The Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee met to discuss the finalisation of accounts for 2024/25, an independent building survey, and the appeal against the Charity Commission Scheme of September 2024. The committee agreed that the report and its appendices should not be published due to containing financial and business information. They also agreed to the independent building survey and authorised officers to negotiate final terms with the council regarding the lease and premium apportionment, including appointing an independent valuer.

Victoria Hall Trust General Update

The Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee received an update on several key issues. The committee agreed that the report and its appendices should not be published because they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular individuals or organisations, as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972¹.

Measured Building Survey

The committee noted the revised independent measured building survey of Ealing Town Hall, which was commissioned to verify the extent of Trust property as a proportion of the entirety of the building. The measurements have been agreed by both Trust and council officers as a true and accurate representation of Ealing Town Hall. The survey confirmed that the Victoria Hall and the Prince's Hall, which are undisputedly owned by the Victoria Hall Trust, together account for 938m² of floor space, representing 14.47% of the total Town Hall area.

The committee agreed that the survey provides an independent verification to the Trustee of the floor area of the Trust property as a proportion of Ealing Town Hall. They authorised officers acting for the Trust to negotiate final terms with the council around lease and premium apportionment as anticipated under the Scheme, by reference to these measurements, including appointing an independent valuer to verify that the Trust is receiving best consideration.

2024/25 Accounts

The committee noted that the accounts for the 2024/25 financial year have been submitted to the Charity Commission following clarification that there is not a requirement for an independent examination or full Annual Report to be submitted to the Commission due to the charity's income not exceeding £10,000 in the reporting year.

The Trust property has been closed throughout the 2024/25 reporting period, which has impacted the Trust's ability to generate income. The accounts indicate a marginal cost in the reporting period of £1,798, which is the net position after an adjustment to reimburse the charity £102,018 for the costs of participating in the earlier Charity Commission appeal.

Appeal Against Charity Commission Scheme

The committee noted that the First-tier tribunal dismissed the appeal against the Charity Commission Scheme of September 2024, with the tribunal's decision attached at Appendix 3 of the Public Reports Pack. The appellants have 21 days from the date of this decision to apply for permission to appeal this decision, with a deadline of 23 December 2025.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting will be confirmed at a later date.