Participation by representative organisations

C15 Coal industry trusts.

1

If, on application to the F7Charity Commission (“the Commission”) by an employee organisation, it appears F8to the Commission—

a

that the members of the organisation or the members and their dependants constitute a substantial proportion of those who may benefit under a trust to which this section applies; and

b

that neither the organisation nor its members are entitled to appoint any of the trustees of the trust,

the F9Commission may by order make a scheme making such amendments of the provisions regulating the trust as F10the Commission considers appropriate for the purpose of securing fair representation amongst the trustees of those persons employed in the coal industry who may benefit under the trust.

2

A scheme under subsection (1) above in respect of a trust may—

a

make such provision as to the manner in which the trustees are to be appointed as the F11Commission considers appropriate;

b

restrict or remove any person’s right to appoint a trustee;

c

remove any trustee; and

d

make such further amendments of the provisions regulating the trust (whether or not for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1) above) as the F11Commission considers appropriate.

3

This section applies to any trust for purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales—

a

which is a trust of property wholly or partly representing an application of money from the miners’ welfare fund constituted under section 20 of the M1Mining Industry Act 1920 or the body known as the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation;

b

which is a trust expressed to be for the benefit of—

i

persons currently or formerly employed in the coal industry or any class of such persons or their dependants; or

ii

members of the mining community in general or of the mining community of a particular area,

whether or not any other persons are also beneficiaries; or

c

under the terms of which all or a majority of the trustees are appointed by the body mentioned in paragraph (a) above or are appointed by the Corporation and an employee organisation.

F14

In this section “an employee organisation” means any organisation appearing to the F5Commission to represent in respect of their employment a substantial number of persons whose employers are licensed operators within the meaning of the Coal Industry Act 1994, or who are all employed by the same licensed operator.

5

References in this section to the trustees of a trust include references to the members of any body a function of which is to hold property subject to the trust or to perform any administrative functions in relation to the trust and, in relation to the members of such a body, references in this section to the appointment of trustees shall be construed as references to any corresponding procedure under the provisions relating to the constitution of the body.

6

Where any functions relating to a trust are exercisable by more than one body of trustees, for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above the F6Commission may disregard or have regard only to the members of one of those bodies.

7

The F2Commission shall not exercise F3its powers under this section in any case which F4it considers, by reason of any special question of law or of fact which it may involve, more fit to be adjudicated on by the court (within the meaning of F14the Charities Act 2011).

F158

Sections 70(1), 71, F1673(1), (2) and (5), 74, 88 and 89 of the Charities Act 2011 apply in relation to the powers of the Commission and the making of schemes under this section as they apply in relation to its powers and the making of schemes under that Act and sections 337 and 339 of that Act apply to orders and decisions under this section as they apply to orders and decisions under that Act.

8A

The Commission must not proceed under section 73 of that Act (as applied by subsection (8)) without the same application and notice to the trustees of the trust in question, as would be required if the Commission was proceeding under subsection (1); but on any application made with a view to a scheme under subsection (1) the Commission may proceed under that subsection or under section 73 of that Act (as so applied) as appears to it appropriate.

8B

Chapter 2 of Part 17 of, and Schedule 6 to, the Charities Act 2011 (appeals and applications to Tribunal) apply in relation to an order made under this section as they apply in relation to an order made under section 69(1) of that Act.

9

Nothing in this section shall affect any other powers exercisable by the F12Commission or the High Court in relation to any trust to which this section applies.

10

In the application of this section to Scotland—

a

for the reference in subsection (3) to purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales there shall be substituted a reference to purposes which are charitable, benevolent or philanthropic (whether or not they are charitable within the meaning of any rule of law);

b

references to the F13Commission shall be construed as references to the Court of Session; and

c

subsections (7) and (8) above shall be omitted.