The new treasurer of the Grammar School Hall Management Committee, Graham Couldwell, spoke to last week's Beauchamp Parish Council. A letter from a majority of GSHMC members to Beauchamp Parish Council (in last September's Chronicle) which implied strong criticism of the Parish Councils holding onto monies earmarked for the Hall stated that a Charity has the same VAT exemption as the Council. Following this letter the then Chairman of the Parish Council (Richard Green) resigned and the lease has been signed and finance passed over from the Parish Council to the Management Committee.
However, the new GSHMC treasurer told Councillors that, although the GSH is a registered charity, no significant refund of VAT will be forthcoming, resulting in an increased cost of the project of £34,000.
There were some surprised Councillors following this news. Councillor Ted Davis said he thought the VAT had been sorted out and was extremely annoyed. He felt he had been led up the garden path. Acting Chairman, Richard Other, stated that Council had not been correctly advised, and the matter had not been looked into properly. Councillor Beryl Tory ( a member of the GSHMC but not a signatory to the 1997 letter) stated that the GSHMC had not been correctly advised, and Councillor Ken Oswin (by letter) expressed concern.
However, it was felt essential to look forward in a positive manner and Councillors agreed to a joint Council/Management Committee approach to Customs and Excise to investigate the possibility of a scheme suggested by 21st Century Halls, and offered by Graham Couldwell as a legal channel around payment of £34,000 VAT.
The Chairman stated that this was an enquiry without any Council commitment, and Councillor Davis reiterated that before any action was taken, hard and fast commitments in writing by Customs and Excise were required, not opinions.
February '98
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© Kibworth & District Chronicle 1998