Dear Sir,
County Councillor, Nev Jones, is encouraging the good people of Newton Aycliffe to join Newton Aycliffe Scout Supporters’ Association, a charity his father co-founded over 40 years ago as he attempts to get some answers as to why a local scout group has been told they can no longer use the premises by the current committee.
It is understood that, on the 1st August, the committee voted to give 1st Newton Aycliffe Scout Group 28 days notice to leave. Requests from the group for an explanation of the reason for this decision have been dismissed, along with the request for the hearing required by the association’s governing document before a group’s affiliation can be terminated.
Nev says, “It is beyond belief that the organisation that the charity was set up to support has been treated in this way. Since the 1970s, numerous committees have acted as caretakers of the charity but it would appear that the current committee have forgotten their role. It is clear, from the hundreds of messages I have received, that this is something important to the people of Newton Aycliffe and I am determined to put things right. Anything else would be unacceptable.
“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the committee to give us notice to leave the premises, especially when, in our opinion, it has not been done in line with the constitution.
Not only do they not have ‘good and sufficient reason’ as required, but they have not allowed us our right to a hearing. We have written to the management committee asking them to let us know on what grounds they have come to this decision, as well as requesting the hearing specified in the constitution, but the only response we have had is to confirm that the decision stands and to remove our property from the building by the deadline they have given or the locks will be changed.
We are very grateful to the members of Newton Aycliffe Scout Supporters Association for their support over the years and very much hope that this can be resolved quickly and amicably. Scouts supports young people and adults to develop skills of life and we hope that this can continue.”
Cllr Neville Jones