Ashwells Road must become self supporting......or else

A rigorous 12-month budget and a projected five-year financial plan have been drawn up to underpin increased use of the facilities and the generation of greater income at the Old Brentwoods Society’s Ashwells Road Clubhouse and grounds. They are designed to tackle the grave state of the Society’s finances, stemming largely from operating losses at Ashwells Road.

For many years, the Society’s operating losses have been accommodated from the Joe Hodgson Reserve Fund. However, this fund has been substantially depleted. The Society’s overall cash reserves are now so low that losses at the level of recent years could only be sustained for a few months without drastic action.

Accordingly, the General Committee set up a Finance Sub Committee to review Ashwells Road finances and to come up with a feasible budget for 2010/11. Its members are Colin Finch (chairman), Simon Boon, Stuart Mathieson, Simon Born, Tim Faiers, Steve Gorrod and Tony Witney. It has met on several occasions since the AGM in September and there has been extensive consultation with the affiliated clubs, particularly rugby, football and cricket, and with external users of the facilities. (Non-Old Brentwoods have become increasingly important in sustaining affiliated club teams, holding functions and supporting the bar and other facilities).

The Finance Committee’s recommendations have been discussed and developed over many weeks and were agreed at the General Committee meeting on 17th March.

For the year 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2011, the revenue target is £149, 250. Much needs to come from increases in bar profits, sports club rentals and pitch hire by third parties; and from membership subscriptions at the current level. Expenditure is to be limited to £133,050. The main elements will be staff and salaries; insurance, rates and utility charges; planned maintenance of buildings and grounds; and the Chronicle.

Maintaining these levels would produce a projected profit of £16,200 which would serve as a fund for unscheduled and longer term expenditure on Clubhouse and other buildings; and replacement of plant, machinery & equipment.
“We have to take a realistic and achievable approach to start with in an attempt to maintain the present level of services and facilities,” says Colin Finch.
To ensure the objectives are met, the Finance Sub Committee will insist on strict cash limits for all cost centres. Each affiliated club is charged to meet its rent obligation without fail and to strongly encourage its members to support the bar, functions and events to contribute to the targeted increase in bar sales. Progress will be reviewed via two-monthly management accounts.
Going forward, the Society can no longer ignore the fact that membership subscriptions, particularly the School’s five years of contributions on behalf of leavers, are subsidising the use of the Clubhouse and ground by some 200 local OBs and 200 rule 32 members to the tune of over £20,000 a year. The Clubhouse and grounds must be capable of operating as a stand alone enterprise.
Within the scope of a five-year plan, the Finance Committee is already looking at future subscription and affiliated club income, catering and bar prices, financial controls, investments, tax implications, planning for renewals and provisions for repair. The aim is to create a minimum of £100,000 in reserves to enable Clubhouse and ground to be self supporting by the end of 2015/16.
In tandem, the Society will need to consider its relations with and services required by school leavers and other younger Old Brentwoods.

The Society acquired the enviable sporting and social facilities at Ashwells Road, Bentley thanks mainly to two generous benefactors: former Headmaster James Fisher Hough, who purchased the original ground in Burland Road, Brentwood; and former History, Mathematics and Mill Hill Housemaster Joe Hodgson and his wife Freddie, who bequeathed their estate to the Society.

For the past 60 years, the Society has benefited from diligent and dedicated OB Committees, which have managed the Society’s assets to provide and sustain the outstanding facilities we enjoy today.
Colin Finch concludes: “Unless member clubs and other users pay adequate subscriptions and support the Club in generating additional sustainable income, the Society will be unable to maintain the current facilities. We should then be forced to reduce services and costs significantly and consider whether the Society can continue to run Ashwells Road.”