Charities where the local authority is trustee of a public facility

A public facility could include:

• open spaces, such as recreation grounds, playing fields (including some King George’s Fields), public gardens, common land, allotments and car parks
• cultural facilities, such as concert halls, art galleries, museums and buildings of architectural or historic interest
• other civic buildings, such as reading rooms, town halls, libraries and leisure centres
• war memorials

This is not an exhaustive list and nor will all public facilities be charitable property. They may be part of the local authority’s statutory property. You will need to check the basis on which the local authority acquired control of the property to see whether it is held on charitable trusts.

It is important to know if the property is charity property, or not, because that will affect how the local authority can deal with it, for example, if it wants to develop the property or sell it. See Property transactions, transfers of land and funds and consolidation of small funds for more information.

Charities where the local authority is trustee of a fund including appeals

These include school prize funds and grant-making funds.