Income receipts during 2017 benefitted from a number of new Life Member payments. Expenditure, however, was substantially higher because of the costs associated with the new website and the requirement for on-line banking facilities to handle GoCardless and PayPal. A continuing donation to the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley Project was deferred until 2018. The result of the additional costs was a decline of 5.4% in the Association’s cash assets.

Membership numbers showed an increase to 702 individuals and 28 parish councils, and other organisations.

Michael Goodbody