The Charities and Trusts Committee met on Monday 14 July 2025, approving the 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 annual accounts for the 13 endowment charities for which Staffordshire County Council acts as custodian trustee. These accounts, which are submitted to the Charity Commission, detail the administration and investment of these charities. The income generated by these charities is allocated by managing trustees at respective schools for various purposes, including educational visits, prize-giving events, sporting and cultural activities, and financial assistance for items like uniforms.

While most charities showed activity, attention was drawn to the Burton on Trent Educational Charity, where income from a land sale remained unused. Discussions are ongoing regarding its future, with a potential winding up and asset transfer to a similar charity. The committee also discussed the need for a structured plan to monitor dormant charities and requested to be kept informed about schools, projects, and financial allocations to provide better context for future requests.

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 and associated equipment on the Elizabeth Block at Landau Forte Academy. This consent is required for the portion of the school land held under trust, as the County Council had already provided landlord's consent for its own leased section of the site. The installation is expected to align with the charity's purpose, with risks managed through insurance and a structural safety assessment confirming no outstanding issues. There will be no cost to the Council, as expenses are pre-approved and a contractor is already on site.

Tamworth Youth Centre Fund

The committee reaffirmed the previous decision to sell the Tamworth Youth Centre to Tamworth Borough Council. The proceeds from the sale will be used to create an endowment fund, from which income will be granted to further the charity's objectives. The Tamworth Youth Centre property, located in the Gungate area of Tamworth, had become vacant with no anchor tenant to manage it. Following consultation with the Charity Commission and local stakeholders, it was determined that the building was no longer viable for its original purpose. The sale proceeds will establish an annual grants programme, with Skivvies (Staffordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services) proposed to manage the distribution of funds to eligible applicants within the Tamworth area, focusing on young people. The committee delegated the approval of all necessary documents for the sale and the establishment of the grant programme to the Assistant Director for Commercial and Assets.