by its Insurance Officer. The first concerned raising awareness of fraud against churches and voluntary organisations and necessary counter-fraud measures. The second concerned how now the Parish can be considered as a single entity, which reduces insurances costs compared to a previous treatment by the insurers.
Finally, this meeting also instructed the Secretary and Rector to dispose of certain investments to ensure that there were always sufficient cash reserves accessible to the Parish Office to meet Parish obligations. This replaced a practice of informal intra-Parish short-term loans.
Sadly, the December meeting was the last where Adrian Hodgson acted as Parish Treasurer: promotion at work and moving to another county meant he could no longer serve. The PCC agreed that the role had by now become so demanding that it needed to be held by a paid office. Accordingly, the quest for such a person was agreed. (That person is now in post.)  
3. Safeguarding and PCC
A PCC is responsible for ensuring proper safeguarding measures are in place. Each church has its own Safeguarding Officers. These officers work tirelessly to promote a healthy understanding of safeguarding, steer volunteers through necessary procedures and keep policies accessible and visible for all. At each PCC meeting safeguarding is a compulsory point of discussion and information sharing. A number of points have been brought to its attention and a number have been raised swiftly with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. The PCC thanks its Safeguarding Officers for their vigilance and thoroughness. 
Two particular items where Officers have asked for PCC engagement are: 
•	Appointing an Officer to coordinate Safeguarding reporting, a role for which a job description and person specification document has been drawn up.
•	Ensuring all PCC members have the right up to date training.
In addition, the need is noted for a policy on rough sleeping in church grounds. (This particularly affects two churches, but quite likely to affect all four.) 

Charles Esdale
Secretary to PCC, Revised after PCC input, 5th May 2023

Wimbledon Parish Electoral Roll report to Wimbledon Parish 
APM 30th May 2023

Church	Reported to APCM 2023	Reported to APCM 2022	Reported to APCM 2021	Date provided to
Secretary	Source of data	
St John’s Church
	112	109	110	16th May 23	Jane Long	
St Mark’s Church
	127	121	117	7th May 23	Revd Clive Gardner	
St Mary’s Church
	547	516	506	17th May 23	Church notice board	
St Matthew’s Church
	152	155	149	17th May 23	Rachel Rowell	
Total	938	901	882			

C Esdale
Secretary to PCC, 17th May 2023