Dr Robert Full article

COMMUNITY and recreational facilities in Bourne are largely provided privately and mostly by charitable organisations. Many of these (Wake House, the Butterfield Centre, the Heritage Centre and others) are charities running on voluntary labour and public subscription.

Under government provision, charitable donations are exempt tax and so those who subscribe in the belief that their donations will be used for charitable purposes will be disappointed to learn that much of it is going in tax, through rates.

It was in 2006 that South Kesteven District Council first applied the 20 per cent discretionary portion of the rates to charities in the district. Bourne Civic Society applied for maximum relief from the rates and subsequently appealed twice against the decision but without success. The reasons stated for refusal of the appeals were the level of cash and reserve balances held and that the activities of the society did not fall into a "priority" category.

The Civic Society has applied once again this year for relief from the discretionary rate charge (already paid) but after many months a decision is still awaited from the council.

The level of rate required could well, in a short space of time, result in the closure of Baldock's Mill which houses the Heritage Centre and the loss of a valuable amenity. In that context it is worth noting that the property is one of Bourne's important listed buildings which was derelict when first leased by the society and has been restored and put into community use by the efforts of members and by largely private subscription and donation. A comparison may be drawn with the publicly funded museum in Stamford.

It is appropriate to draw attention to the special significance of the two impressive displays maintained by the Civic Society within Baldock's Mill, namely the Worth Gallery, already attracting visitors from a wide area, and the highly prestigious Raymond Mays exhibition which is of national and international interest. If organisations such as Baldock's Mill, Wake House and the Butterfield Centre were to close, would SKDC replace these community facilities? This is to be doubted.

Perhaps it is time for the district council to rethink its policies and its priorities.

WRITTEN NOVEMBER 2007

Robert Fuller

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Dr Robert Fuller was born in Devon and spent much of his working life in London and the south of England, moving to Bourne in 1973. He has a PhD in architecture and has been a member of the Civic Society since soon after its inception in 1977 and is currently vice-chairman with special responsibilities for environmental issues.