Apologies were received from Ms Chilvers, Mr Clarke, Mr Faragher, Mr Hirst, Mrs Hubbard, Mr Keeble, Ms Middlehurst, Ms Morrissey, Mrs Slade, Mr Trump and Mr Tumbridge.   

No declarations of interest were received. 

The minutes of the Assizes House Trust Fund meeting held on 16 September 2015 were agreed as a true record.   

Following staff changes, Brentwood Assize House (‘the Charity’) (Charity Number 230138) were asked to reaffirm the appointment of the Chief Executive as its Secretary and two people to act on the Charity’s behalf for formal contact with the Charity Commission. 

Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Mr Hirst SECONDED the recommendation in the report and a vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED:    

1.    That Philip Ruck, Chief Executive be appointed to be the Secretary of Brentwood Assize House;

2.    That the following people be appointed with immediate effect to act on the Charity’s behalf for contact with the Charity Commission including submission of annual returns:

-       John Chance (Financial Director); and

-       Phoebe Barnes (Accountant) Jacqueline Van Mallaerts (Principal Accountant - Revenue).

Reason for recommendation

To assist the Charity to comply with their responsibilities, there was a need to appoint a Secretary to act on behalf of the Charity.

As a registered charity the Charity was required to submit annual returns to the Charity Commission.  To enable the Council to do this on the Charity’s behalf it would need to formally nominate named representatives.   

The Trustees of Brentwood Assize House were asked to approve the Statement of Accounts for 2015/16.

Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Mr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendation in the report and a vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

That the Statement of Accounts for 2015/16 at appendix A was approved.

Reason for recommendation

As a registered charity the Trust was required to submit annual returns to the Charity Commission. 

The Trustees of the Assizes House Trust Fund were informed that no bids had been received since the last meeting.

The Trustees were asked to note that the assets of the Assizes Trust were considerable and as such a review should be undertaken as to the effectiveness of their use. 

Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Mr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendations in the report and a vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.    The Chief Executive Secretary prepares a business case for the use of the funds of the Assizes Trust. 

2.    The Chief Executive Secretary be granted delegated authority in consultation with Group Leaders of Brentwood Borough Council  or their appointed deputies to implement the agreed recommendations of the business case subject to:

a)    The recommendations were within the award criteria of the Brentwood Assize Trust (see Appendix A).

b)   The recommendation do not disadvantage any current recipients of grants or those that benefit from the current operations of the Trust.

3.    An amount of up to £5,000 be reserved for legal expenses relating to the activities in recommendation 1 and 2 above.     

Reason for recommendation

To assist the Charity to comply with their responsibilities, there was a need to review the existing assets and how they can best be used for the benefit of the community in Brentwood. 

Trustees would be advised of the date of the next meeting once it had been set.