Charities and the Environment – Public Consultation

[Cotham Marble]

Charities and the Environment – Public Consultation
The passing into law of the new Charities Act in November 2006 provides the potential to introduce a more equitable regime of Charity governance.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales is now carrying out consultation on the implementation of its guidance concerning the principal of “public benefit”. This consultation offers an opportunity to influence the future direction of Charity administration.

The Commission’s consultation document can be found at Consultation on Draft Public Benefit Guidance index page however it is 42 pages long ! For those who would like to contribute without having to read the entire document the Commission does say:

We welcome comments on the consultation questions which are included throughout our draft guidance but we also welcome any other comments or observations on any aspect of the draft guidance, on the legal analysis which underpins the guidance,………

One very simple way of influencing the the outcome of the Commission’s consultation is to make a comment in respect of what ‘public benefit’ should mean in terms of the Environment. At present there is nothing to even encourage Charities to behave with environmental responsibility – there is at least one UK educational Charity whose funds go towards maintaining a private jet !!!

At the very least all Charities above a certain size should be expected to prove their ‘public benefit’ by publishing an environmental audit.

Submissions to the consultation on ‘public benefit’ can be sent to:

Charity Commission Direct
PO Box 1227
Liverpool
L69 3UG

or by email to : enquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

Responses are requested by 6 June 2007

CM