The Charity Commission has provided some clarity as to the timeframe for charities planning to appeal its decisions to the Charity Tribunal.

The Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit inevitably leads it to “second-guess and micro-manage trustees” about how to run their charity, in a way that is contrary to the law governing the regulator’s role and remit, tribunal judges heard this morning.

Alison McKenna, the principal judge of the Charity Tribunal, has attacked the preference of many charity lawyers to settle disputes through the Charity Commission’s internal review process rather than through the Tribunal, saying it adds unnecessary expense for the charities involved and thwarts the original intent for the Tribunal to help evolve case law.

Charities providing loans to beneficiaries have been warned to take account of legislation after new research found an increase in the amount being loaned by benevolent funds.