Bognor Regis Herald
29th July 2023
Letter to Chair of Arun Arts queries non-compliance with Charity Commission requirements
by Jan Cosgrove, Editor
The following letter has been sent by email to the Chairman of Arun Arts, which leases the Alexandra Theatre from Arun Council.
“Dear Hazel Latus
I note that, despite repeated reminders from myself, Arun Arts has failed over man months to update its list of Trustees at The Charity Commission.
Currently, as of today, the following are listed:
HAZEL LATUSChair13 March 2012None on recordMartin Rupert Dewey WebbTrustee14 March 2019None on recordMichael GattrellTrustee01 June 2018None on recordKathryn BennettTrustee02 October 2016None on recordJohn NorrisTrustee10 December 2013None on recordRICHARD HOLDENTrustee25 June 2013None on recordJENNIFER ELIZABETH BROWNTrustee25 June 2013None on recordPETER BALDWINTrusteeNone on record
At Companies House, the following Directors are listed:
THOMPSON, Jonathan Owen Aicard
There appears to be a discrepancy here, Mr Webb for example is listed as a trustee. In the M&A, the terms ‘trustee’ and ‘director’ are synonymous. I also note that the M&A quoted at the CC site is not the same as the one lodged at Co Hse.
You have been informed of this previously more than once. As an organisation with legal duties, this should have been cleared up ages ago.
I’m now informed by a member that at your recent AGM (3 months ago?) Mr Paul Broggi was voted in as a Trustee-Director, yet his details appear at neither site. Mr Broggi was until recently head of properties at Arun as you will be aware.
I am also aware that your organisation has evaded or rejected conditions of grant aid from the Town Council which required attendance at your trustee-director meetings by appointed Town Council elected representatives.
You are benefitting from a major refit of your leased premises funded through Arun Council by Government funding and Arun supplementary totalling £15m.
In my view, the conduct of your affairs is secretive, opaque and lacking public accountability. You objected to my statutory right to inspect your Register of Members. Indeed, it may be asked who are your members. I know some who tell me they know little of what is happening re your management of the theatre.
For note, your accounts at the Commission are overdue by 27 days. According to Co Hse, you filed a/cs with them 23/6/23 and these showed your reserves as at 31.8.20 were £78,543, as at 31.8.21 £65,738, and £44,166 as at 31.8.22.
Your organisation has had to cease activity in the Regis Centre as of recent days due to the improvement works, you have as yet no temporary premises.
Any use of nearby Arun premises should be conducted through competitive tendering in my view.
I am copying this to Mr Webb, whose status at as Trustee-Director must be clarified, and to Cllr Roger Nash, who I understand has supported you in a fundraising role and who thus should declare an appropriate interest as an Arun Councillor. Also the Leaders of the political groups.
Yours sincerely
Jan Cosgrove”
