I am concerned over the governance of a charity which has a major contract to provide services to the Council of which I am an elected member. The charity was established last year, specifically to take up this contract, and is a 'local offshoot' of a previously established charity which already existed to supply similar services to another Council. There are now three separate bodies - charities for each of the 2 contracts, plus a holding company which is linked to both. The Managing Director of the holding company (ie the boss of the whole organisation) was made a trustee of the charity serving my Council - and is incidentally also a trustee of the charity serving the other Council. I find this all very strange - that the 'head of paid service' can also be a trustee, especially in circumstances where presumably the individual was involved in the appointment of (other) trustees. Also, in response to a recent written question to the company from a member of the public about the existence and role of the 'local trustees', the MD responded with some info about the other trustees but added that as she was also a trustee any comments or complaints to trustees could be directed to her ! I have been unable to see a copy of the charity's governing documents, so I don't know what they say about allowing payments, and nor do I know whether the organisation has cleared this issue with the Charity Commission. However, i am concerned about governance, accountability and conflict of interest issues and would welcome your comments.

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