Ealing Council has come under fire from the Charity Commission for failing to meet its legal obligations regarding the Victoria Hall Trust. The Commission has issued a list of actions that local authorities, including Ealing, must take to comply with charity law if they are acting as trustees.
Roger Green, chair of the Friends of the Victoria Hall (FoVH), expressed his concerns about Ealing’s shortcomings in a letter from Charity Commission CEO David Holdsworth. The issues raised in the letter include the council’s failure to keep separate accounts for the charity and the unauthorized use of charity land for council purposes.
Of particular concern is the council’s disposal of charity land without properly managing conflicts of interest that may arise between its role as trustee and statutory authority. According to a press release from the Charity Commission, there have been 38 cases in the past three years involving local authorities and charitable land, with Ealing Council being one of them.
Mr. Green highlighted the community’s objections to a proposed scheme by the council and the Commission, which would have resulted in the destruction of part of the Victoria Hall and limited its community use. He has written to the council chief executive to inquire about the actions that will be taken in response to the Charity Commission’s letter and the new guidance for local authorities.
It is crucial for Ealing Council to address these issues promptly and take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with charity law. The Victoria Hall is a valuable community asset that should be protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy. The Friends of the Victoria Hall are calling for urgent action to be taken to address the concerns raised by the Charity Commission and safeguard the trust for the benefit of the community.
