The Cabinet Office has advertised for three new board members for the Charity Commission and reappointed four others, including making one, Eryl Besse, the deputy chair.

An advert went up on the Centre for Public Appointments website yesterday which said that the regulator is looking for people with “detailed knowledge of charities”, “digital expertise” and “understanding of law enforcement”.

Peter Clarke, who was appointed to the board for his law enforcement expertise, stood down last year. Claire Dove, who is chief executive of a medium-sized charity, will be standing down at the end of June.

The other four current board members have had their terms extended. Eryl Besse and Tony Leifer to 31 December 2018, Orlando Fraser to December  2017 and Gwythian Prins to June 2017.

The Commission has appointed Besse as deputy chair, which is not a “statutory” role. It said the appointment has been made because: “Her work greatly exceeds that expected of a board member. She has overseen numerous vital projects and represented the commission jointly with the executive at external meetings, as well as having a specific focus on charities in Wales”.

William Shawcross, chair of the Charity Commission, said: “The contribution of both Claire and Peter has been of the highest calibre. Their input has been crucial as the board has sought to rebalance the Commission towards a more effective regulator. I thank them both for their service.

“I encourage those who care deeply about the future of charity in this country, and who have the necessary skills, to come forward and apply. The board’s oversight is key to the Commission’s vital work in maintaining public trust and confidence.

“These new appointments will be balanced with the continuity provided by the announced reappointments and I thank the present members for their service to date."

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Matt Hancock, said: "These re-appointments come at an important time as the Charity Commission looks to complete the implementation of its transformation programme.

"I want to strengthen the commission’s board further by recruiting three new board members with the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience to support the Commission in its vital role of regulating charities."

The closing date for applications is 20 June. Applicants have to submit a CV and covering letter setting out in less than 800 words why they are suitable for the role.

The Commission has also published an updated list of the membership of its subcommittees, which shows that Prins, who has been criticised by charities over setting campaigning guidance while he himself was campaigning on Europe, is no longer on the policy guidance committee. The full list is below.

• Audit and risk committee: Mike Ashley, Gwythian Prins.
• Transform project oversight committee: William Shawcross, Eryl Besse, Gwythian Prins, Mike Ashley
• Policy and guidance committee: Orlando Fraser (chairman), Eryl Besse, Tony Leifer, Claire Dove.
• Public interest and high-risk cases committee: Tony Leifer (chairman), Orlando Fraser, Eryl Besse

Commission admits board member’s ‘inadvertent error’ over Brexit essay

William Shawcross, chair of the Charity Commission, also admitted this week that Prins should have told the regulator about an essay on the European Union, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs, a right-wing think tank which is pro-Brexit but opposed to many forms of charitable campaigning.

Shawcross was responding in writing to former board member Andrew Purkis, who had written to Shawcross earlier this month claiming that Prins had breached the Cabinet Office’s code of conduct for board members of public bodies, by writing an essay that was published by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

In the essay Prins called for Britain to leave the EU and compared the British Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn to Syriza in Greece.

Purkis had suggested that the essay meant that Prins was no longer a suitable appointment to Charity Commission’s board.

Shawcross told Purkis that he had considered the matter and taken advice from the Cabinet Office.

“I acknowledge that Professor Prins should have disclosed to the Commission in advance that he was considering publishing such an essay,” he said.  “But his failure to do so was an inadvertent error. I have considered this issue and the circumstances, and can confirm that, as a matter of good governance, I have put in place measures to prevent any repetition.”

Acevo also called for an inquiry following Prins’ letter while NCVO has urged the Cabinet Office to address concerns about the governance of the Charity Commission.