Nine of the fifteen members of Datchet Parish Council (DPC) – aided and abetted by the Clerk – have failed in their attempt to take control of the important and valuable assets of a Datchet Charity by repeatedly and falsely claiming that DPC is the sole managing trustee of the DRCCT – Charity Number 252303.
IT IS TRUE that the DRCCT was established in 1967 and purchased the land known as the Sabatini Land with the aim of promoting the social, moral, and physical wellbeing of the people resident in the village of Datchet and the surrounding district.
IT IS TRUE that the Sabatini Land is legally owned by the DRCCT, and that whatever is on the land belongs to the charity, including the village hall complex. This portfolio of assets is very valuable.
IT IS NOT TRUE that Datchet Parish Council (DPC) is the sole managing trustee of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust (DRCCT).
IT IS TRUE that any legitimate DRCCT meeting would have been held in Datchet Hall and in public rather than in Windsor and in private.
IT IS TRUE that the DPC Clerk has accessed the Charity Commission website and removed Trustee names.
IT IS TRUE that the DPC Clerk is refusing to reinstate the names of the legitimate Charity Trustees.
Datchet Parish Council has used the local press, the DPC web site and social media to undermine and rubbish the reputations of two experienced Charity Trustees.
IT IS TRUE that Monica Davies (first elected to DPC in 2015) and Ewan Larcombe (first elected to DPC in 1986) are still the DRCCT Trustees.
JUST ASK THESE NINE INDIVIDUALS –‘WHEN WERE YOU ELECTED TO DATCHET PARISH COUNCIL’
The DPC public statement below identifies the names of the individual Datchet Parish Councillors involved in the failed takeover bid. Could this be a ‘conspiracy to defraud’?
PUBLIC STATEMENT – RELEASED BY INTERIM DRCCT COMMITTEE AND DATCHET PARISH COUNCIL
DATE 15.04.25
Datchet Parish Council Takes Action to Ensure Proper Governance of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust (DRCCT) and Safeguard Staff Welfare.
Datchet Parish Council (DPC), in its legal capacity as the sole managing trustee of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust (DRCCT), has taken the necessary and considered decision to dissolve the current DRCCT Committee. This action has been taken with the paramount objective of ensuring the proper governance of the charity and, crucially, to safeguard the welfare of Datchet Parish Council staff.
This difficult decision to dissolve the current DRCCT Committee has been necessitated by serious concerns regarding the behaviour of certain individuals within the former committee, which has had a detrimental impact on Datchet Parish Council staff. The DPC has a fundamental duty of care to its employees and is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful working environment. An investigation by the DPC’s staffing committee upheld a complaint of bullying and harassment against a member of the DRCCT Committee (Monica Davies) arising from their communications with a DPC staff member. Furthermore, there have been other instances of concerning behaviour towards DPC staff by two members of the DRCCT Committee (Monica Davies and Ewan Larcombe), creating an unacceptable and intimidating environment.
“We have a fundamental duty of care to ensure a safe and respectful working environment for everyone, and we will take firm action to protect them from any form of bullying or abusive behaviour, regardless of its origin” – David Buckley DPC Chairman.
Given its legal responsibility as the sole managing trustee, Datchet Parish Council must take all necessary steps to protect its staff and ensure the effective governance of the DRCCT in accordance with its objectives. Consequently, the Council has had to dissolve the current DRCCT Committee.
The DPC will now move swiftly to establish a new DRCCT Committee comprised of individuals committed to the charity’s aims and able to work collaboratively and respectfully. This new committee will operate under the understanding that the Datchet Parish Council is the sole trustee and will maintain the independence and status of the DRCCT as a charity serving the community of Datchet.
We expect that the outgoing members of the DRCCT Committee will act in the best interests of the charity, the community, and the village by ensuring a smooth and efficient handover of all relevant information, documentation and administration processes to the newly formed committee. This cooperation is vital to ensure a seamless transition and no disruption to the running of the Village Hall and other buildings within the complex, which provide important services and facilities for the residents of Datchet.
Background
The Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust was established in 1967 and it purchased the land known as the Sabatini Land with the aim of promoting the social, moral, and physical wellbeing of the people resident in the village of Datchet and the surrounding district. The Sabatini Land is legally owned by the DRCCT, and whatever is on the land belongs to the charity, including the Village Hall complex.
Comments
Cllr Ian Bacon the new interim chairman said – “It is a privilege to step in as Interim Chairman during this transition, and my immediate focus will be on ensuring the smooth running of the Village Hall and its facilities for the benefit of the entire Datchet community.”
DPC Chairman David Buckley said – “Datchet Parish Council remains committed to the objectives of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust and to ensuring that the Sabatini Land and its facilities continue to benefit the community for which they were intended.”
These are the DPC members that voted for this action – Chairman David Buckley, Lead for Properties – Darren Sanders, Lead for Cemetery – Caroline Wise, Lead for Events – Andrew Clemins, Cllr Glover, Cllr Young, Cllr Bacon, Cllr Loveridge and Cllr Whelan
For further information contact – Steevan Glover Mob 07900218624 / Steevanglover@gmail.com
For additional comment contact David Buckley DPC chairman cllr.dbuckley@datchetparishcouncil.gov.uk
Ian Bacon New Interim DRCCT Chairman – ian.drcct@gmail.com
END
Below is a copy of the report from the Slough Observer online dated 24/4/2025.
Datchet Parish Council dissolves village hall charity committee.
A parish council has dissolved a committee over concerns about the behaviour of some of its members. Datchet Parish Council (DPC) made the decision to dissolve the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust (DRCCT) committee citing “serious concerns regarding the behaviour of certain individuals within the former committee, which has had a detrimental impact on Datchet Parish Council staff.”
The decision followed an investigation by the DPC’s staffing committee, which upheld a complaint of bullying and harassment against a member of the DRCCT committee, Monica Davies.
The investigation found that this behaviour arose from communications with a DPC staff member.
There were also other instances of “concerning behaviour” towards staff by two members of the DRCCT committee, Monica Davies and Ewan Larcombe.
DPC chairman David Buckley said: “We have a fundamental duty of care to ensure a safe and respectful working environment for everyone, and we will take firm action to protect them from any form of bullying or abusive behaviour, regardless of its origin.”
The DPC is now in the process of establishing a new DRCCT committee, comprised of individuals who are committed to the charity’s aims and able to work collaboratively and respectfully.
The new committee will operate under the understanding that the DPC is the sole trustee and will maintain the independence and status of the DRCCT as a charity serving the community of Datchet.
The DPC expects the outgoing members of the DRCCT committee to ensure a smooth and efficient handover of all relevant information, documentation, and administration processes to the newly formed committee.
This is to ensure there is no disruption to the running of the village hall and other buildings within the complex, which provide important services and facilities for the residents of Datchet.
Ian Bacon, the new interim chairman of the DRCCT management committee, said: “It is a privilege to step in as interim chairman during this transition, and my immediate focus will be on ensuring the smooth running of the village hall and its facilities for the benefit of the entire Datchet community.”
The DRCCT was established in 1967 and purchased the land known as the Sabatini Land with the aim of promoting the social, moral, and physical wellbeing of the people resident in the village of Datchet and the surrounding district.
The Sabatini Land is legally owned by the DRCCT, and whatever is on the land belongs to the charity, including the village hall complex.
END OF OBSERVER ARTICLE
This is the link to the Slough Observer article –
THE EMAIL DATED 15-4-2025
In an email dated 15-4-2025 – the new Clerk to the Trustees wrote as below:
The current interim Management Committee has been elected as follows, and their contact email addresses are as follows:
· Chairman of Management Committee: Ian Bacon – ian.drcct@gmail.com
· Vice Chair: Steevan Glover Steevanglover@gmail.com
· Treasurer: Susan Young – susiewoosy1962@btinternet.com
· Booking Coordinator: Andrew Clemens – andrewdrcct@gmail.com
Please be advised that necessary lock changes have be carried out as part of the transition process.
We kindly request that you promptly hand over all relevant organisational banking details, including bank cards, cheque books, and access credentials, to ensure a smooth and timely handover.
We have notified the Charity Commission of these changes and have officially listed Datchet Parish Council as the sole managing trustee.
Yours Sincerely
Sonia Masikito
Interim Clerk on behalf of the DRCCT
(Appointed by DPC as managing trustee)
The link below is to the entire email dated 15-4-2025 and sent by the Clerk to the (allegedly ousted) Trustees. Note that the Clerk cannot even get the name of the Charity correct!
DRCCT- Letter to outgoing committee 15.05.2025