2022-12-31-accounts - The Alde And Ore Association

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THE ALDE & ORE ASSOCIATION

Your Voice – Your Estuary

THE THIRTY SECOND

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ALDE AND ORE ASSOCIATION

will be held on

Saturday 22nd April 2023 at 10.00am for 10.30am

at

THORPENESS COUNTRY CLUB, THE BENTHILLS, THORPENESS, IP16 4NU

Coffee and tea will be served from 10.00am

GUEST SPEAKERS ON

the newly released Alde and Ore Estuary Embankment Improvements project

Giles Bloomfield - East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board Jane Maxim - Alde and Ore Estuary Trust Frances Barnwell - The Alde and Ore Community Partnership

This will provide an opportunity for members to hear more about the project and to ask questions.

If you wish to attend, please let us know on info@aldeandore.org. This is not essential but will help ensure smooth arrangements.

The Association, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, exists to preserve for the public benefit the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers and their banks from Shingle Street to their tidal limits and such of the land adjoining them or upstream as may be considered to affect them, together with the features of beauty and or historic or public interest in that area .

Registered Charity No. 1154583

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association will be held on Saturday 22nd April 2023 at 10.30am at Thorpeness Country Club.

Coffee and tea will be served from 10.00am

AGENDA

Apologies
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the AGM held on 28th April 2022 by Zoom
Trustees Report for the year ended 31st December 2022
Accounts of the Association for the year ended 31st December 2022
Election of Trustees
a) The following Trustees are retiring:
- Kim Puttock
- Sholto Lindsay-Smith
b) The following Trustees are due to retire at the meeting and offer themselves for election:
- Keith Martin (re-elected 2019)
- Birgitta Bostrom (re-elected 2021)
The Way Ahead – Updating report from the trustees
Any other business

This will be followed by the presentation on the Upper Alde and Ore Estuary Embankment Improvements, the Phase 1 of this project that recently received funding approval and is now going ahead with grants of £11.941 million from government sources.

Note: Anyone wishing to become a Trustee or nominate a person is invited to get in touch with the Chairman, Alison Andrews (email: aldeblackburn@aol.com). Applications should be made initially to the Chairman who will be able to explain the work of the Committee and responsibilities of Trustees.

It is important to renew Trustee energy and interests whether in planning, marketing, website matters, newsletter publication, organising fun events, commenting on formative government and other policy consultations or a fresh approach. Please consider using your particular skills for the benefit of safeguarding the Alde and Ore estuary area and helping provide ways to enjoy it will be welcome. Terms of office run for three years and can be renewed.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 6pm on Thursday 28th April 2022 by Zoom

PRESENT: Committee: Alison Andrews (Chairman), Birgitta Bostrom (Treasurer), Kim Puttock (Honorary Secretary), Colin Chamberlain, Keith Martin, Roy Truman, Mark Goyder, Monica Allen and Sholto Lindsay-Smith Members: 32 members attended and 7 registered to join but were not seen. (List available from the Honorary Secretary) APOLOGIES: Simon Barrow, Frances and Rodney Charlesworth, Sue Cook, Chris Gill, Edward and Clare Gold, Mrs Haresnape, Peter Howard-Dobson, John Kerr, Charles and Nicky Manby, Julia Ransome and Mr Steve Stocks

1. MINUTES

The minutes of the previous AGM of the Alde and Ore Association held on Thursday 15th April 2021 by Zoom were approved.

2. TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2021

The Chairman read out her report and as members already had the Report for the year ending 31st December 2021, and the recently circulated Spring Newsletter, she spoke mostly about the recent three and a half months.

The big challenges last year were submitting views and facts to the two National Planning Inspectorate Hearings in relation to Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) plans to put up a massive electricity complex at Friston, with the wind farm cables coming from the coast through the fragile Thorpeness cliffs with underground cabling all the way to Friston. Very recently the Secretary of State approved the proposals despite the huge and very varied opposition challenging many aspects of the project. But this decision was being challenged using the judicial review process, with Suffolk Energy Action Solutions (SEAS) taking the lead. (For progress do follow the SEAS web site).

For the Sizewell C National Infrastructure Project, the Secretary of State had delegated the decision to one of the junior Ministers, which was to be made by 25 May, as he himself has been leading on the government policy to get a number of nuclear plants established. Nevertheless, the Ministers involved were still asking detailed questions so the decision might be delayed. These latest questions did not directly affect the Association’s concerns. Among the replies in relation to the Hard-Core Defence Front, it seemed the Environment Agency consider that there is no issue with building on a receding coastline with climate change bringing sea level rise. Meanwhile EDF were ploughing ahead seeking to get planning permission to undertake trials to ascertain whether the underlying marshy ground could be modified to provide a stable base for the twin reactors. If it all went ahead, the Association now and indeed in 50 years or more time would need to consider monitoring the impact on the coastline once the plant is built.

She was sorry to report that remarkably little has happened since last year’s report on waiting to hear whether the Environment Agency (EA) would approve the plan for refurbishing the estuary river defences. A lot had been going on to update the Business Case for the work, including fitting in a government required project on updating sluices at the same time. To get a breakthrough in the decision-making, an approach to detach the Plan from the EA investigation into the clay deposited at Iken might prove a way forward but in case it did not, the Alde and Ore Community Partnership was working on a strong letter about the community’s massive concern that the public interest was being ignored which will be signed by all those represented on the AOCP including the Association: the hope was that a strongly worded letter with many leading organisations involved in the partnership as signatories would carry more weight than the many individual approaches made to date at all levels within EA and by our MP and others.

On a far more cheerful note, she was pleased to report that the Butley Ferry and all its jetties, steps and hut were in sparkling condition when it opened for the season on Easter Saturday. On that day the Deputy Sheriff, Judith Shallow, came over on the ferry and handed over the special Queen’s Award for Volunteers Flag, the great honour awarded to the Ferry last year. The flag now flies proudly above the ferry’s own flag on the Capel bank when the ferry is operating.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 6pm on Thursday 28th April 2022 by Zoom

Two new ferrymen have already started their apprenticeship this season, joining the splendid ferry team in their work. She was delighted too to report that, with hopefully the country turning the corner on Covid, the Association already had a guided walk planned with the RSPB at their Hollesley Reserve on 13th May and all members who allowed us to send them emails would have heard about it by now. If members wanted to know more, please email: info@aldeandore.org.

Plans were well in hand for an Annual Barbecue which was to be held on Sunday 31st July on the riverbank below Blackheath House, with many thanks to Sir Michael and Lady Hopkins. A new volunteer to be the Barbecue Maestro was really needed but having failed to find anyone, Trustees were pulling together with Colin Chamberlain to make sure that it would be a success. Details to be emailed out and put on the web site shortly.

She also wished for a volunteer to organise a September walk to some treasured part of the Alde, Ore and Butley Rivers. A passing thought, as a body concerned with preserving and protecting an amazing landscape, and being situated on a coast with a rising sea level, were there more members who would like the Association to do more to help address challenging climate change - but time for members to respond to that thought was Agenda Item 6 on The Way Ahead when members would hear about the Trustees thinking on reinvigorating and broadening the reach of the Association to do its much needed work.

The Chairman extended very many thanks to all the Trustees for the time and energy they had put in over the last year, and to the two co-opted trustees it was hoped would be elected as full Trustees later in the meeting.

She also thanked the many members who had expressed their kind words about the two recent splendid editions of the Newsletter, using recycled paper only, which Monica Allen has masterminded.

3. ACCOUNTS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2021

Birgitta Bostrom, Treasurer, presented the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2021. She reported that the accounts were similar to the previous year because it had been a very quiet year with far less of the normal activities taking place because of Covid restrictions. Birgitta explained that the Trustees decided not to have the accounts audited this year and would instead look to have the accounts examined every 2 years. It was noted that the income levels had been low and so it was not a legal requirement to have the accounts examined.

She went on to outline the key points of the accounts set out in the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts. Total income for the year ending 31 December 2021 was £15,647 compared with £16,770 previous year. Expenditure was £15,506 compared to £7,316 year before a net income for the year of £141. Total funds at the end of 2021 stood at £706,779. These funds were held to be spent on the estuary repairs but as was known, the repair project was still delayed.

Both membership and gift aid income were very similar to 2020, plus a kind donation of £2000. The Butley Ferry ran from April through to October 2021 and raised a record level of income of £3,868 compared to £1,787 the previous year.

On expenditure, the ferry expenses for the year stood at £3,485, compared with £885 in 2020 because of necessary renovations. The other major expenditure for the year was the biannual newsletter which increased from £4,467 in 2020 to £5,070 because of increased printing costs. The Association added a new activity in 2021, a Photography Competition, which was very well received. The prizes amounted to £1,202. Another larger expenditure for the Association was a grant of £2,500 contributing to an independent report on the potential impact on the coastline of Sizewell C. Finally, there was a cost under Governance of £1,901 which related to the hiring of a consultant and a room for the Trustees to provide the opportunity to think strategically about the future of the Association.

There were no questions on the Accounts.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 6pm on Thursday 28th April 2022 by Zoom

4. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

This part of the agenda fell in to three parts.

Firstly, the constitution provided that one third of serving trustees should retire by rotation but may offer themselves for re-election. This year as it was the turn of Alison Andrews and Colin Chamberlain, the Chair handed over to the Honorary Secretary to facilitate the re-election of these 2 trustees.

The Honorary Secretary addressed the meeting and advised that the committee would like to propose that both Alison Andrews and Colin Chamberlain be re-elected. Richard Marson seconded the proposal, and all voted in favour. The Honorary Secretary, handed the proceedings back to the Chair.

Secondly, the Chairman was delighted to introduce two new trustees whom the other Trustees co-opted pending election at the AGM. The current Trustees were very pleased that after a short time on the Committee, they both wished to join as Trustees. Short relevant biographies were set out on the agenda but briefly:

Monica Allen, the newsletter editor and who had more than proved her value in her creativity, reliability, and as a contributor of sound advice, and

Sholto Lindsay-Smith, who had been invaluable in helping get a handle on the way ahead and brought with him very constructive and positive thinking.

The two new Trustee appointments were proposed by the Committee and seconded by Lydia Freeman. All voted in favour.

5. THE WAY AHEAD

The Trustees gave a presentation to the meeting setting out the development of their thinking on how The Association might re-energise its work and the love for the Alde and Ore, seeking to ensure it remained a North Sea Gem for future generations, and to broaden its membership to everyone who lived in and enjoyed the area. Their work had culminated in two away- days focussing on essential tasks and messages.

The trustees had concluded that without the Association there would be no ginger group to look out for the area as a whole, keeping an eye on issues, looking to future trends, developments or policies that might affect it, and drawing together concerns. The Association’s strength comes from a coherent approach backed by a substantial membership.

Each trustee described the several roles the Association played. Monitoring planning applications had been the prime foundation stone of the Association: it still was with a weekly review of planning applications and investigations where concerns might arise. Trustees had to work quickly, given the tight windows for comment and liaised with other interested bodies, given the strength of working in numbers. A few recent examples were given of steps taken to preserve the area from inappropriate developments and where constructive suggestions had been made. For many, the ferry, it was often the first contact people had with the Association. Questions about the ferry and the rivers provided the opportunity to explain the role of the Association and the need to monitor and protect this unique environment. The ferry also provided an opportunity to establish and continue strong links with the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the local landowners and, through its unique position, helped to promote the responsible use of the area through cooperation and education.

The twice yearly newsletter, which had recently been increased in size to cover more of the many amazing aspects of the Rivers Alde and Ore, sought to provide information on what the Association has been doing, and will be doing, to fulfil its aims, giving a broader picture of what the Association is about and included articles on different aspects of the area – from wildlife and the natural world, arts and crafts, those who make their living on and around the rivers, to challenges that have to be countered, aiming to engage members with what the area both offers and needs. All

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 6pm on Thursday 28th April 2022 by Zoom

aspects that fitted well with a biennial and more lasting format, but Trustees recognised that it needed supplementing by more immediate communications whilst not overloading members with too much information.

The Trustees had sought to briefly encapsulate the concept of the Association’s role, from its lengthy description in its charitable object set out in the Constitution and decided on ‘ To take care of our rivers and landscape today and tomorrow’ . Each word counted for a particular idea - ‘take care’ was the prime duty and could be expressed as stewardship or guardianship, ‘rivers and landscape’ encompassed the whole estuary area, the rivers and surrounding landscape, and what it means for people who live or visit here, while ‘today and tomorrow’ emphasised the constant and continuing task the Association was responsible for now and for future generations.

The Trustees had addressed the issue of identity. They very much recognised that people might be confused between the Alde and Ore Community Partnership, the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust and the Alde and Ore Association. These bodies are all important. They have different roles, but all share the same objective to safeguard the area, whether with the wide remit of the Association, the focussed river defences plan for the Partnership or the Trust’s key role in securing the finance for the implementation of the Plan including raising the money needed to make up what cannot be supplied by government. Communicating the Association’s unique role, and collaborating with others who have different, but complementary roles, was vital. The Trustees recognised that more had to be done on communicating how we work together and understanding each other in the interests of the place we all live and want to promote and protect.

The Trustees had also devoted some time on values and the approach to the Association’s work and considered the way forward was to be well informed, be clear and consistent in our advocacy, be a good partner – reach out; listen; explore common causes, be lively and constructive, communicate opportunities as well as threats , thereby earning the increased support and engagement of our members and recognising that our differences are our strengths. To undertake this work effectively the body of Trustees, each of whom take specific roles, needed to be increased with another to take the role on outreach and one on marketing and communications. Towards widening the Association’s reach, the Trustees thought that there should be a new drive to secure outreach to other organisations on issues where there were shared interests. This had been done as issues arose, but it was thought that a more structured and regular pattern of contact would be beneficial to all the causes being promoted.

The marketing communications role was needed to strengthen the Association’s position as the recognised and authoritative voice for the river and landscape. The Association’s work and role needed to be more high profile, highlighting all the practical work it was doing, working with other organisations on areas of common interest, continuing to campaign vociferously for effective river and sea defences and monitoring for and raising awareness of the threats to our rivers and landscapes. Second, the Association should broaden its reach: reaching out to everyone in our community, and engaging the next generation, encouraging, and supporting the economy and activities on and around the river in ways which are in harmony with nature. To achieve these goals, the Association must have a strong voice and a strong membership base. It is the membership base that gives it a powerful hand when making representations to government, campaigning for change, or putting a stop to potentially damaging or detrimental developments. To achieve these aims, a marketing approach can help us strengthen our position and broaden our reach, and it can help recruit more people to the cause.

Over the coming months, the plan was, resources permitting, to develop new ways to communicate and expand our reach through social media, using things like video to help tell our story. Next, to seek to engage members in more active two-way communication using email and online polls, to make sure we are representing members concerns and using our members as eyes and ears to alert us to new issues: to expand our recruitment activity and to streamline joining processes. That was quite a big undertaking, and the Trustees would be looking for help, both additional trustees and help on particular tasks.

The Chairman concluded that the help the Association needed included members’ ideas on how to ensure the Association is seen and used as an essential voice for the area, a new trustee to focus on looking after the membership, one or more volunteers (who might also become a trustee) – to lead on social events, and local champions willing to make AOA relevant to their particular town or parish and more. She asked what members thought the Association

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 6pm on Thursday 28th April 2022 by Zoom

should try to do or, do more of. In all of this the Trustees looked to members for support to help ensure everyone helped take care of the Alde and Ore Estuary.

Questions/Feedback

Robert Farquarson started by congratulating everyone on a fantastic organisation and said the recent newsletter was very impressive. Robert went on to explain that the one thing that has really concerned him in all of the effort to preserve the beauty of our landscape, and particularly in relation to coming up with solutions for the flooding issues, is that there may be confusion about the different identities and roles of the Alde and Ore Association and the other major charitable bodies involved raising money. Robert explained that he felt there seemed to be a huge overlap between these two organisations (The Alde and Ore Association and the Alde and ore Estuary Trust) which are essentially focusing on one of the most important parts of preserving our beautiful landscape and river heritage. He went on to say that he was very encouraged that Mark has been entrusted to take on the role of building bridges with the other entities involved with what is a common purpose. Robert felt there needed to be a lot more thought about how that involvement can actually grow given that there appeared to be overlapping and often confused messages given to those getting involved in supporting the fantastic work of the Alde and Ore Association, and in supporting the money raising work of the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust.

The Chair thanked Robert and confirmed that although there were three Alde and Ore bodies, they each did different things. She acknowledged that in an ideal world it looked as if all three organisations (The Alde and Ore Association, The Alde and Ore Community Partnership and the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust) might be put in one group, but unfortunately it wasn’t as clear cut as that because they have very different functions and different memberships. She agreed the need to do a much better job at explaining who's doing what and how the sum of the work of the three organisations made an even greater whole. With the three organisations working together there should be a much more powerful collective impact looking after the estuary. The Chair offered to meet with Robert to discuss how the Association might communicate better how all three organisations work and link together.

George Theo asked how many members does the Association have? The Chair indicated that the number was approximately 2,000. This was made up of some members who had a membership directly with the Association and others who are members as a result of their Aldeburgh Yacht Club membership. George went on to say that he shared Robert’s confusion about the Association and the Trust and asked how many members the Chair thought the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust had. The Chair confirmed that the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust had no members being a charitable body with 4 trustees and no members. The Alde and Ore Estuary Trust was established to raise money to ensure the river walls are built covering the shortfall from the Government’s contribution and to make sure that the work completed was acceptable before signing off and payment is made by the Internal Drainage Board. The Trust acts like a treasury and is the fundraising body. George added that the whole question of the marketing, identifying audiences and making sure that people understood the differences was the first and most critical thing to do: he gave the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust Instagram page as an example which has over 1,000 followers, but it was not clear who the organisation was for. The Chair acknowledged the point that George was making and would work with Mark Goyder to take this forward.

Sue Wallace-Shaddad enquired as to whether the Association had a lot of sailors who are members as she thought this would have been a prime area to get support. Sue asked if the Association was interested in the cultural aspects of the estuary: as the secretary of the Suffolk Poetry Society, she wrote poetry and offered to provide poems for the newsletter written either by herself or her contacts. Sue wondered if the Association had a cultural aspect to what it was looking at in terms of attracting new members. Sue added that she was a new trustee of the Ipswich Arts Association, which wouldn’t necessarily be the right fit but it could potentially be used to help spread the word of what the Association does via them. The Chair confirmed that with she with Monica and Mark Goyder would make arrangements to discuss this further with Sue.

Robert Farquarson mentioned an idea for attracting members that the many keen cyclists in the area that could be targeted, given the new electrical bike rental system operating and Robert felt this would be a good opportunity to market both that business as well as awareness of the Association. The Chair acknowledged this idea and added that

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 6pm on Thursday 28th April 2022 by Zoom

the leaflet used by the Butley Ferry promoted several bike routes and that this idea will be added to the other ideas that had been raised during the meeting.

Lydia Freeman drew attention to the link between the Aldeburgh Yacht Club and the local schools and felt that it was the grassroots of the local state schools that we really wanted to reach. Nicky Manby had given a talk in each of the local schools in 2021, and Lydia said that she felt that the talks needed to be followed up regularly by arranging, say, drawing or photo competitions, and the children taken to a place where they would understand why we want to love and look after the river. Birgitta agreed and emphasised the importance of finding ways to get children involved and deal with problems, which Lydia confirmed, such as the Health and Safety and Safeguarding challenges that would arise with such an initiative. The Chair thanked Lydia for the idea and feedback.

The Chairman confirmed James Powell’s understanding that the Aldeburgh Yacht Club paid a lump sum of money on behalf of its members to the Alde and Ore Association. James Powell was worried that this let a lot of the Aldeburgh Yacht Club members off the hook. The Chair confirmed that the Association wanted to work closer with the Aldeburgh Yacht Club to strengthen the link between them. James then said he felt that there were two points that needed to be addressed: the first was to ensure that all Aldeburgh Yacht Club members were aware of the whole issue of the fundraising and the issue with repairing the banks as there has been no recent communications in this regard and he was confident that if he asked most of the members, they wouldn't understand the structure and they wouldn't be aware of where we were with the river banks. He felt that it needed to be made crystal clear that fundraising was required and if it wasn’t that the riverbanks are not going to be there. Secondly, he felt that the Aldeburgh Yacht Club members should be members of the Alde and Ore Association in years to come in their own right. He suggested getting information into the Aldeburgh Yacht Club newsletter to reduce any confusion that has arisen.

James also asked for clarification on the need to have the accounts audited. Birgitta Bostrom, Treasurer, confirmed that sometime ago the Association had received a large bequest which meant that the accounts exceeded the threshold above which the accounts had to be audited. This had been done for the last couple of years, however, trustees have recognised that the accounts are very straightforward and so the Association will now be getting them examined only every other year. Birgitta confirmed that the Association was charged a nominal fee of £250 for the audit.

The Chair acknowledged that all the very helpful feedback supported the need for the Association to link with the community and she confirmed that the Association would take this forward. The Trustees would take away all the points raised, and all attendees were encouraged to send any further thoughts, to the Trustees or to give one of them a call.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

No other business was raised.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and invited members to write in separately to raise any points of concern or with suggestions, and she hoped that next year, we could look with confidence to returning to an in-person AGM.

Before the meeting closed, Colin Chamberlain, Trustee added that on behalf of all the trustees and the members he wished to give the Chairman a vote of thanks for the fantastic leadership she has shown in the last year and for the incredible technical expertise. It has been a huge asset. The vote of thanks was supported by all participants at the AGM.

THE ALDE & ORE ASSOCIATION

Your Voice – Your Estuary

The Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts

for the year to 31st December 2022

Registered Charity No. 1154583

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Report of the Trustees

The Trustees present their Report and the Accounts of the Charity for the year to 31st December 2022.

A. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

The Alde and Ore Association Charity Registration No 1154583

Correspondence Address

19 Lee Road, Aldeburgh, IP15 5HG

Email address

info@aldeandore.org

Names of Charity Trustees

THE COMMITTEE at 31st December 2022

Officers Alison Andrews Chairman Birgitta Bostrom Treasurer Kim Puttock Honorary Secretary (until 1st December 2022), Membership Secretary & Webmaster

Other Trustees

Colin Chamberlain Legal Adviser Mark Goyder Outreach Keith Martin Planning, SCAR Roy Truman Butley Ferry Sholto Lindsay-Smith Marketing Monica Allen Newsletter Editor Co-opted members River Defence Convener Roger Baxter

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

B. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The Alde and Ore Association (The Association) was founded in 1991. On 1st January 2014, the charitable status was changed to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which assumed all the assets and liabilities of The Association.

Organisational structure

The Charity Trustees constitute a committee which manages the affairs of the CIO and for that purpose exercises the powers of the CIO.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting of The Association, in accordance with Clause 13 of the Constitution. One third of the Trustees must retire each year but are eligible for re-election, those to retire being the ones who have been longest in office.

C. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives

The objects of The Association are to preserve and protect for the public benefit the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers and their banks from Shingle Street to their tidal limits and such of the land adjoining them or upstream as may be considered to affect them together with the features of beauty and historic or public interest in the area.

We confirm that the Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

Activities

The main activities undertaken towards achieving The Association’s objectives during the year have been to:

continue to help to ensure that river defences are upgraded in order to sustain the Alde and Ore and Butley rivers within their landscape to safeguard all the activities, places of interest and wildlife habitats contained within this unique area. This includes very active participation in the work of The Alde and Ore Community Partnership (AOCP).
work to safeguard the estuary by commenting on planning developments or other proposals which might either detract from or enhance the area.
assess, photograph and report on the state of the river walls. This has been done through The Association’s River Defence Committee.
provide activities to encourage enjoyment or use of the area through the provision of the Butley Ferry. Other activities including organised walks and the annual barbecue .
consider initiatives and support research relating to projects dealing with the river defences and the natural landscape.
promote communication with members: two Newsletters have been published and circulated to members and members are kept up to date by emails and through the website.
work on encouraging a broader membership and, critically, the recruitment of new trustees and volunteers.

Contributions

The Association was delighted to receive a final and unexpected share from the David Andren Estate of £1451.27: this has been placed with the original bequest to go towards river defences on the Orford area.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

D. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Being able to meet again in person with members on walks and at the Annual Barbecue was a positive development after all the Covid period of restrictions. The Butley Ferry had another successful season, flying the new Queens Award flag and bringing in some new recruits. A good number of planning applications were investigated, and sound comments and objections made. Work on challenging energy company projects where the coastline and so the interests of the river’s sea boundaries might be affected was continued when opportunity arose. The Association also continued to actively support the pressure to get the Alde and Ore Estuary Plan finally approved and implemented. Work on widening membership and making The Association’s purpose and activities more widely known was developed and a recruitment flyer circulated.

The role of The Association

The Trustees continued to meet regularly, both in person and by Zoom. The Association continued to work to achieve its aim to preserve the rivers and adjoining land which may affect the estuary for the public benefit. The Association seeks to keep track of proposals and ideas which may affect the estuary and its banks either positively or adversely, and to act in the interest of the continued life of the estuary. It provides a voice on the Alde and Ore Community Partnership (AOCP) and seeks to inform members of matters affecting the estuary overall. The Association has over the years, in carrying its work to take care of the rivers and surrounding landscape, contributed significantly to the preservation, protection and enjoyment of the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers area.

But the estuary needs the support and involvement of all who live and work in and visit the area, now more than ever.

Working with the Alde and Ore Community Partnership on the river defences

The Association continued to work with and support the Alde and Ore Community Partnership (AOCP): AOCP action was limited both by COVID-19 restrictions and a delay in the official approval of the main estuary project to construct sustainable defences caused, not by the project itself, which passed technical approval, but because of a perceived link with deposits of clay at Iken which have been under legal investigation since 2018. This link was eventually withdrawn in autumn 2022, allowing the project, which had been updated in the meantime, to go forward for approval and accompanying grant aid.

As background, if the estuary river walls are not improved, then they will eventually fail with serious consequences for life in, on and around the estuary. The AOCP is the guardian of the Alde and Ore Estuary Plan strategy and is the main body to ensure good communication throughout out the estuary about the progress of plans; the East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board carries the responsibility of implementing the construction of the defences, the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust is responsible as the treasury of the Estuary for raising funds to contribute to cost of the defence works and ensuring that they are effectively spent.

The AOCP involves the whole of the estuary community having representatives from all parishes bordering the estuary, one county and two district councillors, and representative from each of the business sector, the local IDB Board and The Association, the only body covering all parts of the estuary. The Association continues to be an active member of the Partnership to ensure that it works well in the interests of the wellbeing of the estuary and its use.

The Association continued to report directly to the Environment Agency on the state of the river walls and the shingle wall south of Martello Tower in Aldeburgh. The Environment Agency are monitoring the river walls and coast carefully but have said they appreciate the regular local updates.

The Association has sought to keep members informed about the estuary plans through its Newsletters and emails to those members who have given permission to receive them from the Association. The Association places great store on its communications about the Estuary and regards it as important that members can obtain a good understanding of the area and progress being made.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Protection of the landscape

Part of The Association’s role is to protect the landscape surrounding the estuary and we continue to monitor planning applications on a more or less weekly basis. During this last year two in particular, one in Iken and another at Gedgrave, have given cause for concern. Both remain outstanding at the time of writing and involve the redevelopment of small cottages in the AONB and very significant enlargement together with the introduction of extensive glazing. Large areas of glazing increase light pollution in a damaging way and are detrimental for wildlife. The new Suffolk Coastal Local Plan has policies to control this and we hope to see a modification of the proposals.

The Association is fully supporting a members’ led initiative to monitor the quality of the water in the Alde. Bobby Rusack and Miv Hall began with careful planning started earlier in the year and learning from the work being undertaken in the Deben Estuary and involvement of Suffolk University. By the end of the year some ten volunteers were undertaking weekly sampling at different points in the Alde and Ore Rivers and the samples being tested at one member’s home using equipment kindly funded by Suffolk County Councillors, Andrew Reid and T-J Howarth-Culf. from their local budgets. The project is to run for one year and whether monitoring will be continued or renewed in a few years’ time depends on results. Such initiatives to help secure the well-being of the estuary and people’s enjoyment are very much welcomed.

The Association continued to participate actively wherever possible in local activities challenging the potential damage to the fragile but dynamically eroding coast and so possibly impact on Orfordness and the river, where opportunities arose. The Secretary of State granted development consent for the Sizewell C project in July but there remain a good number of aspects to be worked out and solutions approved before the project can go ahead including finance, the provision of water and the exact nature of what the grounds works (ground anchor trials) should be. Both the Scottish Power Renewables project, which was granted development consent in March 2022, and Sizewell C were still being challenged by the Judicial Review procedure during the year with results likely in 2023.

The Association participated actively in pre statutory consultations about two further new power company projects (Sea Link and EuroLink) to bring electricity to the fragile Suffolk coast, including confirming that one possible route through the estuary had rightly been set aside because of the potentially hugely damaging impact on the environment and possibly sea and river defences. These projects would be in addition to Nautilus which was consulted on at the end of 2021 and Scottish Power Renewables.

River Defence Committee

The River Defence Team, under the direction of Roger Baxter, conducted its annual survey of the state of the river walls of some 44 km and completed reports were submitted to the Environment Agency, which expressed appreciation for the information. During the year, the Environment Agency undertook repairs to identified places needing attention in two sections of the walls, at Snape and the Aldeburgh Marshes.

We are extremely grateful to the twenty or so volunteers for their commitment in time and effort in producing the reports which provide a running benchmark of the state of the walls and provide early warning of when repairs are needed.

Enjoyment of the area

In 2022 the Association was at last able to hold two walks, with thanks to the RSPB at their reserves at Hollesley and Snape Wetland. A very successful barbecue was held, with many thanks to Sir Michael and Lady Hopkins, on the edge of the estuary below Blackheath House: some 130 members attended and enjoyed the amazing views across to Yarn Hill and Iken. Further, the provision of the hog roast at cost by Salter and King and the silent bidding auction of a very limited edition of a picture map of the Sailors Path kindly provided by the artist, John Dunthorne, enabled the Association to donate £1100 to the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust’s funds for the improvement of the river defence walls.

While expected the news from the Government on the outcome of the plans for the England Coastal Path around the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers, had not emerged by the end of 2022. It is thought likely that there will be some new paths around the Butley river.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

The Butley Ferry

A slightly less busy season compared with the previous year. May was the busiest month with June, July and August being similar to post covid times. Just over 1000 passengers used the ferry with 417 of those being cyclists. Income of just under £3,000 was the second highest but well below the previous season. At the annual “Ferryman’s Lunch”, Johnny Bevan was awarded his 15 years of service certificate, making him one of only three Ferryman to achieve this distinction with plenty of good years still in the tank! Matthew Hunnybun was awarded ‘Ferryman of the Year’ for managing to be the ferryman on duty on most of the busiest days of the year.

The ferry boat itself started showing its age (probably about 50 years old) and a number of structural issues helped the decision that it needed some special attention. With the help of substantial grant aid from the Suffolk Coast and Heath AONB, the boat went to Brian Upson’s boatyard at the end of the ferry season to spend the winter undergoing a thorough refit. The boat is now ready for launching, looking fantastic, and ready for the next 50 years. Our thanks go to Brian and his team for an excellent job.

Research commissioned

Although no new work was commissioned research work previously commissioned by The Association continued to be useful to the work of The Association: in particular Professor Pye’s work on the shingle shoreline south of the Aldeburgh Martello Tower where the haul road constructed in 1968 for access to Cobra Mist Site has been worn away but the wide angled and sloping beach still affords protection.

Ideas for an updated wildlife survey of the estuary and the third 10 yearly economic survey of the Estuary area began to be considered.

Communication with members

The Annual General Meeting was held on Zoom on Thursday 29 April 2022, because at the time the arrangements for it had to be made, there was still a possibility of Covid rules preventing meetings in person. Some 49 members registered to attend. The main theme of the AGM was a presentation by all Trustees on how, once covid restrictions were lifted, they saw the activities of The Association taking care of the rivers and surrounding landscape could be achieved and a wider membership engagement to secure this.

In the two Newsletters, both following the larger size set for the 30th anniversary edition which members had much appreciated, photographs from The Association’s 2021 photography competition and other photographs taken by members during the year were shown. The Newsletters, as always, featured news and aspects of the area’s history from the Upper Alde to Shingle Street. The Newsletters have in both 2022 editions been produced on recycled paper, the modest extra cost being considered worthwhile in the interests of the environment.

A new marketing flyer featuring, for the first time, a headline list of all The Association does and the new map of the estuary area was given out to members of the public at the ferry and via a holiday firm. Further, all members received a copy with the request that they passed it on to potential members.

The website was kept up to date with links to organisations with shared interests. Walks booklets continued to be sold.

In a special leaflet inserted in the Newsletter, Members were encouraged to provide email addresses and to give permission for their use so as to ensure timely and much less costly circulation of matters affecting the estuary area. Where permission is not given those members receive only the main printed distributions of Newsletters and Annual General Meeting documents but not updating emails with news and walks.

There was no annual talk given after the AGM, on a subject relevant to the estuary: it was decided that this would be revived when meetings in person could be safely restored.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

The Trustees work on promotion of The Association

After the successful presentation of the Trustees work on renewing the Association’s role and engaging more members after the two years of very restricted activity, the Trustees worked further on the plans to refresh the several roles of The Association and consider how to broaden the appeal of The Association reaching out to a wider membership, encouraging a more engaged and vibrant relationship with members, and strengthening its voice to protect the rivers and support enjoyment of them.

With a view to reconnecting with members and finding out what they would like, a survey, to be launched in 2023, was developed. Action started on reaching out to other organisations in the area where there are common interests or issues arise of common cause, to provide a basis for regular interaction so that whenever common issues arise the connections are already in place: this work will roll out over time.

E. FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Association has a Reserves Policy of building its reserves without significant increases in membership fees whilst continuing to maintain existing services to members.

The Association’s main source of income is its membership fees (there are currently over 2,000 members in total, including members enrolled by reason of their membership of the Aldeburgh Yacht Club).

The Association expects to have to use its reserves to employ consultants, advisers and possibly even contractors to ensure the objectives of The Association in preserving the Alde and Ore Estuary for the benefit of the public are met. The Association might also give grants to other charitable organisations in order to achieve its aims.

Both unrestricted as well as restricted reserves of The Association are currently held in savings deposit accounts with CCLA and current accounts at Barclays Bank.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

Members of The Association’s Committee are responsible for preparing the Charity’s annual report and financial statements in accordance with the law applicable to charities and UK Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law requires that the report and financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP);
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and
prepare the financial statements on a ‘going concern’ basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees, for the purposes of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report, are set out on page 1.

Approved by the Trustees on 6th February 2023

……………………………

Lady Andrews, OBE Chair of the Trustees

www.aldeandore.org

To reduce our postage expenses, this is updated with current news, Association events, AGM minutes and reports. We welcome comments and ideas.

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Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Statement of financial activities for the year ending 31st December 2022

For general comments see Note 1. Notes Income 2 Membership fees and donations Other Trading Activities Investment income Total Income Expenditure 3 Raising funds Charitable activities Total Expenditure Net income/(expenditure) Reconciliation of funds: Fund balances brought forward Net movement in funds Fund balances carried forward	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2022* *Total funds* £ *2021* *Total funds* £ 11,625 1,451 13,076 10,379 7,039 - 7,039 3,878 846 7,431 8,277 1,390
	19,510 8,882 28,392 15,647
	4,169 - 4,169 3,485 10,762 - 10,762 12,021
	14,931 - 14,931 15,506

	4,579 8,882 13,461 141
	75,236 631,543 706,779 706,638 4,579 8,882 13,461 141
	79,815 640,425 720,240 706,779

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Balance sheet as at 31st December 2022

Notes Fixed Assets Tangible assets Intangible assets Investments Total Fixed Assets Current Assets Stocks Debtors - Interest earned Refund Royal Mail Cash at bank and in hand Total Current Assets Liabilities and Credits Due in less than a year 4 Net Assets	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2022* *Total funds* £ *2021* *Total funds* £ - - - - - - - - - - - -
	- - - -
	- - - - 173 1,627 1,800 17 1,521 - 1,521 - 78,671 638,798 717,469 706,538
	80,365 640,425 720,790 706,555
	550 - 550 (224)
	79,815 640,425 720,240 706,779

Approved by the Trustees on 6th February 2023

…………………………… …………

Lady Andrews, OBE Chair of the Trustees

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

The notes on pages 10 to 13 form part of these financial statements

1. Accounting Policies

Basis for preparing the financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

In preparing the accounts, the trustees have considered whether in applying the accounting policies required by FRS 102 and the Charities SORP FRS 102 a restatement of comparative items was needed. No restatements were required.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The Trustees have assessed that the charity is a going concern and that the accounts can be prepared on that basis. The Trustees have also given consideration to post balance sheet events and consider that the charity has sufficient reserved to be able to meet the planned expenditure and continue its activities throughout the next twelve months.

Fund accounting

The Charity has restricted income funds to account for situations where a donor requires that a donation must be spent on a particular purpose, or where funds have been raised for a particular purpose. All other funds are unrestricted.

Incoming resources

Annual memberships are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. Memberships received in advance are deferred and included in creditors.

Legacies and donations are recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received, and the monetary value of grants can be measured with sufficient reliability. Legacies can be categorised as either pecuniary (specific cash amount) or residuary (share of an estate). Pecuniary legacies are recognised as receivable once probate has been granted and notification has been received. Residuary legacies are recognised as receivable once probate has been granted and where they can be measured reliably.

Income from sales of publications is recognised as earned as the related goods are provided.

Investment income is credited to income on the accrual’s basis, with daily accrual of interest calculated by reference to the distribution dates.

Resources Expended

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Taxation

The Association is a registered charity, so there is no charge for taxation.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Notes to the accounts (continued)

2. Income Income from membership fees and donations Membership fees Membership fees from Aldeburgh Yacht Club Gift Aid Refund Donations and legacies Government Grants Total income from membership fees and donations Income from other trading activities BBQ Walks Butley Ferry Sales of publications/DVDs Total income from other trading activities Income from investments Interest on cash deposits Total income from investments Total income	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2022* *Total funds* £ *2021* *Total funds* £ 5,275 - 5,275 6,321 3,303 -3,303 2,766 1,171 - 1,171 1,242 1,100 1,451 2,551 50 776 - 776
	11,625 1,451 13,076 10,379
	3,420 - 3,420 - 530 - 530 - 2,994 - 2,994 3,868 95 - 95 10
	7,039 - 7,039 3,878
	846 7,431 8,277 1,390
	846 7,431 8,277 1,390

	19,510 8,882 28,392 15,647

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Notes to the accounts (continued)

3. Expenditure Cost of raising funds BBQ Walks Butley Ferry Total cost of raising funds Cost of Charitable Activities Newsletter Website costs Postage/Stationary Miscellaneous (photography competition) Water Testing Program Donations and grants by A&O AGM Independent Examination of Accounts Insurance Governance Total cost of charitable activities Total expenditure	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2022* *Total funds* £ *2021* *Total funds* £ 2,085 - 2,085 - 100 - 100 - 1,984 - 1,984 3,485
	4,169 - 4,169 3,485
	5436 - 5436 5,070 78 - 78 76 8 - 8 48 486 - 486 1,202 399 - 399 - 1,450 - 1,450 2,500 2,013 - 2,013 787 450 - 450 - 442 - 442 437 - - 1,901
	10,762 - 10,762 12,021

	14,931 - 14,931 15,506

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022

Notes to the accounts (continued)

4. Liabilities

4. Liabilities
	*At 31st*
	*December 2022*
	£
Liabilities
RSPB cheque unclaimed	(100)
Examination of accounts	(450)
Total Liabilities	(550)

5. Funds

5. Funds
Restricted funds David Andren Bequest Total restricted funds Unrestricted funds General funds Total unrestricted funds Total funds	*at 1 January* *2022* £ *Incoming* *resources* £ *Outgoing* *resources* £ *at 31 December* *2022* £ 631,543 8,882 - 640,425
	631,543 8,882 - 640,425
	75,236 19,510 14,931 79,815
	75,236 19,510 14,931 79,815

	706,779 28,392 14,931 720,240

Purpose of restricted funds

The bequest from David Andren has been described in the Accounts for the sake of identification as 'restricted funds’. They are held by The Association to be applied as The Association sees fit and The Association has determined it will do so having regard to the wishes expressed in David Andren’s will as follows: for the purposes of encouraging the community to help finance actions which will preserve the unique charm of the estuary, and in hope that the funds should be used to improve walls around Orford.

Purpose of general funds

General funds are those which are unrestricted and not designated for any other purpose. The balance on the general fund will be used to cover the excess of expenditure over incoming resources aims and mission.

Ultimate Controlling Party

The ultimate controlling party is the membership of the Charity.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2022