{"id":2555,"date":"2026-01-20T15:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2555"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:55:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:55:48","slug":"drcct-and-datchet-parish-council-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=2555","title":{"rendered":"DRCCT and Datchet Parish Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE ON THE DRCCT AND DATCHET PARISH COUNCIL @ 20\/1\/2026 (previously updated 8\/10\/2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust (DRCCT – Charity No. 252303) owns land and buildings in Datchet.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I can confirm that the DRCCT page on the Charity Commission website has been corrected and is secure.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ewan Larcombe (DRCCT Chair)<\/p>\n

\n

Unfortunately David Buckley (Datchet Parish Council Chair) continues to claim that the dispute (that he orchestrated) is unresolved.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is Cllr Buckley’s opinion as follows (@ 20\/1\/2026)<\/p>\n

‘We await clarification of our request for a serious incident report to be reviewed and a final decision made by the charities commission on this matter which will be binding to all parties. We await this decision as should the two individuals who are acting as individuals at this time, not as DRCCT.’<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

THE FACTS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Changes<\/span><\/strong> that were voted for by nine Datchet Parish Councillors (see DPC website statement naming nine DPC Councillors<\/a><\/strong><\/span>) and then improperly made to the Charity Commission website<\/strong><\/span> in April 2025 have been reversed.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The previous administrator has been replaced and the DRCCT pages on the Charity Commission website are now secure.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Trustees of the DRCCT have continued to manage the Datchet Hall<\/a><\/span> without interruption<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 including the employee, payroll, bookings<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, access, income\/expenditure and the bank accounts – as they have done since 2019.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The correct DRCCT Trustees names are recorded on the Charity Commission website here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As Trustees – we are legally obliged<\/strong><\/span> and have an overriding and personal duty to protect and serve the best interests of the charity.\u00a0 Furthermore it is important for us to<\/strong> resist attempts to assert control over charity assets or operations<\/span><\/strong> in ways that may not align with the charity’s original purposes or best interests.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The DRCCT and the DPC are two separate bodies.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 DRCCT income is derived from property rentals and Hall bookings – in contrast to DPC income from the Parish precept and property rentals.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

THE 2024\/25 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The 2024\/25 Annual Report and Accounts were delayed due to circumstances beyond our control.\u00a0 The draft documents were offered to DPC as they were in previous years.\u00a0 This offer was rejected.<\/p>\n

The Annual Report and Accounts has been submitted to the Charity Commission and published. \u00a0I expect the report notes on the 2025\/26 to make interesting reading.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

PREVIOUS REPORT (OCTOBER 2025) BELOW:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

The Trustees of the <\/strong>Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust (DRCCT) No 252303 are happy to report that <\/strong>the Trustee names and contact details on the Charity Commission website have now been corrected.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The correct DRCCT Trustees names are recorded on the Charity Commission website here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The correct DRCCT address and contact details are recorded on the Charity Commission website here<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

The 2024\/25 Annual Report and Accounts are being prepared and will be presented to Datchet Parish Council prior to filing with the Charity Commission.<\/p>\n

Previous Annual Reports can be downloaded from here <\/a><\/strong><\/span>(The 2020 report was late due to Covid)<\/p>\n

\n

THE 2024\/25 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The 2024\/25 Annual Report and Accounts have been delayed due to circumstances beyond our control.\u00a0 The documents are now being prepared and will be revealed to DPC when complete, as they were in previous years.<\/p>\n

The Annual Report and Accounts will then be submitted to the Charity Commission for publication. \u00a0I expect the 2024\/25 report notes on the 2024\/25 post-year end events to make interesting reading.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

BACKGROUND AND FURTHER EXPLANATION.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust (DRCCT) No. 252303 manages land and buildings in Datchet that were placed in Trust over 50 years ago for the benefit of the community.\u00a0 Over those years, the Trustees have changed and the responsibilities have been passed on.\u00a0 Trustees can serve indefinitely but changes happen and are normally accomplished by mutual agreement followed by transfer of the documentation.<\/p>\n

\n

For many years until April 2025 the arrangements between the DRCCT and the DPC were based on a detailed and mutually agreed document called the the Division of Responsibilities.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The situation changed 14th April 2025 when nine members of Datchet Parish Council (DPC) voted (at a meeting in Windsor) to take control of the of the DRCCT and the significant assets i.e. the land and buildings.\u00a0 There was no debate with the Trustees.\u00a0 DPC simply asserted that the DPC is the Custodian Trustee of the DRCCT.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 15th April 2025, Datchet Parish Council released a\u00a0Public Statement Dated 15.04.05<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>listing the nine DPC Members that voted for the action.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

This DPC claim is demonstrably both groundless and unsubstantiated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>The<\/strong> current DRCCT trustees were duly appointed by mutual agreement and consent in April 201<\/span>9.\u00a0 It should be noted that this was some time <\/span>before the majority of the current DPC members were elected or co-opted to DPC.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[The supporting documents dated April 2019 have been supplied to DPC vis their Solicitors<\/em><\/span><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

After the Clerk made changes to the Charity Commission website, it has taken five months (until September 2025) for the DRCCT trustees to regain control of their own details on the Charity Commission web pages.<\/p>\n

THE PRINCIPLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am sure that you will agree that a charity should not have to use charity funds to defend itself from an uninvited, indeed hostile takeover bid by their own local Parish Council using parish money.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

SOME DETAILS OF THE DPC AND DRCCT ACTIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

In April 2025 it appears that a number of Datchet Parish Councillors (as identified below) attempted to seize control of the DRCCT.<\/p>\n

A meeting in Windsor was apparently called by the Chairman of Datchet Parish Council (Cllr David Buckley).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Cllr David Buckley – Chairman of Datchet Parish Council – published a\u00a0‘Notice of Meeting<\/a><\/strong><\/span>‘ in Windsor for Monday 14th April 2025 \u00a0(Please note that although the Dropbox link works – the report from the Clerk has been removed for reasons unknown).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[The missing Dropbox document(s) (i.e. the Report from the Clerk) will be inserted here if they become available.\u00a0 The Clerk has been requested to supply the document(s)<\/em><\/span><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

The attendees of that meeting agreed a number of actions as follows:<\/p>\n

On 15th April 2025, Datchet Parish Council released a\u00a0Public Statement Dated 15.04.05<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>listing the nine DPC Members that voted for the action<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0as follows:<\/p>\n

Chairman David Buckley<\/span><\/strong>,
\nLead for Properties \u2013 Darren Sanders<\/strong><\/span>,
\nLead for Cemetery \u2013 Caroline Wise<\/strong><\/span>,
\nLead for Events \u2013 Andrew Clemins<\/strong><\/span>, [sic]
\nCllr Glover<\/strong><\/span>,
\nCllr Young<\/span><\/strong>,
\nCllr Bacon<\/strong><\/span>,
\nCllr Loveridge<\/strong><\/span>
\nand Cllr Whelan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The Public Statement<\/a><\/strong><\/span> then resulted in the Slough Observer article<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 dated 24 April 2025.<\/p>\n

\n

There is also a statement on the Datchet Parish Council website <\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 as copied below:<\/p>\n

\n

Datchet Parish Council Takes Action to Ensure Proper Governance of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust (DRCCT) and Safeguard Staff Welfare.<\/strong>
\nDatchet 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
\ndissolve 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.
\nThis difficult decision to dissolve the current DRCCT Committee has been necessitated by serious concerns regarding the behaviour of certain individuals within the former committee,<\/span><\/strong>
\nwhich 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
\nenvironment. An investigation by the DPC\u2019s staffing committee upheld a complaint of bullying and harassment against a member of the DRCCT Committee (Monica Davies)<\/span><\/strong> arising from their
\ncommunications with a DPC staff member. Furthermore, there have been other instances of concerning behaviour towards DPC staff by <\/strong>two members of the DRCCT Committee (Monica Davies<\/span> and Ewan Larcombe)<\/span><\/strong>, creating an unacceptable and intimidating environment.<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u201cWe 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” \u2013 David Buckley DPC Chairman.
\nGiven 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\u00a0 Committee.
\nThe DPC will now move swiftly to establish a new DRCCT Committee comprised of individuals committed to the charity\u2019s aims and able to work collaboratively and respectfully. This new
\ncommittee 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
\ncommunity of Datchet.
\nWe 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
\nrelevant 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.
\nBackground<\/strong>
\nThe 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.
\nComments<\/strong>
\nIan Bacon who is the new interim Chairman of the DRCCT Management Committee said \u2013 “It is a privilege to step in as Interim Chairman during this transition, and my immediate focus will be
\non ensuring the smooth running of the Village Hall and its facilities for the benefit of the entire Datchet community.”
\nDPC Chairman David Buckley said<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cDatchet Parish Council remains committed to the objectives of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charitable Trust and to ensuring that the Sabatini
\nLand and its facilities continue to benefit the community for which they were intended.\u201d
\nThese are the DPC members that voted for this action \u2013 Chairman David Buckley, Lead for Properties \u2013 Darren Sanders, Lead for Cemetery \u2013 Caroline Wise, Lead for Events \u2013 Andrew
\nClemins, Cllr Glover, Cllr Young, Cllr Bacon, Cllr Loveridge and Cllr Whelan.<\/p>\n

The statement can be found here<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The Clerk accessed and made (possibly improper) changes to the Charity Commission website.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The Charity Commission informed me of the Clerks actions by email as follows:<\/p>\n

\n

Dear Ewan Larcombe,<\/p>\n

Charity name : DATCHET RECREATION CENTRE CHARITABLE TRUST\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Charity number : 252303<\/p>\n

We are writing to you as one of the charity’s trustees to let you know that Sonia Masikito has been given user administrator permission<\/strong><\/span> for your charity.<\/p>\n

You can contact Sonia at sonia.masikito@datchetparishcouncil.gov.uk for any user access needs on My Charity Commission Account.<\/p>\n

\n

The DRCCT Trustees (now apparently both removed from their positions and locked out of the Charity Commission website by Sonia Masikito) received an email sent by the Clerk and dated 15-4-2025.<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 (Please note that the Clerk cannot even get the name of the Charity correct!)<\/p>\n

The email states: the current interim Management Committee has been elected as follows, and their contact email addresses are:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7 Chairman of Management Committee: Ian Bacon \u2013 ian.drcct@gmail.com \u00b7<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vice Chair: Steevan Glover Steevanglover@gmail.com \u00b7<\/strong><\/p>\n

Treasurer: Susan Young – susiewoosy1962@btinternet.com \u00b7<\/strong><\/p>\n

Booking Coordinator: Andrew Clemens – andrewdrcct@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

The last sentence in this email refers to Charity Commission changes. These changes were made by Sonia Masikito – Clerk to Datchet Parish Council.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The DRCCT trustees then received a 2nd letter (dated 12th May 2025)<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 from Sonia Masikito.\u00a0 This letter accused the Trustees [appointed in 2019] of ‘obstructing the lawful management of the charity’.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The DRCCT sent a legal letter to DPC identifying the issues and dated 12 May 2025.<\/p>\n

[document to be inserted here<\/em><\/span><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

\n

The DPC [on DPC headed paper]<\/span><\/strong> responded by means of a legal letter to the DRCCT dated 20 May 2025 stating that they acknowledged receipt of the letter dated 12 May 2025 and were in the process of obtaining legal advice in relation to the matters raised.<\/p>\n

[document to be inserted here<\/em><\/span><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

\n

[documents to be inserted here<\/em><\/span><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

To Clerk 30\/9\/2025 – Please confirm firstly that you have received the DRCCT Trustee transfer documents dated 2019 from the Solicitors and secondly that you have now circulated those documents to all Datchet Parish Councillors.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

DOCUMENT – Division of responsibilities between the DRCCT and the Datchet Parish Council<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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LINKS TO PREVIOUS POSTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Datchet Parish Councillors continue in their attempt to hijack a local charity<\/em> (posted on June 1, 2025) here<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

DPC and DRCCT \u2013 progress report<\/em> (posted on May 30, 2025) here<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Nine Datchet Parish Councillors named in failed attempt to hijack local Charity assets<\/em> (re-posted on May 15, 2025) here<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The web site ‘Understanding Charitable Trusts’<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 – helping residents to understand the legal framework governing charitable trusts and how this applies to our community assets.<\/p>\n

The Datchet Village Hall<\/a><\/strong><\/span> web site.<\/p>\n

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THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some questions have now been answered but there are a few outstanding.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n