A message from Ewan Larcombe (as Chair of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust (DRCCT) and a Datchet Parish Councillor first elected in 1986)
It appears that after eight months of futile effort – some new Datchet Parish Councillors (individually named in their own DPC April 2025 Public Statement here) continue to spend public money promoting the unsubstantiated assertion that they own and control the Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust (DRCCT) assets.
It is true
- that the DPC holds and manages significant local assets for the benefit of the community.
- that the DRCCT holds and manages significant local assets for the benefit of the community.
- that the DRCCT Trustees are also DPC Councillors
- that dual-roles are covered by the disclosure rules
- that DPC and DRCCT have similar objectives
- that DPC and DRCCT governance is legally different
- that DPC and DRCCT have different sources of funds
- that DPC and DRCCT have overlapping uses of funds
- that DPC and DRCCT have different treasurers
- that DPC and DRCCT have different banks
- that DPC and DRCCT have different accounting systems
- that DPC does not govern or control the DRCCT
- that the DRCCT does not govern or control the DPC
- that until April 2025 the relationship between DPC and DRCCT was guided by the ‘Division of Responsibilities’ agreement.
- that DPC continues to take legal action against the DRCCT
- that DPC refuses to consider the issues in public
In the hope of making some progress in the New Year, please see an open letter and draft Memorandum of Understanding for consideration by all parties.
Ewan Larcombe (Datchet Parish Councillor and DRCCT Chair)