CARNEGIE COMMUNITY TRUST: WHERE ONLY FIVE TRUSTEES HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE

LAMBETHWATCH – CARNEGIE COMMUNITY TRUST: WHERE ONLY FIVE TRUSTEES HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
 
Two CIO’s – Community Interest Organisations – have applied to Lambeth council to take over the running of the Carnegie librarty in Herne Hill.

One is the secretive Carnegie Community Trust whose five trustees – apparently self-elected – include two former Lambeth Labour councillors.

The other is the Carnegie Library Association which is run by an elected committee of trustees, including representatives of library user groups and of the Friends of Carnegie Library.

The general feeling among the people – the REAL community – of Herne Hill is that the Labour-dominated Carnegie Community Trust – will get Lambeth’s seal of approval, even though Lambeth say they have appointed independent assessors to consider the two applications.

What these assessors may like to consider if they genuinely want to be independent is the Carnegie Community Trust’s constitution which is actually headed:

Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its Trustees (‘Foundation CIO’)

Other parts of the constitution include:

Objects

3: The CIO shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.

(Non-party in politics but full of Labour supporters – Ed.)

9. Charity trustees

(4) First charity trustees The first charity trustees are as follows, and are appointed for the following terms: Ms Carol Mandy Boucher for a term of three years Mr Philip Isaac for a term of two years Ms Frances Helen Lamb for a term of two years Ms Helen Mary Schofield for a term of three years Mr William Frederick Taggart for a term of three years.

Carol Boucher and Fred Taggart are the ex-Lambeth Labour councillors, Helen Schofield is the life partner of former Lambeth Labour council leader Steve Whaley.

(Who appointed them? No idea. – Ed.)
 
10. Appointment of charity trustees,etc.

10.2 (2) In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

(3) The charity trustees shall appoint a committee to develop and implement an effective trustee recruitment, selection and induction process.

(So the charity trustees choose the committee to add more trustees. – Ed.)
 
16. Membership of the CIO

(1) The members of the CIO shall be its charity trustees for the time being. The only persons eligible to be members of the CIO are its charity trustees. Membership of the CIO cannot be transferred to anyone else.

17. Associate (non-voting) membership (1) The charity trustees may create associate or other classes of non-voting membership, and may determine the rights and obligations of any such members (including payment of membership fees), and the conditions for admission to, and termination of membership of any such class of members.

(2) Associate membership shall be open to individuals aged 18 years or over who are either (a) resident in the area of benefit, (b) using the premises under a contract or (c) a patron of the CIO.

(3) Associate membership shall be open to voluntary and community organisations that operate in the area of benefit and to any organisation that is using the premises under a contract. Organisations may appoint one of their number to represent them at meetings.

(Non-voting membership: So only the trustees can vote. And they self-elect each other.- Ed.)

28. Amendment of constitution

As provided by sections 224-227 of the Charities Act 2011: (1) This constitution can only be amended: (a) by resolution agreed in writing by all members of the CIO; or (b) by a resolution passed by a 75% majority of votes cast at a general meeting of the members of the CIO.

(These apply as follows: 224.Amendment of constitution and procedure; 225.Amendment of constitution and charitable status; 226.Amendment of constitution and Commission’s consent; and 227.Registration and coming into effect of amendments.)

If there’s a reference to voting members who are not trustees News From Crystal Palace can’t find it. (Note: The full constitution can be found by ‘Googling’ Carnegie Community Trust constitution then pressing ‘constitution’ after the opening paragraph.)

THE COST OF LAMBETH TOWN HALL

During the Lambeth council budget meeting Cllr Scott Ainslie said that, more than two months ago, he had raised a query about the budget for the new town hall.