Chirnside Common Good FAQs

Here are the answers to some of the questions we are often asked.

What are the aims of Chirnside Common Good?

Our aims are:

  • to promote and encourage public interest in, and care for, the beauty, history and character of Chirnside and its surroundings
  • to encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general public amenity, historic interest or otherwise beneficial to the community,

We do this by means of:

  • meetings,
  • exhibitions,
  • lectures,
  • publications,
  • conferences
  • publicity, and
  • the promotion of schemes of a charitable nature.

Who can be members?

  • Anyone 16 years or older who is resident in the parish of Chirnside.

What assets and property do you have and how are they looked after?

  • Capital Funds and Property acquired by the “Common Good” are owned on behalf of the community by Chirnside Common Good Association (SCIO) our charity number is SC051238.
  • In addition to our bank accounts we hold the title deeds to:
    • Common Good Park
    • The Quarry
    • Crosshill Car Park
    • The Tennis Court

What happens to the assets and funds if the Common Good is dissolved or wound up?

Should the Common Good be dissolved it must be by a resolution passed with two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee. Any assets remaining after all debts and liabilities have been settled will be given or transferred to a recognised charity with similar aims.

How are events such as the Civic Week and the Jim Clark Exhibition organised?

  • For clarity – Chirnside Civic Week is organised by a separate stand alone organisation
  • Sub – committees are appointed by the Executive Committee to undertake any special piece of work proposed by the Common Good. Funds raised by Sub-Committee are handed to the Treasurer with a financial statement signed by the Convenor and two members of their subcommittee for submission to the monthly meetings.
  • Current sub- committees are:
    • Village Enhancement

How are you managed and regulated?

  • The “Common Good” is administered by its trustees elected at the Annual General Meeting.
  • In the event of a vacancy occurring in the Trusteeship, the remaining Trustee would nominate a successor.
  • The committee meets monthly currently on the 2nd Wednesday of the month except July and August when there is no meeting.
  • Our accounts are audited by an Auditor appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
  • We are a registered charity (SC051238) and regulated by OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator

Who are the officers and committee?

Officers:

  • Chair: Sara Doggett
  • Secretary: Linda Gray
  • Treasurer: Kevin Prior,

Trustees :

  1. Maureen Anderson
  2. Sara Dogget
  3. Linda Gray
  4. Mark Kinghorn
  5. Kevin Prior
  6. David Wesley
  7. Simon Wright
  8. Adel Kerr (co-opted)

What does the regulator ask you to do?

  • We have to make an annual return which includes our annual report and accounts
  • We have a duty to promote the charity’s registration.

It is our view that applies only to external documents and communications, including those issued by a third party. The documents include all:

  • external business letters or emails
  • printed advertisements, public notices or official published documents
  • documents which request the donation of money or property to be used for the benefit of a charity
  • promissory notes, endorsements and orders for money or goods
  • bills issued
  • invoices, receipts and letters of credit
  • statements of account prepared in accordance with Regulations 8, 9 or 14 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006
  • documents which are intended to educate the public about the charity and any promotional material aimed at raising the charity’s profile or a topical issue
  • legal conveyance documents concerned with land rights i.e. buying, selling or transferring
  • documents which set out the terms of an agreement or a contract
  • bills of exchange (not including cheques)
  • the home page on a website operated by or on behalf of the charity.

We do this by including

  • the charity’s name, as entered in the Register
  • the charity’s Scottish Charity Number (SC0[zero]51238).
  • Or this logo                                                                                                            oscr registration logo sc051238

If you would like any further information please contact any of the officers or e-mail info@chirnsidecommongood.org

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