Friends of the Moot Hall Organ
Chairman's Report 31" March 2024
l am sorry to 88yth8t I cannot report on anyorgan recitals this year. As you no doubt are
aware the ceilingjroof ofthe Moot Hallwas found to have structural issues early in 2023
and the Moot Hallwas totallyshut up in March ofth8tyear and virtuallyall access
forbidden.
I considered whetherwe Could arrange recitals elsewhere. on other organ8 in the clty or
hiring in an electronic organ and goingto anothervenue. However. 88 our raison d'etre Is
the organ in the Moot Hall, it seemed an unnecessary gamble to move awayfrom our
roots. I did discuss these ideas with myfellowtrust8es and sought advice from Anthony
Roberts from ColchesterArts Centre.
The repairs and the nec8ssary preliminarywork to the Moot Hall were bound to take a
considerable time and, a year later. the scaffoldingto protect and enable access is only
now imminent. Once that structure is erected limited access can be permitted and the
paintings hanging on the walls can be removed and. more importantlyfor us, the organ
played again. Itwill immediately be check8d by Harrison & Harrison, the organ builders.
Incidentally. it was good to hear that it had been possible to service the organ's
humidityingequipment duringthis time and that this has been workingwell. I have had
contact overthe last yearwith the Council's Head of Design and Construction
Management, who has regularly kept me briefed on the situation.
We 8118ppreciale the financial situation that Local Government is facingat the present
time and the City Council is. therefore. undertaking a major reviewof its assets 8nd how
theywill be utilised in the future. This has only recentlyst8rted. and l am in contact wlth
the relevant Strategic Director, about this work. There is currently nothing to report, but I
have made clear that myview, and that ofThe Friends. is that they should considerthe
organ 8n asset in its own right and not simply8s a part ofthe Town Hall.
It was with 88dnessthat I must report that Alison Smith indicated 88riy in the yearthat,
due towork pressures. she would have to resign as a Trustee and our Treasurer at the
2024AGM. Alison h88 done invaluable workfor us; In particular registering us with the
Charity Commission and findingour newbankers. l am personallyverygratefulfor her
help and support overthe iastfewyears.
The Trustees have appointed Adam Masters to replace Alison with effect from her
reslgnation. Adam. who w88 suggested by Mike Vernon. is a retired anaesthetist and is a
choral singer in the city. Once we understand where the reviewof the Council's assets 18
heading, we will probably aim to seek an additionaltrustee to broaden the skills
amongst the Trustees. As I write this. we are still looking for a treasurer.
l am optimistic about the long tem future of what we do. but we must recognise that it
will be some time beforewe can see audiences back in the Moot Hall. l appreciate your
support duringthese ¢hallengingtim8S.

**Receipts and Payments Accounts** The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ For the year ended 31 March 2024 Prepared by Alison Smith 



## **Contents** 

- **3** Receipts and Payments Accounts 

Receipts and Payments Accounts The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ 

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## **Receipts and Payments Accounts** 

## **The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ**<br>**For the year ended 31 March 2024**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2024**|**2023**|
||**UNRESTRICTED**|**UNRESTRICTED**|
||**FUNDS**|**FUNDS**|
|**Receipts from Recitals**|||
|Collections|246.26|2,370.88|
|Subscriptions - with Gift Aid|795.00|420.00|
|Subscriptions - without Gift Aid|100.00|20.00|
|Sponsorship - with Gift Aid|-|2,300.00|
|**Total Receipts from Recitals**|**1,141.26**|**5,110.88**|
|**Payments on Recitals**|||
|Hire of Moot Hall|130.00|1,039.98|
|Printing|313.00|1,804.00|
|Recitalist fees|441.50|2,057.65|
|**Total Payments on Recitals**|**884.50**|**4,901.63**|
|**Gross Profit**|**256.76**|**209.25**|
|**Other Operating Receipts**|||
|Subscriptions/Donations - with Gift Aid|-|500.00|
|**Total Other Operating Receipts**|**-**|**500.00**|
|**Other Operating Payments**|||
|Bank Fees|88.00|99.44|
|Charitable and Political Donations|-|250.00|
|ICO Subscription|-|35.00|
|IT Software and Consumables - Website|537.00|1,519.98|
|Postage|27.20|21.63|
|Stationery|9.99|28.97|
|**Total Other Operating Payments**|**662.19**|**1,955.02**|
|**Net Operating (Payments)/Receipts**|**(662.19)**|**(1,455.02)**|
|**Total (Payments)/Receipts**|**(405.43)**|**(1,245.77)**|



Receipts and Payments Accounts The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ 

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Receipts and Payments Accounts 

|**2024**<br>**UNRESTRICTED**<br>**FUNDS**<br>**2023**<br>**UNRESTRICTED**<br>**FUNDS**|**2024**<br>**UNRESTRICTED**<br>**FUNDS**<br>**2023**<br>**UNRESTRICTED**<br>**FUNDS**|
|---|---|
|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the year end**||
||**Cash Funds**|
||Co-op Current Account<br>5,817.35<br>-|
||HSBC Current Account<br>-<br>6,222.75|
||HSBC Savings Account<br>-<br>0.03|
||**Total Cash Funds**<br>**5,817.35**<br>**6,222.78**|
||**Total Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the year end**<br>**5,817.35**<br>**6,222.78**|



## **Statement of approval of Receipts and Payments Accounts** 

**The Receipts and Payments Accounts were approved by the members at the annual general meeting on 9th July 2024 and signed by: Cllr Nigel Chapman - Chairman Alison Smith - Treasurer** 

Receipts and Payments Accounts The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ 

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