Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest on this occasion.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

Report of the County Treasurer

The Committee received the Endowment Charity Funds Annual Accounts 2020/21 report which presented the 2020/21 Annual Accounts for each of the Endowment Charity Funds ‘Charities’ where Staffordshire County Council has been appointed Custodian Trustee.

The Committee were reminded that the Council is the Custodian Trustee for 12 Charities and that it also administers the funds of several other Charities. The Committee, in its role as Custodian Trustee, is required to approve their Annual Accounts, which include a Statement of Income and Expenditure for the 2020/21 financial year and a Summary of Investments as at 31 March 2021.

The Committee were also informed that 3 of the 12 Charities, with income levels of over £25,000, have had their annual reports included for approval by the Committee, which have been audited by the Staffordshire Internal Audit Service, prior to submission to the Charity Commission.

RESOLVED – That (a) the Committee approve the 2020/21 Annual Accounts for the 12 Charities where the Council is the Custodian Trustee; and

(b) the Committee approve the Trustee’s Annual Reports for the 3 Charities, which are required to submit such to the Charity Commission.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

The Committee were reminded that at their meeting held on 25 September 2019 they received a report from Stafford North End Charity wishing to make changes to the charity’s constitution.

The Committee were informed that the County Council are listed as trustees but for a number of years have had no active involvement in the running and management of the charity. It was reported that the managing trustees of the charity have formed another charity and have transferred all the assets to the newly formed charity.

The Committee were advised that Staffordshire County Council remain liable for the acts of the charity and considered the proposal for steps to be taken to remove Staffordshire County Council as a Trustee of the charity and enter into a Deed of Indemnity.

RESOLVED – That (a) the Deed of Indemnity relating to Stafford North End Community Association, annexed to the report, be completed.

(b) any further steps to remove Staffordshire County Council as trustees and/or to close the Charity be delegated to the Assistant Director for Commercial and Assets.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services.

The Committee were reminded that at their meeting held on 15 June 2021 the following resolution was agreed by the Committee:

RESOLVED– That the Committee approve the request to release the restrictions on spending the Charity’s capital and agree in principle to funding of £2.5million subject to the concurrence of the Charity Commission and subject to the grant agreement being entered into between the parties.  

The Committee were informed that the Charity Commission had concurred with the trustees resolution under s282 of the Charities Act and that we are now waiting for the Academy to propose heads of terms for the required grant agreement.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

The Chairman to move:-

PART TWO

(reports in this section are exempt)

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below.

(Exemption paragraph 3)

RESOLVED – That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on the 15 June 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.