24. 01-12-20 Future Structure of Water Conservation Trust

Today I chaired a meeting of representatives from the Water Conservators Company and Water Conservation Trust to discuss the future structure of the Water Conservation Trust. Currently the Trust exists as a Charity but not as a company entity. Hence, it was agreed that we need to move to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) to give the new body a legal status and protect the Trustees.

Two types of CIO are recommended by the Charity Commission. A Foundation CIO is normally governed by a trust deed, run solely by its trustees and doesn’t have a voting membership. A Foundation CIO is probably closest to the current structure of the Trust. An Association CIO is often used if you want your charity to be a corporate body and have a wider membership, including voting members other than the charity trustees. In this case the members elect Trustees and can make decisions on how the assets of Trust are utilised. The definition of a member is quite open, it could be the donors, all members of the Water Conservators Company or the Company as a single member.

It was agreed that it was unwise to move straight to a solution at this stage. The need to reinforce the purpose of Company and Trust working together to meet the charitable aims of the Company was recognised and it was agreed that those present would work together to draw up a statement on the way forward including the need to increase the engagement of Company members in the Trust, and bring in new members and expertise to increase funding. A draft statement would be drawn up for discussion at the next meeting of those present on 15th December 2020.