A FORMER trustee of WINCAP said he is ‘heartbroken’ at its demise and ‘disgusted’ that town council conversations about the defunct charity have gone on behind closed doors.

Over resident, Alan Halpin, is angry that discussions of the Winsford Community Action Project have been placed in Part B of Winsford Town Council’s agenda – where members of the press and public are excluded.

On Monday, June 16, clr Charlie Parkinson asked for the matter to be discussed in Part A of the meeting, but after beginning speaking, clr Parksinon was told he would have to stop and that discussions of The Edge and Cheviot Square were placed in Part B.

Cheshire Police have declined to answer The Guardian’s Freedom of Information Request into their inconclusive six-month financial crimes unit investigation at WINCAP, which followed an alleged theft of money from the charity.

This week, the Charity Commission conformed they were waiting for a response from WINCAP’s trustees before deciding whether regulatory action would take place.

“It’s disgusting,” said Mr Halpin. “The police aren’t talking and the council are only talking about it privately.

“It’s heartbreaking. This was a valuable community asset. It was a place where Travellers were incorporated and didn’t feel like they were on the fringes of society; it was a place where mothers could go and meet one another.

“Where are all these people going to go now? I just find it hard to believe that the police aren’t willing to discuss their investigation.

“They say it’s not in the public interest; of course it is. The council, as much as anyone, should be pushing for information from the police. To have their discussions in part B is a cop out.”

Clr Charlie Parkinson said he was ‘shocked’ by the decision to move the discussion to Part B and was considering calling and extraordinary meeting of the council.

A spokesman for Winsford Town Council said: “During the discussion, members expressed concern that continued discussion in open session could prejudice the public interest in that comments could be made about certain individuals which could be considered slanderous or prejudice any possible future investigations or legal proceedings.

“The Council therefore took the decision, quite properly, to exclude the press and public and to continue the discussion in Part B.”

 

THIS week, the Charity Commission told The Guardian: “The Commission is aware of a police investigation into allegations of theft from the charity.

“Although the charity is in the process of liquidation we are in contact with the liquidators and the charity’s trustees to request further information about the situation to determine whether there is regulatory action for us to take.

“We are currently awaiting a response from the trustees before we complete an assessment of what next steps may be needed.”