Trustee Exchange 2012
22 Feb 2012
Share
Civil society leaders are sending out mixed messages
Civil society leaders have started the new decade and the run-up to a general election by sending out mixed messages to our political masters.
On the one hand Acevo, via RNIB chair Kevin Carey, has opened up a new front in the campaign to allow trustees to be freely paid.
On the other, NCVO is pressing vociferously to maintain the exemption from fees that charities currently enjoy when playing recorded music at events or premises worth, it is said, approximately £20m per year.
A politician trying to grapple with these two propositions might be forgiven for thinking that this means we think trustees need to be paid but musicians should work for nothing.
Charities are not immune to myriad laws that increase costs – health and safety regulations, employment law, minimum wages, pretty much all taxes, etc.
When the new pensions regime arrives in 2012, charities’ costs will escalate like every other employer. Should charities be exempted from any of these? Of course not.
If they are considered essential by the elected legislature for the protection of individuals and the health of the nation, then how can charities be exempted? But rules put in place to protect poorly-paid musicians can be ignored? That doesn’t feel quite right.
Place a comment
Jenny.legg@ncvo-vol.org.uk
Media officer, NCVO
NCVO
3 Feb 2010
There are no mixed messages from NCVO.
We have long argued that the principle of unpaid trusteeship should remain at the heart of charity governance.
We have no argument with musicians being properly rewarded for their work – but fail to understand why that needs to be achieved at the expense of charities. We are not arguing for a new benefit for the sector – we are opposed to a change which would remove a longstanding exemptions for charities. Our concern is that a new charge is being introduced which would deprive some of the most disadvantaged people in our society of £20m in vital support and services.
With 54 per cent of charities running on annual budgets of less than £10,000, many will simply be unable to pay the proposed extra charge (of at least £80 per building) and may lose out on fundraising income and have to withdraw some services as a result.
This certainly doesn’t feel quite right.
David Moir
Head of Policy & Public Affairs
Association of Charity Shops
5 Feb 2010
I have no beef with musicians. But, the impacts of the Government's poorly thought-out proposals on music licensing on charity shops could be severe. Government has given no good reason for changing current exemptions, and given no justification for imposing additional costs on charity shops, which could only be met from already hard-pressed fundraising income, if at all. This is bad policy for little gain, but possibly great damage - that's why the Association of Charity Shops is opposing it. Incidentally, I am a Trustee and I certainly don't think they should be paid.
David
[Reply]