Datchet Parish Council has been given ‘Notice to Vacate’ the Parish Office by the DRCCT – Charity Number 252303 – that owns the land and building. This long-running saga started in April 2025 when nine Parish Councillors (mainly co-opted) decided to take control of the Charity at a meeting in Windsor. Their names can be found recorded on the DPC web site here. Their decision was based on a report (that is currently unavailable) from the Clerk – and led to an early morning raid (the next day) on the Village Hall. In order to gain access the raiders claimed that they were the new ‘hall management committee’. They were accompanied by a locksmith who changed the locks and they demanded that the hall manager transfer the booking receipts to them. The Parish Clerk then accessed the Charity Commission website and changed the Trustee names, address and contact details.
Nearly one year on and some members of Datchet Parish Council continue to spend time and public money on their unjustified and failed attempt to gain control of the DRCCT. (Please see DPC web page dated 12 May 2025 here). Consequently the DRCCT trustees have now issued the ‘Notice to Vacate‘ to Datchet Parish Council.
It should be noted that Parish Councils and Charity Trusts have different rules in order to avoid Conflict of Interest. The DRCCT has published some helpful explanatory text on ‘Understanding Charitable Trusts‘
The Charity Commission records the DRCCT trustees and contact details here
Council evicted for bad behaviour!
How embarrassing.