Desearialize an XML string

I have a windows service built with VS 2012 vb.net 4.0

I want to desterilize this xml string:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<response>
    <result numFound="96">
        <doc spendingCategory="Assistance">
            <record_count>2</record_count>
            <UniqueTransactionID>747cd6362dcfa5a2c1b2e49823b3fb5c</UniqueTransactionID>        </doc>
        <doc spendingCategory="Assistance">
            <record_count>3</record_count>
            <UniqueTransactionID>6dfae83f273289b0185ba25a821f7e27</UniqueTransactionID>        </doc>
        <doc spendingCategory="Assistance">
            <record_count>4</record_count>
            <UniqueTransactionID>3c713f5add6cc3b40042609a7ae5262c</UniqueTransactionID>        </doc>
    </result>
</response>


Into this structure:

Public Structure response
        Dim result As result
    End Structure
    Public Structure result
        Dim numFound As String
        Dim doc() As doc
    End Structure
    Public Structure doc
        Dim spendingCategory As String
        Dim record_count As String
        Dim UniqueTransactionID As String
    End Structure

using this code:


    Public Shared Sub DeSerialize_Response(ByVal sXML As String, ByRef oResponse As response)

        If String.IsNullOrEmpty(sXML) Then
            oResponse = Nothing
            Exit Sub
        End If

        Dim serializer As New Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer(GetType(Schedule))
        Dim settings As New XmlReaderSettings()

        Using textReader As New StringReader(sXML)
            Using xmlReader__1 As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(textReader, settings)
                oResponse = DirectCast(serializer.Deserialize(xmlReader__1), response)
            End Using
        End Using

    End Sub


I am getting this error:

{"There is an error in XML document (2, 2)."}  and this in innerEXCEPTION:

<response xmlns=''> was not expected.

Can you tell me what i'm doing wrong with either my structure or my code.
thanks.