Charitable Trusts, Bequest and Trust Funds - Award Recommendations June 25
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 June 2025
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 11 June 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 11 June 2025 XX MARCH 2021 CHARITABLE TRUSTS, BEQUESTS AND TRUST FUNDS – AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report gives Members information regarding a number of applications that have been received for support from several funds. It also reviews the distribution arrangements of the MacKinnon Ledingham Bequest, Archibald Dow Bequest and Coals for the Poor Oban following the first 12 months of distribution arrangements for these funds. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee are asked to: 1. note the awards made from the John of Lorn Bequest since March 2025; 2. agree to award £50 to the two individual applicants who meet the criteria of the MacKinnon Ledigham Bequest; 3. agree to award £50 to the two individual applicants who meet the criteria of the Archibald Dow Bequest; 4. agree to award £50 to the one individual applicant who meets the criteria of the Coals for the Poor Oban; and 5. note that the charitable trusts, bequests and trust funds annual report will be considered in December 2025 and that further promotion of the availability of the funds will be undertaken. 3.0 JOHN OF LORN BEQUEST 3.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on 09 September 2020 agreed new distribution arrangements for the John of Lorn Bequest, which had been established to support ‘poor persons resident in the Burgh of Oban’. In order to be considered for an award applicants must: 3.1.1 be in receipt of a qualifying benefit (Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, or Universal Credit) and for those people who are employed/self-employed, they must be in receipt of some amount of Universal Credit as well (a nil payment due to deductions for earned income would mean they do not qualify);
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3.1.2 live within the Burgh of Oban; and 3.1.3 be over the age of 16. 3.2 Furthermore, it was agreed that successful individual applicants would receive £50 while those applying on behalf of their family would receive £100. 3.3 The Area Committee on 14 September 2022 agreed to delegate to the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support or officers nominated by him, in consultation with the Chair, the authority to make awards from the John of Lorn Bequest using the criteria agreed in September 2020 and that reports be submitted to subsequent Area Committees to update trustees on awards made under this delegation. 3.4 Prior to this delegation those in need of support could wait up to 14 weeks for payment. Applications are now processed on receipt with payments made once applicants submit their banking details. 3.5 A total of 8 applications have been received since the March 2025 meeting of the Area Committee. Officers, in consultation with the Chair have confirmed awards for 4 family and 3 individual applications, with a total of £550 being awarded to individuals living within the Burgh. 3.6 One application was refused. Applications will only be refused if the applicant has either received a grant this calendar year or they live out with the Burgh of Oban. Details of each application can be found at appendix 1. 3.7 The total funds available for distribution from the John of Lorn Bequest at the time of preparing this report is around £1.4k. It is anticipated that the funds from this Bequest will become exhausted before the end of 2025 at which point Trustees will be asked to place a moratorium on it. 4.0 MACKINNON LEDIGHAM BEQUEST, ARCHIBALD DOW BEQUEST & COALS FOR THE POOR OBAN 5.1 On 06 March 2024 the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee agreed distribution arrangements for the MacKinnon Ledigham Bequest, Archibald Dow Bequest and Coals for the Poor Oban and agreed that a review of these arrangements be undertaken following the first 12 months of operation. 5.2 To be eligible to access the MacKinnon Ledigham Bequest applicants must be of state pension age, and live within the Ross of Mull, with successful applicants receiving £50. 4.3 3 applications have been received with both being recommended for award. Details of each application can be found at appendix 2. Given the small number of eligible individuals within this locality it is proposed to continue with the existing criteria and arrangements and that Officers continue to advertise and promote the fund in the hope of attracting further applications.
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4.4 The total funds available for distribution from the MacKinnon Ledigham Bequest at the time of preparing this report is around £4.5k. 4.5 In order to be considered for an award from the Archibald Dow Bequest applicants must be a resident of Taynuilt and: • in receipt of a qualifying benefit (Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, or Universal Credit); and • for those people who are employed/self-employed, they must be in receipt of some amount of Universal Credit as well (a nil payment due to deductions for earned income would mean they do not qualify). 4.6 Furthermore, it was agreed that successful individual applicants would receive £50 and families would receive £100. 4.7 A total of 4 applications have been received since the introduction of the distribution, 2 of which were considered in June 2024. 2 new applications have been received with both being recommended for award. Details of each application can be found at appendix 3. 4.8 The number of applications that have been submitted are consistent with comparable funds in other administrative areas. Consequently, it is proposed to continue with the existing criteria and arrangements and that Officers will continue to advertise and promote the fund. 4.9 The total funds available for distribution from the Archibald Dow Bequest at the time of preparing this report is around £1.4k. 4.10 To ensure a consistency in approach it was agreed that the criteria for the Coals for the Poor Oban be the same as the Archibald Dow Bequest, specifically applications would only be welcomed by those on a qualifying benefit or from those who are employed/self-employed in receipt of some amount of Universal Credit. 4.11 In order to be considered for an award applicants must be over the age of 16 with awards set at £50 for individuals and £100 for families and limited to one award each calendar year. 4.12 A single application was received during 2024. 2 new applications have been received with, one being recommended for award. The other is not considered for an award as the applicant lives out with the Burgh. Details of each application can be found at appendix 4. 4.13 The number of applications that have been submitted are consistent with comparable funds both within and out with the administrative area. Consequently, it is proposed to continue with the existing arrangements and that Officers will continue to advertise and promote the fund. 4.14 The total funds available for distribution from the Coals for the Poor Oban at the
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time of preparing this report is around £2.2k. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Members are asked to consider the applications that have been received for support from the John of Lorn Bequest, MacKinnon Ledigham Bequest, Archibald Dow Bequest and Coals for the Poor Oban and to approve the financial awards recommended within the report. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – None 6.2 Financial – None, the Council acts as trustee for the Fund, it does not represent assets of the Council. However, there is a risk that the Council would have to repay the Trust if an objection was raised as to the use of the funds. 6.3 Legal – Area Committees, as Trustees, must ensure that the distribution arrangements comply with the terms of the funds, failure to do so would result in the Council being liable. 6.4 HR – None 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty – None 6.5.1 Equalities – protected characteristics – None 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None 6.5.3 Islands – None 6.6 Climate Change – None 6.7 Risk – None 6.8 Customer Service – None 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Councillor Mark Irvine, Policy Lead for Community Planning and Corporate Services May 2025 For further information contact:
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Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Tel. No: 01436 658717 Email: Stuart.Mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1: Spreadsheet of applications – John of Lorn Bequest (exempt) Appendix 2: Spreadsheet of applications – MacKinnon Ledigham Trust (exempt) Appendix 3: Spreadsheet of applications – Archibald Dow Bequest (exempt) Appendix 4: Spreadsheet of applications – Coals for the Poor Oban (exempt)