## **SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE AGM 2024**
## **For the year 2023**
Well, here we are again – another AGM – the time seems to fly by!
We have survived another year and the ever-increasing challenge to fund raise in times when money is tight for so many. As with everything the cost of both theatre tickets and coach travel have increased, so huge thanks to Priscilla and Theo for sourcing and arranging the many fantastic outings that we have this year.
Our outings for 2023 were:
January - The Best Marigold Hotel - Canterbury
February - Verdict – our Palace Theatre
February – Relatively Speaking - Cambridge Arts Theatre
March – The Grass is Greener - Windsor
April – Music Hall and afternoon tea – Brick Lane
May – weekend away CARMARTHEN
June - The Circle Orange Tree Theatre - Richmond
June – Summer Lunch at the Cliffs Pavilion – Amateur Award presented to LODS for Shrek
July - Wish You Were Dead – our Palace Theatre
July – Michelham House & Gardens – East Sussex
July – Ickworth House – Bury St Edmunds
September – Murder in the Dark - Oxford
October - 2.22 – A Ghost Story - Brighton
November – Christmas at Waddesdon Manor – Aylesbury
December – Christmas Lunch – Chalkwell Park Rooms
We are grateful to those who support these trips.
One of the really worthwhile fund-raising additions for us has been the Palace Theatre
Lottery. Last year we gave out £ 633.20 in prizes, and the lottery raised £949.80 for the Club.
I would like to thank Jan Pope for all her hard work on this and of course Peter Knight for counting all the monies to make the lottery work.
And whilst I am on thanking people – a big thank you to David Simpson our archivist for enthusiastically continuing to keep our archive up to date and scanning programmes and fliers from all our shows. Do not forget if you ever want to visit the Palace archive or have any old Palace programmes that you want to donate, David is usually around at our Saturday foyer meetings.
Overall, despite the challenges as you have heard, we have had a good year and are holding our monies for various potential projects at the Palace.
We still would love to work on the safety curtain and restoring the design – but have been advised by the Palace that this will be a difficult and expensive project. Whilst we have the Royal Opera House still willing to work on the design, those who fitted the new grey safety curtain for Southend City Council have expressed doubt about the spacing and whether there is room to fit the design on top of the curtain, whilst still allowing it to move out from the stage as well maintaining the fireproofing that is installed. Our next move would be to commission a report to review the potential of restoring the design which is something we will look into.
However, we are also aware that there are many other projects to look at around the venue that are more urgent, and the Committee are due to meet with the Management to look at the best priorities. Times are hard in respect of Southend City Council helping much as of course they too are financially strapped.
Potential projects are:
- To assist with adding some new metal work on the bannisters heading up to the Dress Circle. Eagle eyed members may have noticed that there is some rather unattractive plastic over the iron work – this is present as the City Council noticed that there was a fall risk for small children who could push themselves through the large gaps. The plan is to add some more black iron scrolls over the larger gaps reducing the gaps so that the plastic can be removed.
- The Palace Theatre sign out the front of the building needs renovation as the lighting does not work and the installation needs refixing.
- Work is needed in the Dress Circle on the seating which is becoming unreliable and needs replacement and there is a longer-term project to improve the spacing in the Rear Circle seating.
So, we shall keep you updated on our discussions with the Theatre management and canvass your views on works that our proposed in forthcoming newsletters.
Apologies from me for the stamp issue with the recent newsletter. We purchase our stamps from a discount stamp service – but for some reason the most recent batch purchased late in 2023 contained several old-style stamps which I failed to spot. Hence the newsletter has been re posted at no extra cost to the Club and members advised not to collect the letter in response to a card from the post office. Plus I am seeking a refund of the stamps wrongly sent! Will watch out for that one again!
The Palace itself has had another successful year with 367 staged events, a little down on 2022, but this is in part due to the near three-month closure of the Dixon. The audience figures confirm that nearly 99,000 people visited the theatre, which is still up 8% on 2022.
Plus, good news for Southend Theatres is that the interim manager Nick Parr is staying on as a permanent manger. Since Nick joined us in an interim capacity in May 2023 he has made a great contribution across both the Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre: developing the operations and managing relationships with Southend City Council and other stakeholders; and working with the wider project team to plan the forthcoming, exciting refurbishment project for the Cliffs but with an eye too on what we can achieve at the Palace and he is keen to work on projects going forward.
There has been some investment over the last year by way of refurbishment of the Dixon Dressing Room toilets and the additional backstage corridor toilet.
The Palace has played host to some big names such as David Suchet, Leigh Francis, and some lovely week longs shows like Murder in the Dark, The Mousetrap, The Woman in Black and Sleuth.
Our Community and Education team produced the hugely successful Summer Youth Project in 2023 with School of Rock and one for diary is The Adams family which has been announced as the 2024 youth production with shows which will take place in early August 2024. As you will know we sponsor two under privileged children to take part in the Summer Project by covering their fees which is greatly appreciated.
There Palace is involved in many creative learning projects to include regular school group tours of the venue, with a focus on young people with children with Special Educational Needs.
As you will be aware we had a temporary Dixon closure from September to November whilst the Council made the space safe, after the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in the roof. Eagle eyed members will have spotted media announcements that the Dixon will close again in early 2025 to allow the Council time to remove the RAAC permanently.
There are also plans for the Council to replace the Stalls carpet this summer and the management are looking at other small capital projects throughout the year, subject to funding.
So despite the challenges the future still looks bright for the Palace – but we need to do our bit and keep supporting the Club and seeing lots of shows to keep our Palace going.
Jan W
## **The Palace Theatre Club - Year to 31st December 2023 Receipts & Payments Account**
|**CLUB ACCOUNT**
**Opening Balances**
Co-op Bank/Current
Lloyds Bank/Current
Petty Cash
**Sub-Total**(Gross Opening Balances)
Less Transfer of 'Last Year' Profit[From 2023]
**Sub-Total**[Net Opening Balance]
**Receipts**
Subscriptions
Foyer, Lunch & Coach Raffles
Miscellaneous
Outings
Merchandising
Donations
Lottery
Gift Aid
Sub-Total (Receipts during year)
Less Advance Payments for Next Year
Plus Advance Payments from Last Year
**Net Receipts [Income 2023 P&L]**
**Payments**
Newsletters, PR & Publicity
Lottery
Stationary, Telephone & Postage
Sundries
Outings
Transfer to Amenities [Up to 2022]
Tips
Merchandising
**Actual Payments During Year**
Outstanding Debts
**Sub-Total Payments [2023 P&L]**
Net Advance Liabilities
**Closing Balances*******
Bank - Co-op
Bank - Lloyds
Less Outstanding Debts
Bank [Available]
Net Advance Liabilities
Petty Cash
*****
***** Should Match
Receipts
Less Payments
**Net Profit**|**2**
**£**
**£**
**TRADING**
**£**|**023**
**£**
13,791.62
3,857.97
78.30
**17,727.89**
4,831.25
**12,896.64**
3,506.31
1,399.80
-
38,555.09
649.81
552.00
1,583.00
816.84
**47,062.85**
455.00
957.65
**47,565.50**
2,136.53
633.20
594.33
33.00
36,466.00
-
529.00
-
**40,392.06**
-
40,392.06
455.00
**19,112.43**
11,752.76
7,790.81
-
19,543.57
455.00
23.86
**19,112.43**
**STATEMEN**|**2**
-
**£**|**022**
**£**
11,987.43
77.26
**12,064.69**
-
**12,064.69**
3,153.97
1,118.50
52.90
41,152.60
758.48
992.68
331.50
**47,454.83**
1,346.75
514.80
**46,622.88**
1,826.74
-
842.10
40.94
37,530.53
1,241.32
310.00
-
**41,791.63**
-
41,791.63
1,346.75
**16,381.14**
13,791.62
3,857.97
-
17,649.59
1,346.75
78.30
**16,381.14**
**31-Dec-22**
46,622.88
41,791.63
**4,831.25**
|**THEATRE AMENITIES ACCOUNT**
Co-op Bank/35Day Deposit
**Opening Balances [**See Note Below]**
**Receipts**
Transfers from Club Account
Interest - N/Wide
Interest - Co-op
**Payments**
Last Year
2023
Foyer Media Screen Project
Suimmer Youth Project Bursaries
**Closing Balances**
**SUMMARY AS AT 31st DECEMBER 2023**
**NET ASSETS**
Co-op Bank/Current
Lloyds Bank/Current
Petty Cash
Net Advance Liabilities
Co-op Bank/35Day Dep/Amenity Acct.**
**** There is an additional £2300 in our acc**
**we are holding on behalf of 'Welfare for t**
**and does not feature in this Statement.**
**Profit to be transfered to Amenities Accou**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
23,835.93
22,573.83
4,831.25
1,241.32
n/a
14.67
399.25
6.11
29,066.43
23,835.93
nil
3,338.75
370.00
25,357.68
23,835.93
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
11,752.76
13,791.62
7,790.81
3,857.97
23.86
78.30
455.00
-
1,346.75
-
25,357.68
23,835.93
44,470.11
40,217.07
**ount which**
**he Blind'**
**nt**
**7,173.44**
**£**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**£**
**T**
**£**||||
|||**31-Dec-23**|||||
|||47,565.50
40,392.06
**7,173.44**
|||||
Honorary Treasurer:- Peter Knight
Accounts audited and agreed Honorary Auditor - Peter Morley FCMA CGMA
|**Charity Name**
**No (if any)**
**The Palace Theatre Club**
**1175187**
**Receipts and payments accounts**
**For the period**
**from**
Period start date
**To**
Period end date
01-Jan-23
31-Dec-23|**CC16a**|
|---|---|
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Subscriptions 3,506.31 - - 3,506.31 3,153.97
Foyer, Lunch & Coach Raffles 1,399.80 - - 1,399.80 1,118.50
Miscellaneous - - - - - 52.90
Outings 38,555.09 - - 38,555.09 41,152.60
Merchandising 649.81 - - 649.81 758.48
Donations 552.00 - - 552.00 992.68
Lottery 1,583.00 1,583.00 -
Gift Aid 816.84 - - 816.84 331.50
Interest - 399.25 399.25 20.78
Restricted Grant - Welfare for the Blind - - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for AR) [ 47,062.85 ] 399.25 - 47,462.10 47,475.61
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 47,062.85 399.25 - [ 47,462.10 ] 47,475.61
A3 Payments
Newsletters & Publicity 2,136.53 - - 2,136.53 1,826.74
Lottery 633.20 633.20 -
Stationary, Telephone & Postage 594.33 - - 594.33 842.10
Sundries 33.00 - - 33.00 40.94
Outings 36,466.00 - - 36,466.00 37,530.53
Tips 529.00 - - 529.00 310.00
Merchandising - - - - -
- - - - -
Sponsorship of Summer Youth Project - 370.00 - 370.00
Foyer Media Screens - 3,338.75 - 3,338.75 -
- - - - -
Sub total 40,392.06 3,708.75 - 44,100.81 40,550.31
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 40,392.06 3,708.75 - 44,100.81 40,550.31
Net of receipts/(payments) 6,670.79 - 3,309.50 - 3,361.29 6,925.30
A5 Transfers between funds - 7,173.44 7,173.44 - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 12,896.64 30,967.18 - 43,863.82 36,938.52
Cash funds this year end 12,393.99 34,831.12 - 47,225.11 43,863.82
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**the end of the period**|**the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf
of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**|(ag ee ba a ces
t
ece pts a d pay
e ts
account(s))
**Details**
Bank Lloyds - Club C/Account
Bank Co-op [35d-Dep] - 'Amenities'
Petty Cash
**_Total cash funds_**
Bank Co-op - Club C/Account
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Income corrected in advance of 2024
Welfare for the Blind funds
Signature|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|||**7,790.81**|||
|||**4,579.29**|**7,173.44**
**27,657.68**||
|||**-**|||
|||**23.86**|**-**||
|||**12,393.96**
|**34,831.12**|**-**|
|||OK|OK|OK|
||||**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**
Date of
approval
23-Feb-24
23-Feb-24|
||||
**720.00**||
||||**-**
**-**||
||||**2,300.00**||
||||**3,020.00**||