Settle’s Victoria Hall has made significant progress in strengthening its financial and operational management over the past year.

Chairman Alan Martingell told the annual meeting that it was now 90 per cent self-funding and the accounts for the year showed a surplus of £6,287.

“After a series of significant changes, the hall is moving forward enthusiastically on a much firmer footing,” he said. “Much effort has gone into improving relationships with our users and rectifying previous problems with systems and communication channels. There is now a real positive vibe about the place and an emerging ‘team spirit’, resulting in the public, performers and their agents talking positively about Victoria Hall. There is much still to do but we are in a much better position to achieve it.”

He acknowledged the contribution of the district and town councils and local volunteers.

“We would not break even without the direct financial support of Craven District Council and Settle Town Council and the hard work and income generated by the Friends of Victoria Hall,” he said. “New volunteers have come forward to support the box office and the events and it never ceases to amaze me how much work is undertaken by them.”

He said the hall would continue to be managed in a business-like way, with the essential focus being on financial stability.

“We are now 90 per cent self-funding, a much better position to be in when faced with continuing financial pressures and the uncertainty of future grant funding,” he said. “The trustees have identified a whole range of equipment and capital improvements which would enhance the hall and the experience for users and customers. I am hopeful that with increased financial awareness and stability we may be able to make some much needed improvements to the hall, but we will still need to be cautious.”

The meeting heard that over the past year the hall had provided a full and varied programme of professional music, musical theatre, opera, comedy and drama. There were sell-outs or near sell-outs for a number of events including Lip Service Theatre, The Swing Commanders, Wilful Missing, two screenings of the film, Lad: A Yorkshire Story, the Christmas pantomime and Midge Ure. And Settle Amateur Operatic Society’s production of The Sound of Music had attracted more than 1,500 people.

Mr Martingell said: “Our performance programme is as good as many larger towns and continues to attract people to Settle from a wide catchment area. This does have a real positive impact on the local economy with performers and audience staying overnight and of course increased business in Settle shops, pubs and cafes.”

Aside from theatre events, the hall was used extensively by the U3A for a whole range of activities and by the town council for a market.