The King George's Field Charity Board was scheduled to discuss the terms of reference for the upcoming municipal year, alongside financial and activity updates for the King's Field Trust. The Board was also set to review proposed fees and charges for the hire of the Art and Ecology Pavilions in Mile End Park.

Terms of Reference for the King George's Field Charity Board

The Board was scheduled to review its terms of reference, membership, and quorum for the 2026/2027 municipal year. The report outlined that the King George's Field Charity Board is responsible for administering the affairs of the King George's Field, Mile End charity, and the King George's Field – Stepney (Tredegar Square, Bow) charity, discharging all duties of the Council as sole trustee. This includes several pieces of land such as Stepney Green Park, Whitehorse Road Open Space, Tredegar Square, and most of Mile End Park, encompassing the Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Mile End Stadium, as well as ten shop units beneath the 'Green Bridge' at Mile End. The membership of the Board consists of all Members of the Cabinet, with a quorum of three members. The report also listed the scheduled meeting dates for the remainder of the year: 10 June 2026, 9 September 2026, 13 January 2027, and 14 April 2027, all at 5.30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

King George's Field Trust Finance, Activity, and Governance Updates

An update was scheduled to be provided on the financial forecast for the King George's Field Trust for 2026/27 and a summary of activities delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025/26 (1 January to 31 March 2026). The report indicated that the 2025/26 year-end outturn was being finalised, with a balanced position expected for 2026-27, subject to the completion of the year-end accounts and audit process. The activities update detailed over 970 sessions delivered across key facilities, including Stay & Play, Whitehorse Adventure Playground, and Stepney Green Astroturf, with participation exceeding 29,000 attendances. These activities aimed to improve health and wellbeing, support local artists, and enhance park safety and biodiversity. The report also noted that the Charity's accounts are subject to independent audit, with recent years in the process of finalisation and submission to the Charity Commission.

Review of Fees and Charges for Art and Ecology Pavilions

The Board was scheduled to review proposed increases to the hire charges for the Art and Ecology Pavilions in Mile End Park for the 2026/27 period. The report explained that these pavilions are part of the King George's Field Trust estate and are hired out for commercial and private use to generate income for the upkeep of Mile End Park. The proposed increases were based on inflation (3.3% CPI March 2026) and rising maintenance and operating costs. The report noted that no fee increases were applied for the 2025/26 financial year, and the pavilions had received an 11.4% uplift in 2024/25. The proposed changes included a new block booking rate for organisations guaranteeing a minimum number of days, a half-day weekend booking option, and a 20% discount for Tower Hamlets residents for standard pavilion bookings. Benchmarking against similar venues indicated that the proposed rates would remain competitive.

Public Benefit Guidance

The Board was scheduled to note the Charity Commission's Public Benefit Guidance, which outlines the duties of charity trustees. This guidance emphasizes the need for trustees to ensure that a charity's purpose is beneficial and serves the public, and that any detriment or harm does not outweigh the benefit. Trustees are required to be aware of the guidance, take it into account when making decisions, and provide a good reason if they depart from it. The guidance also details the public aspect, which requires a charity's purpose to benefit the public in general or a sufficient section of the public, without giving rise to more than incidental personal benefit.