Agenda item

To consider a report regarding a draft scheme issued by the Charity Commission which would alter the trusts of the Recreation Ground charity and which, if confirmed, would enable the trustees to resolve the breaches of the existing trusts arising from the lease to Bath Rugby Club and the Leisure Centre being on trust land

The Board considered the report of the Lead Advisor to the Recreation Ground Trust informing that the Charity Commission had issued a draft Scheme which would alter the trusts of the Recreation Ground charity and which, if confirmed, would enable the trustees to resolve the breaches of the existing trusts arising from the lease to Bath Rugby Club and the Leisure Centre being on Trust land.

The Lead Advisor to the Recreation Ground Trust introduced his report and stated that the draft Scheme by the Charity Commission was an “enabling” scheme and provided a framework for the Trust to go forward. It would resolve the current problems with the objectives of the Trust and existing land uses. The timetable was determined by the Charity Commission and the Scheme would be published tomorrow and give one month in which representations can be made to the Charity Commission. He emphasised that this was not a new consultation and not a planning application or a property transaction but would deal with the uses of the land and constitution.

The Recreation Trust Project Adviser gave a power point presentation which covered the issues of the Objects of the Trust, Conflicts with the Objects, Strategic Review Options, Increases due to Lambridge and the Main Features of the Scheme. The draft Scheme had been slightly amended since the despatch of the Agenda papers and a revised version had been circulated. He stated that representations would need to be sent to the Charity Commission (details of how to do this were in the Report) but Officers and Members were available to assist with enquiries and explanations. Copies of the leaflet “The Future for the Rec”, together with plans showing the existing land use of the Recreation Ground and an indicative reconfiguration of the Ground showing activities and opportunity for additional activities, were available for members of the public to take away; further copies could be made available on request.

The Chair stated that he was willing on this occasion to take questions from the floor. The members of the public asked their questions about the use of Lambridge Training Ground (land swap), the draft Scheme, the Leisure Centre and the Rugby Club to which Officers responded. Councillor Manda Rigby also asked various questions to which the Chair responded. Councillor Dave Laming requested that, as Ward Member for Lambridge, he be included in any matters involving the Training Ground.

The Chair reiterated some of the main points of the draft Scheme. Councillor Tim Ball stated that this was a draft Scheme by the Charity Commission which would give enabling powers to a reconstituted Trust. Therefore, if confirmed, this could be the last meeting of the Trust as currently set up. He supported the proposals of the Charity Commission and therefore moved approval of the Recommendations as set out in paragraph 2.1 (i) – (iv) of the report. The motion was seconded by Councillor Simon Allen and on being put to the vote was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED to

(1)  Note the provisions of the draft Scheme;

(2)  Note and endorse the response to the draft Scheme sent by the Chair of the Trustees;

(3)  Note and endorse the Communications Plan to support the publication of the Scheme; and

(4)  Note and endorse the text of the explanatory leaflet to be made available during the period of the publication of the Scheme.