Charity Commission consults on new guidance for trustees

The Charity Commission has launched a consultation on its new guidance for trustees, the closing date for which is 17 February.

The Commission has rewritten guidance note CC3, entitled 'The Essential Trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do'. The new guidance clearly explains what the Commission expects of trustees and the potential consequences if the minimum good practice standards are not met.

The current guidance distinguishes between what trustees must do (i.e. what are legal requirements) and what trustees should do (i.e. what is good practice), but it is unclear whether the good practice standards are optional. The new draft guidance clarifies this position and warns that those who do not meet the minimum standards are at risk of breaching their legal duties as trustees. The new draft follows recent commission guidance on decision making and conflicts of interest. It also reflects other changes such as the introduction of Charitable Incorporated Organisations. In addition to this, we ask you to consider whether the guidance is suitable for charities within the faith/interfaith sector, including places of worship.

Information about how to respond to the consultation on the draft guidance, including the consultation questions, can be found online athttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-essential-trustee-cc3-new-version.