The Charities and Trusts Committee of Staffordshire Council met on Monday 14 July 2025, approving annual accounts for 13 endowment charities and granting a licence for alterations to Landau Forte Academy for the installation of solar panels. The committee also agreed to sell the Tamworth Youth Centre to Tamworth Borough Council, with the proceeds to be used to establish an annual grants programme.

Endowment Charities' Annual Accounts 2024/25

The committee reviewed and approved the Endowment Charities' Annual Accounts for 2024/25. Staffordshire County Council acts as custodian trustee for 13 educational endowment charities, overseeing their investments and administration. The accounts, which are submitted to the Charity Commission, detail the allocation of income delegated to managing trustees at respective schools. Three charities generate annual incomes exceeding £25,000, requiring a trustees' report and an internal audit report.

The Rugeley Educational Endowment, which now primarily supports The Hart School, was highlighted. The accounts are generally straightforward, detailing income and expenditure for activities such as educational visits, prize-giving evenings, and financial assistance for items like uniforms.

Concerns were raised about periods of inactivity for some charities, including the Burton on Trent Educational Charity and the Joan and Peter Harris Music Trust. It was explained that funds are sometimes set aside for larger projects, such as the Stone Alleynes Foundation Endowment's previous intention to fund a theatre. The committee agreed to establish a structured plan to monitor dormant charities and requested to be kept informed about schools, projects, and financial allocations.

Landau Forte Academy QEMS - Elizabeth Block

A licence for alterations was granted to the Landau Forte Charitable Trust for the installation of solar roof panels on the Elizabeth Block at Landau Forte Academy. This was necessary because part of the school site is held in trust by the County Council, and landlord's consent was required for the alterations on this portion of the land. The County Council had already provided consent for the section of land it owns.

The committee was assured that risks and liabilities were largely covered by insurance, with an independent structural safety assessment showing no outstanding issues. Disruption to school operations was considered acceptable, and there were no identified legal or financial risks to the charity. The installation of solar panels aligns with the charity's purpose and will incur no costs for the Council, as expenses are pre-approved and the contractor is already on site.

Tamworth Youth Centre Fund

The committee reaffirmed its previous decision to sell the Tamworth Youth Centre to Tamworth Borough Council. The proceeds from the sale will be used to create an endowment, with the income generated to be distributed through an annual grants programme to further the charity's objectives.

The Tamworth Youth Centre property, located in the Gungate area of Tamworth, is part of a larger redevelopment plan by Tamworth Borough Council. The County Council had previously ceased delivering youth services in 2014, and the building had become vacant with no anchor tenant. Various organisations, including alcohol dependency services and Humankind, had previously occupied the building but did not contribute to larger maintenance costs.

Concerns were raised about the consultation process to find alternative users for the building, with questions about potential conflicts of interest due to the involvement of both the County Council and Tamworth Borough Council. It was clarified that the County Council is not involved in the purchase, and the sale is being conducted to achieve appropriate value, as confirmed by an independent valuation. The Charity Commission has granted an order permitting the sale.

The committee discussed the current financial state of the charity, which has approximately £80,000 in permanent endowment and £22,500 in temporary investment. It was noted that the charity has been inactive for over 10 years. The proposal is for Skivvies (Staffordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services) to manage the distribution of funds to relevant applicants, focusing on children and youth in the Tamworth area. The age range for beneficiaries was clarified to be up to 25 years old.

The committee agreed to reaffirm the decision to sell the Tamworth Youth Centre and delegate approval of the necessary documents to the Assistant Director for Commercial and Assets.