Purpose

West Sussex County Council (WSCC)
is the sole Corporate Trustee of the St John’s Institute
Charity (charity number 305190).  
This charity owns the freehold estate of
the Park Centre, Park Road, Burgess Hill, West
Sussex, RH15 8EU. 
 
The Park Centre was declared surplus to operational
requirements (decision reference
CAB 02
21/22)
and identified as suitable for a Community Asset Transfer.
In order for this to happen WSCC needs
to follow a legal process which requires a change to the objects of
the charity, the selection and appointment of a community
organisation to take over the building and agreement with the
charity commission on a mechanism to transfer the Park Centre land
and charitable obligations to the new organisation.  
 
A key
decision to progress this matter was taken in November 2023:
(decision reference
FP03
(23-24)). Following further discussions with the Charity
Commission, in order for this to
progress further the County Council needs to appoint a
‘charity contact’ person for the Charity
Commission. 

Decision

The Cabinet Member
for Finance and Property has approved that the County Council acting as Trustee for
the St John’s Institute Charity appoints Elaine Sanders, Head
of Assets, West Sussex County Council to be the authorised
‘charity contact’ with the Charity Commission and
thereby authorised to set up the My Charity Commission Account for
the St John’s Institute Charity (ref 
305190). 
Once appointed Elaine Sanders is authorised to appoint further
‘charity contacts’with prior
approval of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, as
required to progress the proposals as set out in the key
decision
FP03 (23-24).