Captain Tom Foundation halts donations and funds amid charity watchdog probe
T
he Captain Tom Foundation has stopped taking cash from donors after planning chiefs ordered that an unauthorised constructing within the residence of the daughter of the late charity fundraiser be demolished.
Central Bedfordshire Council stated a retrospective planning utility had been refused and an enforcement notice issued requiring the demolition of the “now-unauthorised building” containing a spa pool.
On Tuesday, the inspiration put out a press release saying it will not search donations, and was closing all fee channels, whereas the Charity Commission carried out an inquiry.
Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin utilized in 2021 for permission to construct a Captain Tom Foundation Building within the grounds of their residence in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.
The L-shaped constructing was given the inexperienced gentle, and in a design and entry and heritage assertion it was described as for use partly “in connection with the Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives”.
A subsequent retrospective utility in 2022, for a bigger C-shaped constructing containing a spa pool, was refused by the planning authority.
In supporting paperwork, it was described as “a new building for use by the occupiers” of the house of Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore.
In a design and entry and heritage assertion, it was known as The Captain Tom Building.
Sir Tom raised £38.9 million for the NHS, together with reward support, by strolling 100 laps of his backyard earlier than his one centesimal birthday on the peak of the primary nationwide Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020.
He died in February 2021.
A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council, the planning authority for the world, stated on Tuesday it acquired a planning utility in August 2021 for the erection of a indifferent single storey constructing by the occupiers of the house of the Ingram-Moores and the Captain Tom Foundation.
It stated this was authorised.
In 2022, planners subsequently acquired a retrospective planning utility for a “part retrospective erection of detached single-storey building (revised proposals)”, which was refused, the spokesperson stated.
The council spokesperson stated: “An enforcement notice requiring the demolition of the now-unauthorised building was issued and this is now subject to an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.”
The basis stated: “At this moment in time, the sole focus of the Captain Tom Foundation is to ensure that it co-operates fully with the ongoing statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission.
“As a result, the Captain Tom Foundation is not presently actively seeking any funding from donors. Accordingly, we have also taken the decision to close all payment channels while the statutory inquiry remains open.
“Once the findings of the statutory inquiry have been communicated, the Captain Tom Foundation will be in a better position to make a decision in relation to its future, but for now, our main priority is to assist the Charity Commission with its inquiry.
“In the meantime, on behalf of the trustees of the Captain Tom Foundation, we wish to extend a warm thank you to all our supporters who have enabled us to help charities that were close to Captain Sir Tom’s heart.”
Efforts have been made to strategy Hannah Ingram-Moore for remark.
The basis beforehand stated, in a press release to a nationwide newspaper: “At no time were the Captain Tom Foundation’s independent trustees aware of planning permissions made by Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore purporting to be in the foundation’s name.
“Had they been aware of any applications, the independent trustees would not have authorised them.”