2023-12-31-accounts - The Alde And Ore Association

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THE ALDE & ORE ASSOCIATION

Your Voice – Your Estuary

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THE THIRTY THIRD

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ALDE AND ORE ASSOCIATION

will be held on

Saturday 20[th] April 2024 at 10.00am for 10.30am at

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

Coffee and tea will be served from 10.00am

10.30 am AGM Business

followed by

Presentation on the monitoring of water quality

After the AGM you will hear about the project monitoring the quality of the water in the Alde and Ore and Butley rivers and its results: the project is now in its second year and is run and managed by a large team with the support of the Alde and Ore Association.

You will hear from our team leaders, Bobby Rusack and Miv Hall and sampler Tina Mackie: the presentation will include the national perspective on water monitoring, the value of citizen science in tracking water quality, reference to the work on the Deben River and what findings are emerging in the Alde and Ore

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 20[th] April 2024 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 22[nd] April 2023
Trustees Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Accounts of the Association for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Election of Trustees
a) The following Trustee is retiring:
- Birgitta Bostrom
b) The following Trustee is due to retire by rotation at the meeting and offers himself for re-election:
- Mark Goyder (elected 2021)
c) The following persons, currently appointed pending election as trustees, are standing for election (biographical details given below):
- Bernadette Gilbert
- Mervyn Hall
The Way Ahead – Updating report from the trustees
Any other business

This will be followed by a presentation on monitoring of water quality in the Alde, Ore and Butley Rivers.

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: this would be most welcome. Terms of office run for three years and can be renewed.

Biographies of Trustees seeking re-election or election:

Mark Goyder:

Mark Goyder was appointed as a Trustee in January 2021 and elected as a Trustee at the 2021 AGM.

Before joining the Board, he had been an active member of the group identifying ways to take the Association forward in its aim to take care of the estuary and widen membership. As a Trustee, Mark has particularly taken the lead on developing greater outreach of the Association to other organisations where common cause can be made to enhance efforts to protect the estuary and its surrounding landscape.

This included initiating a link with Alde Valley Academy, starting outreach into schools to create a greater awareness of the estuary environment. This initiative is now helping a wider programme involving the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust and Alde and Ore Community Partnership.

Mark, is married to a keen sailor on the Alde. He founded Tomorrow’s Company to inspire and enable business to be a force for good in society: The recommendations made by the Tomorrow’s Company Inquiry laid the foundations for the “enlightened shareholder value” approach in the redefinition of the directors’ duties in the 2006 Companies Act.

The report was the first to make the case that purpose, values and relationships – and not the narrow pursuit of financial objectives - lay at the heart of sustainable business success, a case that is now widely acknowledged across the business and investment world. In recent years he has concentrated on the issue of board and investor responsibilities for stewardship.

Bernadette Gilbert:

Berny Gilbert has been the CFO at Brooke since June 2022. Berny qualified as a chartered accountant at Deloitte and has over 30 years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector.

She has vast experience working at a senior level for charities. These include CARE International UK, Royal Opera House, Science Museum Group, International Institute for Environment and Development, and The King's Fund. Now that Berny is reaching the end of her career, she is looking to give back to the sector that has given her and her family so much over the years. Berny is also co-opted member of the Lords Taverners Transformation Committee.

Outside of work Berny loves to travel, she also loves the theatre and spending time outdoors around her home in Suffolk, especially on her boat moored on the Alde River. This precious area has become a sanctuary for relaxation after a hard week’s work, so an opportunity for Berny to become directly involved in the Alde & Ore could not be missed.

Mervyn (Miv) Hall:

Mervyn (Miv) Hall a Life Sciences graduate and has spent a 35-year career in the waste management industry specializing in hazardous materials around the world. His work has encompassed wastewater treatment, contaminated soil remediation at the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the 2007 Olympic Park, and specialised disposal of ozone depleting substances. He has a particular interest in waste management in the marine industry sector.

Suffolk born, Mervyn is an Aldeburgh resident and a keen member of Aldeburgh Yacht Club, sailing in the Loch Long class and cruiser passages round the North Sea, Atlantic and Mediterranean. He also plays golf at Aldeburgh Golf Club and is a staunch advocate for the preservation of our fragile natural environment in the East Suffolk National Landscape. He is the science coordinator of the Alde and Ore Water Quality Group, a citizen science project aimed at supporting the protection of the river water quality in our local rivers.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club

PRESENT:

Committee: Alison Andrews (Chairman), Birgitta Bostrom (Treasurer), Susie Rixon (Honorary Secretary), Colin Chamberlain, Keith Martin, Roy Truman, Mark Goyder and Monica Allen
Members: 56 members attended.
APOLOGIES: Frances Charlesworth, Peter Howard-Dobson, Kay Laskey, Sholto Lindsay-Smith, Ian Macnab, Andrew Parker-Jervis, Kim Puttock, David Rea, Elizabeth Stanton, Lizzi Thistlethwaite, Rex Bourne, Elizabeth Aitken

1. MINUTES

The minutes of the previous AGM of the Alde and Ore Association held on 28th April 2022 by Zoom were approved.

2. TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022

The Chairman said that as members already had the Report for the year ending 31st December 2022, she would cover issues arising so far this year.

She began by saying that in 2021 the Alde and Ore Association missed celebrating its first 30 years, but now in its 32nd year everyone could celebrate the amazing news announced on 26th January 2023 of a breakthrough to allow the renewal of the river walls. The Upper Estuary Embankment Improvements were to go ahead with £11.941m of funding.

The timing of that announcement was indeed very welcome as it was almost on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the terrible storm bringing the surge and flooding of 31 January 1953. No one should ever forget that time. Such an event could and would happen again, but everyone in the Alde and Ore area needed to make sure they have done all that they could so that its impact would not be as disastrous.

The story behind the final breakthrough this January went back a long way.

Well before she joined the Alde and Ore Association Trustees around 2003, the Association had been ever pressing for the estuary to have its fair share of national investment in river defences. The Association was then, is now, and will continue to be the voice of the estuary. As government funding policies changed, the Association kept up the pressure, adjusting its approaches to maximise the impact on the policies.

The Association was instrumental in setting up the Estuary Planning Partnership around 2003. This was the very first time all local interests, stakeholders, government and local agencies had sat down together to discuss estuary issues on a regular basis.

Then in 2008, a full fifteen years ago, the Association wrote a ‘Framework for the Future’. This warned the government that the threat to the area was devasting flooding caused by unmaintained river walls. They made the case that its proposed 100 year horizon only made no economic sense and that investment needed to be considered in 25 and 50 year stints.

A critical contribution from the Association’s membership came when so many Association members wrote in response to the Alde and Ore Futures Consultation; there were some 240 responses, possibly many of those were from members. The overwhelming comment was that the proposal to simply mend walls near settlements was wrong and what was needed was a whole estuary strategy; the estuary being the artery of the area and its economic, leisure and environmental heritage.

After that, the Association working in partnership with Suffolk Coastal District Council and the Estuary Planning Partnership, built the foundation of the first community partnership in 2012, the Alde and Ore Estuary Partnership, to develop an estuary wide plan.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

This was the start of ten years hard work. Getting the strategy written, consulted on and endorsed, with the Estuary and then Community Partnership, the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust and the East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board working through the many ins and outs of getting a detailed construction plan over the line, to achieve approval to go ahead and funding.

All this time the Association had, through its active membership of the Alde and Ore Estuary Partnership and now the Alde and Ore Community Partnership, helped make sure that the Plan moved on and did not founder. The Association had, with others, kept at it, and it showed we can make a difference.

The strength of the Association was that it is always here and on the watch for anything related to the well-being and enjoyment of the area. Some issues come and go quickly, others need more sustained efforts but without the Association the long- term stewardship of the estuary in its widest sense would have no voice or guardian.

She then turned to other matters that the Association had been watchful on:

On the energy front, there were two ongoing Judicial Reviews. The result of the one challenging the Government’s decision on EDF’s plans to build Sizewell C was expected early in May.

The Judicial Review for Scottish Power Renewables, a project which could mess up the coast at Thorpeness, was next month. The Association would continue to keep an eye on all this.

Later this summer more activity was expected. This time it would be the statutory consultations about the Sea Link and EuroLink proposals to bring more wind farm generated electricity on shore to then transfer it to other areas. Given the Association’s primary purpose as a charity, it would especially keep an eye on the projects continuing to avoid the estuary. It would insist that they should properly address any impact on coastal flows and erosion. All of these energy proposals affected the estuary’s surrounding landscape, but for those members with inland concerns away from the estuary, a recommendation was made to link up with SEAS (Suffolk Energy Action Solutions).

Looking ahead on brighter matters, she reported that the Trustees were currently assisting Alde Valley Academy which readily took up a suggestion for a short project about flooding inspired by the anniversary of the 1953 floods. A cohort of 12 year olds led by their excellent geography teacher was working on this using material provided by the Association on the 1953 and 2013 surges and river and sea defences. The Association would be giving the AYC Junior Regatta organisers a short daily briefing to help give some understanding of the river the juniors sail in.

Thanks were extended to George and Ali Watson as this year’s annual barbecue would be on Sunday 6th August in the extraordinary setting at Chillesford, with a wonderful view of the marshes with a rising tide. Colin Chamberlain was very kindly taking the lead in organising this with some of the Trustees but would be asking for volunteers to make the task do-able. Colin also had a really nice circular walk around Orford lined up for the 1st of September. Circulars on both of these will go out by email shortly and would be on the website, but not sent by post. If anyone else would like to organise and lead a walk please let the Association know.

The Association liked to fund surveys on matters of importance to the estuary. It is a while since it had an economic survey, or funded wildlife and vegetation surveys but asked if anyone has ideas or contacts to come forward. The Association would particularly like help with an economic survey so that they would have their third, ten yearly assessment in place within the next 12 months.

The Butley Ferry was going from strength to strength. The superbly refurbished boat was launched at Pinneys smokehouse on the Gedgrave side of the river and rowed to her summer berth. Very auspiciously about four seals stirred themselves from lying on the mud banks and followed at a distance, ever vigilant, keeping an eye on what humans get up to.

The River Defence Committee volunteers under Roger Baxter, were currently in full swing making their annual surveys of the state of the river walls.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

She hoped that everyone could sense the growing momentum of all the work of the Association and its members, working in partnership with others. To illustrate this further, she drew attention to the important water quality monitoring project. This was being led by Bobby Rusack and Miv Hall. They had gathered a good and growing team, a formidable undertaking, involving weekly sample collection and analysis. Two SCC councillors had both contributed funds to cover the equipment costs. It was a brilliant example how everyone in all parts of the estuary can do something and together the collective effort really benefits the whole area. The Association wanted to see and support such activities and provide a focus and platform so the estuary has a voice.

The Chairman extended very many thanks to all the Trustees and went on to say that from all the reports it is evident there is a lot to cover. The Association does all it can, but could do so much more if there were more people to help share the load. In particular a spread of skills was needed to:

Help equip them to challenge government or other policies or planning applications.
Help people enjoy the estuary more whether through more walks or specific talks.
Enable more discussion sessions about issues on and around the river and its surrounding landscape.
Be ready to contribute to the work they have embarked on with schools and young people.

In addition

More marketing expertise was needed on how to approach matters through traditional means or, if the Association was to enter the modern media world (may be members have views on that?), they cannot do it without more resources and that did not mean simply buying in services, but having the trustee time to ensure the services meet what is needed.

The Chairman concluded by saying that she hoped today’s account of the Association’s stewardship had shown that the Association, like those seals in the river, keeps a watchful eye on every activity that can be identified on the river, so that its primary purpose was fulfilled which is to ‘take care of our rivers and landscape today and tomorrow’.

3. ACCOUNTS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022

Birgitta Bostrom, Treasurer, presented the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022. She reported that the accounts were in good order. Birgitta explained that the Trustees had opted to have the accounts examined every 2 years and extended thanks to Ensors who had approved the accounts for the year ending 31st December 2022. She mentioned that Ensors offered preferential rates to registered charities.

Birgitta directed members to the Accounts beginning on page 8 of the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts which had been circulated in hard copy.

She outlined the key points of the accounts. Total income for the year ending 31st December 2022 was £28,932 compared with £15,647 the previous year. Membership fees were down a couple of hundred pounds, but donations were higher thanks to an unexpected final bequest from David Andren’s estate.

Income from other trading activities was up after lockdown and included income from the Barbecue (£3,420) where a proportion of the sale of two maps of the Sailors Path was generously donated to the Association by the artist himself, John Dunthorne.

The Butley Ferry was still popular with an income of £2,994 in 2022 and income from walks bringing in a further £530.

Government Grants to help with the water testing project totalled £776. Investment income was up significantly due to higher interest rates. Funds continue to be invested in CCLA Charity Deposit Funds.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

Overall, the total income was £28,932 which was higher than 2021 (£15,647) but for part of that year we were still in lockdown.

On expenditure, the cost of raising funds was just over £4,169 broken down into 3 areas:
The annual Barbecue - £2,085
Walks - £100 donated to the RSPB for allowing walks on their land with a guide
The Butley Ferry - £1,984 compared with 2021 (£3,485).

The newsletter continued to be a big expenditure - £5,436, slightly up on 2021 (£5,070) due to the increased cost of printing and postage.

Birgitta concluded by saying that total funds amounted to £720,240.

There were no questions on the Accounts.

Rufus Gilday congratulated Birgitta on an excellent presentation, noted the cost of the AGM, approximately £2,000, and requested that in future biscuits be provided. The Chairman responded that this had been an error on her part, and that biscuits of course would be provided in the future.

4. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

The Charman began by sharing the news that other pressures mean that Kim Puttock and Sholto Lindsay-Smith have had to resign as trustees but that she was incredibly grateful that both had said they would help as far as they can in but a more limited way. Kim was still doing the membership work and the website, and the Trustees were very grateful to her for keeping it so up to date. She mentioned that it would be good to have a new membership secretary.

She said that Sholto had been inspiring in helping to see the way forward on all aspects of marketing, whether on membership matters, or more widely on the Association’s activities.

She went on to say that she was delighted that Susie Rixon had volunteered to take on the administration work of the Association as Honorary Secretary. Wonderful news. Some members would already be familiar with Susie’s expert skills organising volunteer working at Aldeburgh Yacht Club, and would know how lucky the Association was that she is joining the Committee.

Turning to annual elections, the constitution required a third of Trustees to stand down each year but they may be reelected. The Chairman thanked Keith Martin and Birgitta Bostrom for agreeing to stand again. She mentioned that she was much relieved as both were invaluable. Birgitta was the most efficient Treasurer possible and also part of the barbecue team, and Keith in particular for his meticulous and rigorous eye on planning, as well as interviews and knowledge of the river. The Committee made a proposal for them both to continue as Trustees. Louise Mangeot seconded the proposal.

5. THE WAY AHEAD

The Chairman began by saying that last year, the Committee had explained their strategy to broaden and strengthen the Association’s approach with its basic aim to take care of the rivers and their landscape for today and tomorrow.

The Association had been building a growing momentum exploring several things including outreach to other organisations, communications, and educational outreach, and these would be reported on next when undertakings from last year’s AGM would be commented on.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

She went on to say that all the Trustees had taken up their new roles and that more would be heard from some of them during the course of the meeting. She mentioned that there was possibly a new volunteer from Aldeburgh who may help with marketing.

Addressing the issue of identity discussed last year, the Chairman recognised the confusion people found with there being three organisations concerned with the Alde and Ore Estuary. She explained that they all had distinct functions but all were working to the same common end, the wellbeing of the Alde and Ore estuary.

The Association (AOA) was concerned with all aspects of the area whether defences, protecting the landscape and environment from detrimental activities, supporting positive activities and helping secure its enjoyment.

The Alde and Ore Community Partnership (AOCP) , which succeeded the Estuary Partnership once the Strategy had been completed, took on the role of guardian of the estuary strategy and communications, both ways, with the local communities.

The task of implementing the strategy was given to a body with the skills and status to lead the design and construction to the flood resilience the strategy sought, namely the East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board, renamed only last week as East Suffolk Water Management Board (a new acronym ESWMB).

The Alde and Ore Estuary Trust (AOET) was a registered charity whose role is to raise and handle the funds required to make up the shortfall of those coming from government to deliver the Estuary Plan.

The Association had continued to participate in the Alde and Ore Community Partnership to which it provided one of the representatives. Officers were mostly elected from representatives and the Association’s Chairman also served as the Alde and Ore Community Partnership Honorary Secretary. Over the coming year now that grant aid had been unblocked, there would be community presentations and members would see how all the organisations were working together. The next Alde and Ore Community Partnership meeting at the end of June would focus on the forward thinking for the Lower Estuary, Phase 2 of the project, and as always members of the public would be able to attend to hear and contribute to the thinking. The information about these would be on the Association web site as well. Towards the end of September there would be a whole estuary presentation, possibly at Snape Maltings, for anyone who wanted to attend to hear what was needed and why, together with the plans for the next four years in the upper estuary, and progress on the business case for the lower estuary.

The Chairman referred to talks that she and Mark Goyder, also an Association Trustee, had with the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust as they previously said they would, and handed over to Mark to talk about these in more detail as well as outreach to other organisations with which the Association can make common cause.

Mark began by thanking the Chairman. He said that she was admirable in the way that she models partnership, and so effective as an ambassador.

Mark continued by saying that over the past year, the Association has worked on the basis of its shortened charitable objective, based on that set out in the Constitution, expressing its core value and purpose which was ‘To take care of our rivers and landscape today and tomorrow’. In pursuit of this objective, he had taken on responsibility for supporting the Chair and other Trustees in strengthening external relationships.

He and Alison had met two of the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust trustees, Jane Maxim and Elizabeth Stanton, in order to build a closer relationship with more regular communication. with very positive results. The intention was that the Association and the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust would be modelling partnership in everything they did, strengthening the habit of reciprocity at the same time as understanding the constraints that confronted each organisation. This also included advice from the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust that the Association was seen and valued by others as a monitoring and lobbying association. Its role in championing the needs of the estuary, was seen as valuable, and if anything, the Association could be more vocal.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

Mark also mentioned the contact he had made with the Suffolk Preservation Society and the Alde Valley Academy. On the latter project that was now being developed with the Academy to help students learn about the 1953 floods and the importance of river and sea defences, he hoped that it was the start of getting more involved with the next generation. On that theme, he had spoken to Susie Rixon who was a Trustee of the Aldeburgh Yacht Club Schools Sailing Trust which provided opportunities on and off the water for local school children, and that there was an opportunity to be more involved there. Mark handed back to the Chairman.

The Chairman continued by saying that the Association had always wanted to get more closely involved with local schools and indeed Lydia Freemen mentioned reaching out to young people at last year’s AGM. The initiative with Alde Valley Academy, thanks to a link by Mark, was a project over 5 full afternoons on the 1953 flood, involving why looking after the area matters, bringing in the local economy, the history of walls, towns, and buildings, what flood defences are, what climate change means and the impact of rising sea levels. She hoped that the students would feel inspired with the material provided and the introductory session that herself and Roy Truman, also an Association Trustee, attended earlier in March, following on from the brilliant power-point that the teacher, Mr Spinx, had put together beginning with a wake up question ‘How old was Mr Spinx in 1953?’ The answer ‘minus 23’ drew laughter from the audience. The children had also had a sunny afternoon’s walk, but in force 5 winds, to see the various types of sea and river defences around the Slaughden river wall. The Association had great hopes of small presentations to a local primary school, possibly quizzes and word searches in the future.

The Chairman then moved on to the subject of marketing and communications. She said that getting good communications with members so that the Association served the purposes that members saw needed to be met to preserve and protect the area, in addition to all the communications about matters impacting on the area to the authorities and stakeholders, was very important. She called on Monica Allen, Association Trustee, and Newsletter Editor.

Monica began by speaking about printed material. She referred to the recent leaflet expressing succinctly the purpose and activities of the Association as well as inviting people to join, that had been produced last summer following the AGM and people were probably sitting on the copies that had been placed on the chairs at the meeting. This was a very informative leaflet that had also been distributed with the Autumn 2022 newsletter as well as being handed out on the Butley Ferry, and through one holiday rental company. Members were encouraged to pass the fresh copies on to friends and neighbours.

She then spoke about the newsletter of which there are two issues each year. The aim now was to make it at least 20 pages long and to include articles on a range of different subjects. It was hard work, but fresh ideas and articles were constantly needed, and members could help with this given their wide range of knowledge and expertise in the area. She gave examples of Sue Wallace-Shaddad’s contribution after the last AGM, and Tony Newman’s write -up of the Snape Wetland walk with added insight into the importance of wetlands. She asked for more contributions, however short, or leads that could be followed up on. Birgitta commented on how the newsletter is so much better and all agreed.

As Sholto Lindsey-Smith was not able to join the meeting, the Chairman read his following statement in relation to progressing communications.

“ We hope to launch a member survey in the next four weeks, with the aim of gathering views on what you think are the priorities for the Alde & Ore Association. We also hope to gather feedback on the types of activities that members would like to get more involved in.

The survey will be sent out via email and publicised on the website and through other membership organisations. We hope to extend the reach of the survey to other people in the community so we can get a better understanding of what they know about us and gauge their interest in joining. So, it would be fantastic if you can help us promote the survey when we launch it. We will alert you when it is ready to launch ."

The Chairman reinforced the need for web and media experts and encouraged any volunteers to come forward.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

She said that the Association had been in touch with Aldeburgh Yacht Club, following comments made last year. Rather more would be said about the Association on the Aldeburgh Yacht Club website to clarify the importance of the link, and also of supporting fund raising to ensure that estuary embankments were improved as the improvements were designed to last for 50 or more years.

She then recognised the continuing good work of Trustees. The excellent work on regular planning monitoring and challenging applications led by Keith Martin, and the amazing Butley Ferry led by Roy Truman, which continue unabated with improvements being made all the time and the work of the River Defence Committee and the excellent water monitoring project. All these were part of the continuing momentum of the Association and kept the modest number of Trustees more than occupied. She encouraged members again to think about using their skills in these endeavours.

The Chairman concluded by looking ahead to commitments during the next year. Trustees hoped more people would want to help. They will shortly conduct the survey of members and potential members and act upon that, plus as always, being on planning watch, running the ferry, walks, and responding to policy developments or major infrastructure plans as and when they arose.

If the Association was not there how would the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers have a voice? The aim was to make sure it has one.

Questions/Feedback

Simon Barrow referred to the partnership of the Association with Aldeburgh Yacht Club and asked about a partnership with Orford Sailing Club.

The Chairman thanked Simon for his question and went on to explain that the Aldeburgh Yacht Club had a joint membership arrangement with the Association. Orford Sailing Club was much smaller and run by volunteers. Its choice was not to have joint membership as it did not have the administrative capacity to run joint membership, but for members to know about the Association.

Andrew Curtis, in relation to the project run in conjunction with Alde Academy, asked whether the Association had an intention to work with Orford Primary School in the future.

The Chairman thanked Andrew for his question and acknowledged that there was indeed a school in Orford but Alde Valley was the Association’s first school project. She asked the audience if anyone had a link with Orford Primary School that could be followed up. Chris Gill mentioned that Orford Primary School was keen to work with external organisations on activities. Mark Goyder thanked Chris and agreed to follow this up.

Richard Bodek asked a question about the current state of the water quality in the river.

The Chairman thanked Richard for his question and responded that it wasn’t too bad, unlike the River Deben which has a large sewerage processing plant at the head if its estuary. On current test results, if you swim in the Alde you should be fine.

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.

The meeting then moved to a presentation by guest speakers on the newly released Alde and Ore Estuary Embankment Improvements project.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Alde and Ore Association held at 10.30am on Saturday 22[nd] April 2023 at Thorpeness Country Club (continued)

Giles Bloomfield of East Suffolk Water Management Board spoke about the origins of the Plan, why embankment improvements were needed and what would be lost if the river walls were left to continue to degrade, including homes, businesses, infrastructure, agricultural land and water sources, and the varied landscape and habitats and leisure activity opportunities on land and water. The principal aim in terms of flood defence was to be resilient over next 25-50 years and to be able to withstand all but the most exceptional surge floods but even so to survive the overtopping. He described the design work to achieve this and considerations that required the Plan to be implemented in two phases, first the upper estuary followed by the lower estuary, the costs, funding and community engagement.

With David Kemp, Environment Agency, he described their assessment of the changes on the Slaughden shore /Sudbourne beach and its longer-term possible implications for the river and that the shoreline was under constant monitoring. ( note: this assessment was reported in full in the Association's Autumn 2023 Newsletter ).

Jane Maxim spoke for the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust about the plans for plugging the gap between project costs and government funds. Frances Barnwell described the role of the Alde and Estuary Community Partnership, which has representatives of all areas potentially affected by flooding from the estuary from all local Parish Councils, District and County Councillors, the local landowner members of the East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board, the Association and local business community, and plans for future communications.

THE ALDE & ORE ASSOCIATION

Your Voice – Your Estuary

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The Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts

for the year to 31st December 2023

Registered Charity No. 1154583

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Report of the Trustees

The Trustees present their Report and the Accounts of the Charity for the year to 31st December 2023.

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 2023

Officers Alison Andrews Chairman Birgitta Bostrom Treasurer

Other Trustees

Colin Chamberlain Legal Adviser Mark Goyder Outreach Keith Martin Planning, SCAR Roy Truman Butley Ferry Monica Allen Newsletter Editor

Co-opted members

Roger Baxter River Defence Committee Sholto Lindsay-Smith Marketing Kim Puttock Membership Secretary & Webmaster Susie Rixon Honorary Secretary

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

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 including by conducting a members’ survey.

Contributions

Donations of £100 were received.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

D. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The role of The Association

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 Trustees continued to meet regularly, both in person and by Zoom. 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 out its work to take care of the rivers and surrounding landscape to preserve their unique natural beauty, heritage and biodiversity, contributed significantly to the preservation, protection and enjoyment of the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers area.

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

Sound river defences are an integral part of maintaining the homes, economy, recreation and environment with its large range of flora and fauna in the Alde and Ore area. In January 2023 the Alde and Ore community heard the splendid announcement of the approval of the First Phase of the work to improve the estuary embankments beginning in the Upper Alde Estuary and the award of some £11 million in grants from the Environment Agency largely covering the costs. As one of the bodies which has been working towards securing an estuary defence improvement plan and represented on the Alde and Ore Community Partnership (AOCP), and its predecessor, the original Alde and Ore Estuary Partnership formed in 2012, this was very welcome news to The Association as well as the whole estuary community. During the year The Association has continued to work within the AOCP and with the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust to seek to ensure that the preparatory plans for work starting on the ground in 2024 are on course and that the further work for the outline business case to secure permissions and grant for Phase 2, the Lower Estuary, was progressed.

The Association continued to keep members informed about the estuary plans through its newsletters and, where members have given permission to The Association to use their emails, via email. The Association took the opportunity at its AGM to have a full and detailed presentation on the implementation of the Estuary Plan, the work on Phase 1 on the Upper Estuary and the necessary preparations to get Phase2 for the Lower Estuary ready for implementation too.

Protection of the landscape

Part of The Association's role is to protect the landscape surrounding the estuary and we monitor planning applications on a more or less weekly basis. The application at Gedgrave referred to in last year's report was approved unamended but the Iken application was altered significantly prior to gaining consent. During this last year we have reported noncompliance with approved plans at Snape leading to enforcement action by East Suffolk Council. We are also concerned about an intrusive application for development on the riverbank and into the river just above Aldeburgh. Our objections have been submitted and we hope for a modification of the proposals.

The Association has continued fully supporting a members’ led initiative to monitor the quality of the water in the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers. Bobby Rusack and Miv Hall now have a team of twenty who collect water samples each week at thirteen different points throughout the area and two who undertake the testing. Reports are sent regularly to the Suffolk County Council and the Environment Agency. Funding was provided for the pilot year, until end September, by two Suffolk Country Councillors, Andrew Reid and T-J Haworth-Culf, and The Association ensured the remaining needs were met. Since October, when a second year was launched to secure a good data base for future assessments, a six-month grant has been provided by the National Landscape (formerly known as AONB) Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths’ Amenity and Accessibility Fund sponsored by them, together with EDF, Suffolk County Council and East Coast Council. Other funders are being sought. Initiatives like this help to secure the well-being of the estuary and people’s enjoyment of it.

The Association has continued to watch over the continuing succession of energy project proposals which will affect this Suffolk coast area: where the estuary may be affected The Association has attended ‘open days’ and similar events given by the proposers and submitted consultation responses. The Association has joined in local organisation

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

meetings and where appropriate has contributed to knowledge and thinking about the implications of the plans. During this year, except for one produced at the end of 2023 about habitats for Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, the proposals would not directly affect the estuary area, but the single and cumulative effect of one or several of them will cause significant extra and large traffic on the roads and so affect access to and around the area and impact the local economy, discouraging people from coming to enjoy the area.

River Defence Committee

The River Defence Team, under Roger Baxter, continued their annual surveys in most parts of the river and reports were submitted to the Environment Agency.

We are very grateful to the volunteers for their time and effort in producing reports on the state of the river walls in the spring after the Spring Equinox which provide a regular update to the running benchmark on the state of the walls.

Enjoyment of the area

Thanks to George and Ali Watson, The Association’s annual barbecue, held at the start of August, was in a fairytale setting near Chillesford overlooking the mosaic of the upper reaches of the Butley River. A record number attended despite the weather and it was much enjoyed. Salter and King again provided the excellent hog roast at cost so a donation could be made to the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust towards the funds to improve the river embankments and reduce flooding for future generations.

Also, early in 2023 the Association organised two more of the very popular walks with an RSPB guide on the Snape Wetland Reserve before the bird breeding season began. In September there was a splendid circular walk around Orford including inland and on the river walls which was greatly enjoyed as it joined up stretches of several different walks. Members were encouraged to come forward if they had a good walk they would like to share and organise a walk, as these walks are very popular.

Another year has passed without final decision on the route of the English Coastal Path (now nationally called the King Charles III England Coastal Path) route in our area, but once a decision is made there may be some new paths around the Butley River.

The Butley Ferry

This season saw the launch of our professionally renovated boat. An expensive, but necessary, course of action which should give us decades more use from our fifty-year-old boat. We also replaced a 10-metre section of the Gedgrave jetty using recycled plastic timber which we hope will be less likely to be devoured by hungry shipworms. Both of these projects were 50% funded by grants from the AONB. This has completed all of the large infrastructure projects and, hopefully, should only have to do smaller routine maintenance work for a few years.

Passenger numbers were slightly down this year, mainly due to the poor weather in the second half of the season, with 960 passengers of which 337 were cyclists. 6 days (10% of the season) were lost due to strong winds.

As this was the 30th anniversary of the ferry relaunch, we had our annual Ferryman’s Lunch at The Froize, Chillesford. Bobby Rusack was awarded the Ferryman of the Year prize and our first long service certificate for 20 years’ service was awarded to Simon Barrow.

Research commissioned

No work was commissioned during 2023 but previous work was continually referred to during the course of the year, particularly in relation to Professor Pye’s work on the shingle shoreline south of the Aldeburgh Martello Tower and separately that on Hazlewood Marsh. Updating surveys are under consideration.

The Association linked up with Alde Valley Academy to seek to help achieve a greater knowledge of their local area and the importance of flood defences in the anniversary year of the 1953 destructive floods.The Association provided material on the 1973 and 2013 floods and a walk to look at old and new river embankment flood defences to enable a summer term project for a group of 12/13 year olds. The Association also provided briefing to the Aldeburgh Yacht Club Junior Regatta to give the young sailors more understanding of the Estuary.

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Communication with members

The Annual General Meeting held on 23 April 2023 was the first one in person since the Covid pandemic broke in 2020. Some 56 members attended. The main business was dealt with and there was a discussion about the work on refreshing the work of The Association now restrictions on gatherings were lifted. After that the main guest speaker brought members up to date with the project to implement the Estuary embankment improvements now that approval and funding to support Phase 1 in the Upper Estuary had been obtained. The talk also enabled other concerns and interests in the estuary’s configuration to be explored.

Two Newsletters were produced and, in keeping with the new approach, were both almost double the size of those a few years earlier: these explored a wide range of history, wildlife, leisure and policies all relating to the unique estuary landscape. They continue to be produced on recycled paper.

Emails were sent on more urgent matters and to enable members and guests to join in walks and events.

The website was kept up to date with links to organisations with shared interests. Plans are in hand to take a new look at the website.

The Trustees work on promotion of The Association

During 2023 the Trustees devised a survey for members and non- members to ascertain how much people know about the work of The Association, what issues, areas activities they thought it should focus on and on what issues or in what way members might like to participate to help further the work of The Association. This was completed in the autumn with just over 200 responses. The Trustees have analysed these and are working through the ideas that have been raised and contacting individual members where appropriate and where they provided permission for their emails to be used. (In passing it would be very helpful if members could also let us know of any changes in the postal and email addresses, otherwise we find people drop out of the communications and then are concerned they hear nothing).

The positive message from the survey was that while some felt they didn’t understand The Association’s role well, possibly most of the non-members who kindly responded, almost 90% thought it was doing a good job in meeting what was required. The areas of action by The Association were all well supported. Nevertheless, Trustees recognised that more could be done with clearer and fresher communications and messages and will keep that as an ongoing task. As expected, there was still confusion about the roles of the three estuary organisations, The Association, the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust and the Alde and Ore Community Partnership: as each have different roles requiring different constitutions there is more to be done to make clearer that together they provide a full range of action for the benefit of the Estuary. The Association is concerned with all aspects of the well-being of the estuary, the AOCP with the community communications and concerns with the estuary flood defences and the AOET with the responsibility to raise funds to fill any shortfall in government contributions to enable the wall embankment improvement programme to be achieved.

A fifth of those replying said they would be interested in helping further activities although only half felt able to help at present. Not all gave their email addresses: the rules on GDPR are necessary to safeguard people’s privacy but can at times limit contact with those who are willing in principle to help but do not expressly give permission for their emails to be used. Ideas that members put forward and will be pursued include greater involvement in river defences, greater involvement on conservation matters, more events and talks about the estuary and its heritage and planning and policy matters. The several different themes of work are in progress.

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).

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

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 for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

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 29[th] January 2024

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……………………………

Lady Andrews, OBE Chair of the Trustees

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Statement of financial activities for the year ending 31st December 2023

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 £ *2023* *Total funds* £ *2022* *Total funds* £ 10,485 - 10,485 13,076 14,599 - 14,599 3,878 3,107 29,130 32,237 1,390
	28,191 29,130 57,321 15,647
	15,411 - 15,411 4,169 13,825 - 13,825 10,762
	29,236 - 29,236 14,931

	-1,045 29,130 28,085 13,461
	79,815 640,425 720,240 706,779 -1,045 29,130 28,085 13,461
	78,770 669,555 748,325 720,240

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Balance sheet as at 31st December 2023

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 £ *2023* *Total funds* £ *2022* *Total funds* £ - - - - - - - - - - - -
	- - - -
	- - - - 310 2,940 3,214 1,800 - - - 1,521 78,941 666,651 745,592 717,469
	79,250 669,555 748,805 720,790
	480 - 480 550
	78,770 669,555 748,325 720,240

Approved by the Trustees on 29[th] January 2024

…………………………… …………

Lady Andrews, OBE Chair of the Trustees

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

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 for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Notes to the accounts (continued)

Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2023* *Total funds* £ *2022* *Total funds* £ 5,514 - 5,514 5,275 3,303 - 3,303 3,303 1,118 - 1,118 1,171 100 - 100 2,551 451 - 451 776	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2023* *Total funds* £ *2022* *Total funds* £ 5,514 - 5,514 5,275 3,303 - 3,303 3,303 1,118 - 1,118 1,171 100 - 100 2,551 451 - 451 776	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2023* *Total funds* £ *2022* *Total funds* £ 5,514 - 5,514 5,275 3,303 - 3,303 3,303 1,118 - 1,118 1,171 100 - 100 2,551 451 - 451 776
10,485 -	10,485 10,379
3,484 - 530 - 10,585 - 0 -		3,484 3,420 530 530 ~~3,176~~ 2,994 0 95
14,599 -		~~7,190~~ 7,039
3,107 29,130	32,237 8,277
3,107 29,130	32,237 1,390

28,192 29,130	57,322 28,392

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

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 Total cost of charitable activities Total expenditure	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ *2023* *Total funds* £ *2022* *Total funds* £ 2,527 - 2,527 2,085 100 - 100 100 12,784 - 12,784 1,984
	15,411 - 15,411 1,984
	6,775 - 6,775 5,436 494 - 494 78 79 - 79 8 726 - 726 486 1,337 - 1,337 399 1,215 - 1,215 1,450 2,321 - 2,321 2,013 480 - 480 450 397 - 397 442
	13,825 - 13,825 10,762

	29,236 - 29,236 14,931

Annual Report of the Alde and Ore Association including accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Notes to the accounts (continued)

4. Liabilities

4. Liabilities
	*At 31st*
	*December 2023*
	£
Liabilities
Examination of accounts	(480)
Total Liabilities	(480)

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* £ 640,425 29,130 - 669,555
	640,425 29,130 - 669,555
	79,815 28,192 29,236 78,800
	79,815 28,192 29,236 78,800

	720,240 57,322 29,236 748,325

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 for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ALDE & ORE ASSOCIATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Alde & Ore Association for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

i. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
ii. the accounts did not accord with those accounting records; or
iii. the accounts did not comply with the applicable accounting requirements concerning the form and contents of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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Carl Page FCCA Ensors Accountants LLP

Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Blyth House Rendham Road Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 1WA

Dated: 13/03/2024

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