Town Lands Charity
Background
The Dry Drayton Townlands Charity was established before 1616 when a small parcel of land was given “for the poor of Dry Drayton”. The land was originally let to villagers as allotments and the income from the allotments was applied in different ways to help the poor of the village. In recent years it has not proved possible to derive an income from the land which is inconveniently situated on the edge of the Parish and is not in demand for allotments. Part of the land is being compulsorily purchased as a part of the A14 improvements.
The Trustees consulted the local community on
a) the idea of selling the land in general,
b) changing the objectives of the Charity
c) future projects the charity might undertake.
As a result of this the Charity Commission, at the request of the Trustees, have proposed a new scheme for the Charity, now posted on their website for public consultation.
Below is the official notice from the Charity Commission with a link to the proposed scheme on their web site.
Charity Commission - Charity: Town Lands (203013)
The Commission proposes to make a Scheme (a legal document) for this charity.
The Scheme will provide the charity with a power of sale. Any sale will need to comply with the requirements of s117 – 123 of the Charities Act 2011.
The Scheme will also provide the charity with new purposes.
Those purpose are for the prevention or relief of poverty in the Parish of Dry Drayton. If the charity’s income cannot be used for this purpose, then it can be used to promote such charitable purposes for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Dry Drayton as the trustees think fit.
A copy of the Scheme can be seen at www.charitycommission.gov.uk/our-regulatory-work/how-to-comment-on-a-scheme/schemes-and-orders/ (If you cannot access this please call our contact centre on 0300 066 9197)
Comments or representations on these proposals can be made to the Commission within two weeks from 10 March 2018 by completing the form on our website. Please quote NJ/203013/Charity Services.