Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19^th September, 2016, as now submitted, be received and approved.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance) and Monitoring Officer presented the report and took the opportunity to update the Committee on progress since the previous Charities Committee meeting held on 16^th September, 2016 and the Teversal Grange Advisory Committee meeting held on 23^rd March, 2017, as follows:-

Temporary Facilities for the Cricket Club

Committee were advised that temporary changing facilities continued to be provided to the Cricket Club by the Council for the current cricket season.  A licence was currently being drafted and would be with the Cricket Club by the end of the week.

Progress with Leases

Written confirmation had been requested from the Clubs confirming their acceptance of the Council’s heads of terms for entering into the leases by the 31st October, 2016.  With all confirmations duly received (the Visitors’ Centre had sent confirmation in May 2016), draft leases had been given to the Clubs and the Visitors’ Centre for consideration during March 2017.

In accordance with due process, the Council was now proceeding with advertising the leases in accordance with charities legislation and writing to CISWO to obtain their permission to enter into the leases prior to seeking consent from the Charities Commission.

Future Proposal for the Trust

At a previous meeting it had been agreed that discussions would take place regarding the Football Club’s proposition for a new charity to take over the Trust in its entirety from the Council.  Following the Council meeting in October 2016, a meeting took place between the Council and a local resident with experience of running charities but with no existing links to any of the Clubs and Visitors’ Centre at the request of the Football Club.

Information was exchanged at the meeting and in writing afterwards.  Committee Members were advised that no further meetings had taken place to date but the Football Club had confirmed that they were talking to the other Clubs and Visitors’ Centre about the proposals and would be reporting back to the Council in due course.

Forthcoming Events

Members considered the request to hold the Booth Decorators Summer League Race and the Notts. AAA’s Summer League Race in April 2017 and August 2017 respectively.  The Committee were also asked (following a request from the Clubs and Visitors’ Centre) to consider whether there was scope for introducing parking charges to groups using the car park or locating an honesty box on the site for donations as appropriate.

Utility Costs

Concerns were raised by the Visitors’ Centre at the recent Teversal Grange Advisory Committee meeting that the car park floodlights were still linked to their electricity supply and they were still paying for the energy use.  In addition, the Centre were still awaiting a refund from the Council in respect of previous energy costs incurred.

Confirmation was given to the Committee that work was underway to ensure all the occupants on site had their own utility accounts and were advised that a resolution to the car park lighting connection had been unavoidably delayed because the Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance) and Monitoring Officer presented the report and reminded Members of their previous decision to transfer funds from the William Booth Charity for the Poor to the Community Food Bank at Annesley Woodhouse once the organisation had achieved the requisite charitable status.

Members were advised that the Community Food Bank had now achieved the charitable status and their registration number was 1170616.

In addition and at the time the trust was created there was an initial investment of £166 13s 4d in a Savings Bond. During the life of the trust the sum had at some point been transferred into the investment the trust currently holds. The investment yielded a small dividend each year but its value was based on shares and it was suggested that the Community Food Bank would benefit more from readily available money as opposed to the small dividend that the investment currently provided.

Committee were therefore asked to consider recommending to Council the proposal for the investment to be liquidated before transfer to enable the Community Food Bank to immediately put the funds to use to assist the residents of Ashfield.

Members also acknowledged that at least two thirds of Members voting at the Council meeting would need to be in favour of the proposal for the Charity Commission to give its approval to the transfer of funds and subsequent liquidation of the investment.

RESOLVED

that Council be recommended to approve the following:

a)    the Authority, as trustee, exercises its transfer power as set out in section 268 of the Charities Act 2011, to transfer the funds from the William Booth Charity for the Poor to Community Food Bank Kirkby Woodhouse;

b)    the permanent endowment, currently held by the trust, be liquidated as part of the transfer so that the funds can be transferred as a whole;

c)    the Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Chief Executive (Governance) be authorised to carry out all necessary actions to implement the Council’s decision.

Reasons:

1.    The decision made previously was to transfer the funds from the William Booth Charity for the Poor to the Food Bank once they were awarded charitable status. Charitable status was awarded to the Community Food Bank Kirkby Woodhouse on 8th December, 2016. The Community Food Bank Kirkby Woodhouse has a similar purpose to the William Booth Charity for the Poor which is why it is recommended that the funds are now transferred to them.

2.    In respect of the investment it is believed that the Community Food Bank would benefit from readily available money as opposed to the small dividend that the investment provides.  It is therefore recommended that the investment is liquidated before transfer to enable the Community Food Bank to immediately put the funds to use to assist the residents of Ashfield.