皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened a statutory inquiry into Augustine Housing Trust .

皇冠体育app Commission raised concerns with the trustees of the charity regarding agreements entered into by the charity to occupy commercial premises, some of which have resulted or may result in the charity becoming liable for the payment of business rates. Additional concerns about the trustees鈥� failure to comply with their legal obligations to produce independently examined accounts were also raised. 皇冠体育app trustees have failed to properly respond to the Commission鈥檚 concerns. As a result, the inquiry was opened on 12 March 2014 (see endnote 1).

皇冠体育app purpose of the inquiry is to examine regulatory concerns including whether the charity trustees have properly discharged their duties in furtherance of the charity鈥檚 purposes when making decisions to enter agreements related to the occupation of commercial premises and to ensure that they comply with their legal obligations in relation to the filing of accounts and annual returns.

Four charities are now under investigation by the regulator in connection to their business rates relief arrangements (see endnote 2).

It is the Commission鈥檚 policy, after it has concluded the inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. by the Commission are available on its website.

You can view the charity鈥檚 details on the

Ends

PR 41/14

Notes to Editors

1. 皇冠体育app Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. See www.charitycommission.gov.uk for further information.
2. Our mission is to be the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, acting in the public鈥檚 interest, to ensure that: * charities know what they have to do * the public know what charities do * charities are held to account
3. Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Charity Commission the power to institute inquiries. 皇冠体育app opening of an inquiry gives the Commission access to a range of protective and remedial powers.
4. 皇冠体育app Commission鈥檚 decision to announce the opening of a statutory inquiry is based on whether it is in the public interest to do so and with consideration of our objective to increase public trust and confidence in charities. Read more information on the Commission鈥檚 policy and factors taken into account when deciding to issue a press release.

Endnotes

(1) An appeal against the Commission鈥檚 decision to open a statutory inquiry was lodged with the First-tier Tribunal by the charity on 19 May 2014.

(2) 皇冠体育app three other charities currently under inquiry regarding their business rates relief arrangements are: Africa Relief Trust, (inquiry opened 12 July 2013), Public Safety Charitable Trust, (inquiry opened 21 May 2013) and Kenya Aid Programme, (inquiry opened on 20 April 2012).