Watlington Parish Council

Printable version - Email this to a friend

Watlington Town Hall

The Town Hall was built by Thomas Stonor of Stonor in 1664.

The Charity Commission Scheme of 1917 vested the property in the Watlington Parish Council “for the benefit of the residents of the Parish of Watlington.”

· Primary use of the building was stated to be to be used free of charge for meetings of (Church) Vestries, Parish Meetings, the School Managers of the said Parish and the Trustees of any of the Parish Charities.

· Other purposes.- provided the primary use was not interfered with, the Parish Council could charge rent for meetings of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Oxford entertainments, lectures and social meetings, and for such other purposes as the Parish Council decided were in the interests of the inhabitants of the Watlington

· Provided that there was no restriction regarding religious denomination or political party, and no part of the building shall, except under express statutory authority, be used for any purpose in connection with a Parliamentary election.

In 2009 the Parish Council was informed that it is both the Custodian Trustee of the property and the Administrator of the Charity. The Council has a dual role, firstly as a Local Authority and secondly as a Charity Trustee and the two roles should be kept entirely separate. All discussions and decisions relating to the charity should be taken at a meeting specifically called by the Trustees for that purpose, and not at a Council Meeting. The Parish Council therefore, at its Annual Meeting on 12^th May 2009 established a TOWN HALL CHARITY TRUSTEE BODY, which had its first meeting on 30^th June 2009. Canon Tony Williamson was elected its first Chair, Charles Rowton-Lee Vice-Chair, with Roger Beattie, Ian Hill and Rhian Woods present.

The National Association of Local Councils note of November 2007 BASIC CHARITY LAW (LTN 28) was noted which stated “The individuals involved in the Council’s sole trustee role are not charity trustees themselves; however they are responsible for ensuring that the local council acts appropriately in its role as the charity trustee”

The Town Hall Charity Trustee Body will make a report to the Annual Parish Meeting, but will not otherwise report or submit minutes to the Parish Council, which can make grants to the Town Hall Charity Trustee Body but cannot mandate it.