Folkestone Parks And Pleasure Grounds Charity

Folkestone Parks And Pleasure Grounds Charity registration charity number 1006288 findable here:

Folkestone Parks & Pleasure Grounds Charity

also

Folkestone Parks & Pleasure Grounds Charity 2

As council tax payers Folkestone & Sandgate residents pay roughly £35 a year to this charity. THE PRINCIPAL AIM OF THE CHARITY IS TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF SPECIFIC PARKS AND RECREATION GROUNDS SO THAT THE RESIDENTS OF FOLKESTONE AND SANDGATE CAN USE THEM FOR LEISURE PURSUITS AND TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OPEN SPACES IN AN URBAN AREA.

It has 1 trustee [Nine Councillors] and 1 employee. In 2012/13 it accounts see here Accounts demonstrate at pages 14 and 15 that

“No employee of Shepway District Council charged emoluments [read payments] of above £60,000 to the Charity in 2012/13.”

This is also true in 2011/12

No employee of Shepway District Council charged emoluments of above £60,000 to the Charity in 2011/12.

also 2010/11 AND 2009/10 AND 2008/09

It does not make clear who received this money. Alistair Stewart CEO of SDC already receives to sets of wages.

1 As the CEO of SDC.

2. As the returning officer for Shepway.

Each position enjoys a substantial pension pot. If Mr Stewart is in receipt of further payment; which I am not saying he, or others are, how much did he or others receive, and for what work was he or others possibly paid? I mean this charity exists because of our Council Tax and we should rightly know who is receiving monies from our Council Tax and from the Charity administered in our name.

One further thing. SDC have another charity Tanlade Charity.

see Tanlade Charity, which, Mr Stewart again is the responsible person. It appears it has not had more than £10,000 annual returns since 2010.  The Annual Return for Tanlade for 2013/14 is below  £10,000 threshold for this financial year, therefore does not show up in the books.

Folkestone Parks And Pleasure Grounds Charity was going to be administered by Folkestone Town Council, then at the last minute SDC decided not to pass the charity over. There has been a bit of a ding dong between SDC and FTC and it has cost quite a bit of money, of course all taxpayers money, yours and mine. When will these two Councils come to an amicable arrangement and stop costing Shepway Residents money? And when will any Councillor tell us how much is being paid to an SDC employee from Folkestone Parks & Pleasure Grounds Charity?

ShepwayVox