West of England Bandsmen’s Festival
2024 AGM 23[rd] October 2024
Treasurers Report
Our 98[th] brass band contest was held a little over 4 months ago on Saturday 15[th] June 2024. Although the day started with some rain, by the time things were underway on the field the sun was making its appearance and it was a fairly pleasant day.
It was pleasing to see all sections represented this year, and despite the withdrawal of two bands a couple of weeks before the contest day, the event was well supported.
Whilst donations from our Friends of the Festival remain at a similar level to the previous year, sponsorship income rose slightly as Gwella Contracting kindly increased their support of the event to £500 this year, up from £300 received in 2023.
The festival takings on the day itself have decreased, likely due to the two late withdrawals before the contest day and perhaps a small reduction in footfall. The SumUp card machines were fully verified and working correctly for this year’s contest and it was pleasing to see the split of cash and card payments being approximately 50:50 on the day. I would expect usage of this payment method to increase year on year.
Donations this year includes contributions from our President Geraint Richards and our Chairman Graham Ball totalling £300 which has been put towards the cost of replacing the bunting used in the village. Brian Ball held his Carriage Driving show in the field and gave a donation of £75.00. Commission of £300 was again received from Kellys of Bodmin from Ice Cream sales on the day. We were also fortunate to receive £1,000 from the Barclays Charitable Trust. One of our volunteers, Joel Double, organised and ran our refreshment tent and as an employee of Barclays he has access to charitable funds for events such as ours. We were able to secure the maximum donation available following submission of income and expenses from the tea tent. Also included in this heading are the street collections from the morning and evening marches and these collections came to £130 this year.
Unexpectedly, we received a legacy of £2,500 from the estate of the late Dr Winslade, former GP to the village of Bugle. There were no specific details attached to the legacy payment so it has been treated as exceptional income for the year and as an unrestricted fund for us to use as we see fit.
As a result of the prevailing interest rates over the 12 months to 31[st] August 2024 we have seen a better return on our investment this year.
Moving towards the costs for the year, and in general, expenditure remains at a level consistent with the 2023 year, with some small inflationary increases in costs as expected.
Joel Double was extremely careful with what was ordered for the tea tent this year, as in the previous year some items hadn’t sold and we had some waste. He spent considerable time over last winter reviewing the costs and sale prices of items which has proved invaluable. This year provisions expenditure is down slightly as a result of this and thankfully we made a profit on the tea tent and there wasn’t so much left at the end of the day.
I have fixed our electricity prices for 2 years from July 2024. As most of our electricity costs come from the daily standing charge it is important that we keep this as low as we can, and we will continue to pay the same (60ppd) standing charge for the next 2 years. Unit charges have dropped slightly going forward, which is obviously favourable.
We were able to keep the costs of the marquees the same as what we paid in 2023.
Due to other bookings, PJI Security were unable to cover our event and recommended a different security firm to us this year. Fox Security from Redruth provided the cover for 2024 and overall we were extremely happy with their services. I received detailed notes after the contest regarding all the interventions they made during the day, every incident was recorded. Fox Security have already been booked for next year.
Trophies costs have decreased as this year the only expenditure was the cost of the special awards, last year this also included costs for plaques to commemorate the King’s Coronation.
Room hire costs this year are monies paid to Bugle Silver Band for the use of their bandroom for committee meetings and the AGM. This is £25 per meeting and includes the costs of the three meetings held in the 2023 year and the three held in the current year.
Most of the street bunting was replaced this year as it was looking very weather beaten. We sought advice from Terry Butler regarding this purchase as there are many types of bunting available at lots of different qualities and price points. We went with the same bunting that Charlestown Regatta use and as I have already mentioned, included in donation income is £300 received from our President and Chairman as a contribution towards the cost.
Field groundworks includes costs from Walter Bailey for items relating to the stage – timber, screws etc. Keith Husband found cable covers for us to use this year to save having to dig the cables into the ground – this was both time and labour saving and we will use these again in the future. Also included here are costs for a crane (hi-ab) which was used to lift the canopy onto the roof frame of the stage. Again, both time and labour saving.
Miscellaneous expenses includes printer ink and paper, postage costs and the Cornwall Council road closure notice. Also posted here are thank you gifts purchased for our independent examiner and the staff from Griffiths Contractors who helped with putting up the street bunting.
It is worth noting that were it not for the exceptional income received this year in the form of the legacy and the donation from the Barclays Charitable Trust, our overall position for 2024 would have been comparable to 2023. Although it is encouraging to see an excess of income for the year, we must be mindful that the ‘real’ position for the festival is a small loss – if we deduct our exceptional income of £3,500 away from the ‘profit’ this year we would be left with a deficit of a little over £1,000.
As we start to look towards our 100[th] Contest in a little less than two year’s time, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone on the committee for your hard work over the year. To our volunteers who give their time in the weeks and days leading up to our contest and on the day itself, we are truly grateful. Thanks goes to Dave White for his support on contest day. And finally thank you to Dave Stevens for giving your time to examine the accounts, books and records for the year.
Wt F.ngl#nd Band.smen'8 Feslival Uniudited Financial Statements For the Year F.nded 31 Augus¢ 2024 Registered Charitable Incorporated Orginisxtion No. 1192477
West of England Bydndsmen's Festival Unaudited Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Contents Page General Inforn]ation Trustees Rewrt Independent Examinels Report Balanc¢ She¢t Income and Expenditure Account
West of Enand Bandsmen'$ Festival Unaudited Financi81 Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 General Information Officers: Chairn1on- Mr G R L Ball S¢¢relary- Mr I Powell Treasurer- Miss E Husband Promoter- Mr A Tea8ue Charity Trustees: Mr T G Builer Miss E Husband Mr A Teague Mr I Powell Principal Addreys: 6 Ropehaven Clo%e SI Au5tell C()mwall PL25 4DZ IndependeDt Examiner: Mr D A Stevens Solicitors: Siepliens S¢own l High Cross Sireel Si Aiistell Cornwall PL25 4AB B*nker5: Barclay5 Bank PLC
West of England Bandsmen's Festival Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31st August 2024 The trustees present their report with the financial slatements of th¢ ckwity for the year ended 31 st August 2024. Review of the Activities of the Charity On 15th June 2024 the West of England Bandsmen's Festival held their annual brass band contest. As a result of late withdrawals from two entered bands the number of entries were reduced but despite this it was pleasing to see all sections represented and the event w&s a success. Ineome Aecumulgtion Account Th¢ excess for the y¢ar to 31st August 2024 of £2,441 w&s added to the Income Accumulation Account. Trustees: Mr T G Butler Mrs B Barnes Ms D Slater Mr M Row¢ Dated: lo10 2
West of England Bandsjnen's Festival For the Year Ended 31st August 2024 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of West of England Bandsmen's Festival I rep)rt on the financial statements of the for the year ended 3 1st August 2024 sel oul on pages 4 and 5. Basis of independent eyaminer's statement My examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Irustees and comparison of the accounts presented with ihose records. It also includes consideration of any unusual itcms or disclosures in the accounts, and secking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not providc all the evidence that would be required in an audiL and consequently I do nol express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent examiner's s¢atem¢nl In conncction with my examinalion. no matier has come lo my attention: which gives me reasonable cause lo believe that in any material respect the prepared accounts do not accord with the accounling records: or to which, in my opinion. atlenlion should be drawn in order io enable a proper undcrstsndingi of the accounts to be reached. A Stevens Independent Examiner Dated.. &. 09. Lo4
West of England Bandsmen's Festival BalaD¢e Sheet For the Yvar Ended 31$t August 2024 2024 2023 Fixed A&8ets PlanL Equipment and Trophies IVO 41,276 41,848 Current Assets Siock Debtors and pffpayments Investment #¢count Cash at bank and in hand 134 489 35,513 11.165 218 33.825 10.167 47,301 45.270 88,577 87,118 Current Liabilities Creditors (IIK)} {1,082) Totsl Net Assets 88,477 86,036 resented Balance ai I si S¢ptemb¢r 2023 Earlier year adjustmenl re sale of mower Exc¢ssl(D¢ficil) of income over exp¢nditur¢ 86.036 88,695 (1,440) (1,219) 2,441 88.477 86.036 Fi¥edAss& Note Cost * 01109r2023 Addiiion- Website Disposal- Previo website Cosl at 01108r2024 61.204 692 (2.(AOI 59,856 tkprecialion at 01109r2023 Charge for Yvdr tkpreciation written off on disposal of previous websit¢ Depreciation at 31108r2024 19.356 1.022 11.798) 18,580 Net Book Value 31108n024 Net Book Value 3110812023 41.276 41.848
Wot of England Bandsmen'$ Festival Incolne and Exndire Account for 2024 AGM For the Year Ended 31st Allgust 2024 2024 2023 Inco Friends of the Festival Band enty fees SponsoTS Festival takings Donations tKgacy received Investment income 2,386 1.915 2275 .755 4.3¢X) 10.444 721 9,719 2.51x1 1.688 1.035 24.512 20.530 Ex Prize monies Refreshment maryuee ryovi510ns 3,765 3.040 797 3,465 3.281 785 238 69 4224 1.787 788 517 608 Electricity Busine&8 raie Marquee hire Insurances SecurKty guards Si John Ambulance Adjudicators fca and accomnmthon Percussion hire Trophies Skip hire Hir¢ of disabled toilet Hire of hot cupard Room hirc Amplification Street Buniing Brnss Bands Englond Mem1ShiP Websifr maintenance Cleaning maieria]5 Sum up and PayPal fees Field groundworks Misc¢llaneous ex Depreciation L05s on disp0581 of Pr¢ViO5 wd)sit 73 4224 1,788 965 497 578 1280 153 348 146 168 150 575 564 1,080 826 348 181 575 98 250 365 20 83 315 26 439 381 .022 242 452 1228 {22.071) 2.441 {21.749) {1319) Exees51(Defieit) of Income over Expenditure