Unfortunately only four of the fifteen Datchet Parish Councillors attended the extraordinary meeting thus no decisions could be made. The four Councillors attending the meeting were Larcombe, Davies, Thompson and Buck. Cllr Larcombe took the Chair, apologised and explained the position to the members of the public and former DRCCT trustees in attendance.
In particular LGA 1972 s139(3) reads as follows:
(3)This section shall not authorise the acceptance by a local authority of property which, when accepted, would be held in trust for an ecclesiastical charity or for a charity for the relief of poverty. (Source:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/70/section/139)
The charity is called The Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust for obvious reasons and sections of the founding deed dated 1967 read:
W H E R E A S the Benefactor wishes to enable the Original Trustees to acquire land to be used for the social moral and physical wellbeing of the people resident in the village of Datchet and the surrounding district (without distinction of political or other opinion) including the erection of a recreation centre on part thereof or for other similar charitable purposes and accordingly to create such trusts as hereinafter appear.
and goes on to read:
(f) to use the Trust Fund to carry out such other legally charitable purposes for the relief of poverty or the advancement of education or for the advancement of a community similar to that of Datchet as The Trustees shall from time to time by deed executed with their unanimous consent declare.
IN CONCLUSION – these issues have been raised previously but never properly considered or resolved. The DRCCT founding deed is valid and the benefactors intentions crystal clear. LGA 1972 s139 (3) is also valid and clear. Datchet Parish Council never were, are not and cannot be the owners of the Sabatini land thus Datchet Parish Council cannot continue to put the DRCCT assets on the DPC asset register or claim the land. Furthermore Datchet Parish Council has no lease on the Datchet Parish Council Office, Datchet Football Club has no current lease on the building that they are using and it appears that the lease on the Day Centre building has been invalid (vitiate) since the day it was signed in 1983. For the record – the DRCCT trustees are committed to protect the charity for the benefit of the community and thus very happy to discuss the unresolved issues with all of the affected organisations.
AN EXTRAORDINARY DATCHET PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HAS BEEN ARRANGED – DATCHET HALL – MONDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2026. An Agenda has been published.
PLEASE NOTE – The purpose of the meeting is to clarify the current ‘strained and difficult’ relationship between Datchet Parish Council and the Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust. Some of the new Councillors were led to believe that they could hold a meeting in Windsor (April 2025), vote to replace the DRCCT trustees and then grab the charity land and buildings. You will find the DPC statement here. In fact this action is prohibited by LGA 1972 s139 (3) that you can find here. The DRCCT position is detailed here. It is possible that most of this meeting will be conducted in private – with Press and public excluded. The meeting was convened by two Councillors as below:
A request to hold an Extraordinary Meeting of Datchet Parish Council was refused by the DPC Chair.
Four paragraphs from the Datchet Parish Council Standing Orders 2026 (adopted 11 May 2026) were then quoted as follows:
1.5.4. Further Extra Ordinary meetings may be called at any time by the Chairman as deemed necessary for effective conduct of the Council’s business.
1.5.5 If the Chairman does not or refuses to call an Extra Ordinary meeting of the Council within seven days of having been requested in writing to do so by two
members, any two members may convene an Extra Ordinary meeting of the Council.
1.5.6 The public notice giving the time, location and agenda for the Extraordinary meeting must be signed by the Proper Officer (Clerk to the Council)
1.5.7 No other business will be considered at the Extraordinary meeting.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR MEETING [as requested]
The twelve requested agenda items are as follows:
1) To consider the External Auditor’s Report and required actions
2) DPC to agree that LGA 1972 s139 (3) *prohibits the Council from accepting Charity assets
3) DPC to confirm that DPC never were, are not and cannot be the owners of the Sabatini Land.
4) DPC to confirm that DPC have no claim to or control over DRCCT or DRCCT assets
5) DPC to remove DRCCT assets from DPC asset register and take action to inform External Auditor
6) DPC to confirm the DRCCT as the legitimate owners of the Sabatini Land and buildings and take action to inform the Charity Commission.
7) DPC to agree and take action to withdraw the DPC objection to the DRCCT application to the Land Registry.
8) DPC to agree to pay overdue Datchet Hall hire costs
9) DPC to agree to pay DRCCT Legal costs
10) The Clerk to explain how the 1983 DPC/DUC lease was made.
11) The Clerk to confirm whether or not the DPC/DUC lease is – or ever was – valid
12) The Clerk to inform the DUC if the DPC/DUC is found to be invalid.
* LGA 1972 s139(3) states as follows:
(3) This section shall not authorise the acceptance by a local authority of property which, when accepted, would be held in trust for an ecclesiastical charity or for a charity for the relief of poverty.
AGENDA AS PUBLISHED
Datchet Parish Council: Notice of Extraordinary Meeting
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary Meeting of Datchet Parish Council
will be held on Monday 5th October 2026 at 7.00pm in Datchet Hall.
This meeting is convened by Councillors Ewan Larcombe and Monica Davies under
Paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972, following a Written
requisition presented to the Chairman and Clerk.
Members of the public and press are welcome to attend but may be excluded.
SUMMONS: All members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend the meeting for the
purpose of transacting the business specified below.
AGENDA
Apologies for absence
l.
Declarations of interest
2.
To consider the External Auditor’s Report and required actions
3.
DPC to agree that LGA 1972 s139 (3) prohibits the Council from accepting Charity
4.
assets
DPC to confirm that DPC never were, are not and cannot be the owners of the
5.
Sabatini Land.
DPC to confirm that DPC have no claim to or control over DRCCT or DRCCT assets
6.
DPC to remove DRCCT assets from DPC asset register and take action to inform
7.
External Auditor
DPC to confirm the DRCCT as the legitimate owners of the Sabatini Land and
8.
buildings and take action to inform the Charity Commission.
DPC to agree and take action to withdraw the DPC objection to the DRCCT
9.
application to the Land Registry.
10. DPC to agree to pay overdue Datchet Hall hire costs
11. DPC to agree to pay DRCCT Legal costs
12. The Clerk to explain how the 1983 DPC/DUC lease was made.
13. The Clerk to confirm whether or not the DPC/DUC lease is – or ever was – valid
14. The Clerk to inform the DUC if the DPC/DUC is found to be invalid.
15. Date of next meeting Monday 12th October 2026
Signed:
Signed:
Dated: 29th September 2026
Cllr Ewan Larcombe
Cllr Monica Davies
Posted at Datchet Parish Office on Tuesday 29th September 2026, and sent to all members of
the Council on Tuesday 29th September 2026
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