Cycling UK Forum

thirdcrank wrote:I find it significant that Regulator was apparently recruited to provide the expertise for the project and has turned against it. No doubt others think he is wrong. It would be interesting to hear the other side of the argument from somebody who also has specialist knowledge.

According to the stuff on the web pages CTC got advice from CASS and Russell Cooke. They are both pretty respected names in the sector and neither of them would be willling to be dragged into the sort of mess Regulator is describing if they thought they were involved in something dodgy. CTC will be a pretty small client in their terms.

There are good and bad managements in every structure, this change won't resolve that if that is your beef. But at least with a charity you are legally obliged to show all your money goes to your purposes. At present the Directors could vote to send themselves or asmall group of their mates touring in Barbados and all we can do is deselect them at the next election. As a charity we have access to an independent regulator.

There is a lot of nonsense being suggested here about charitable status limiting campaigning. I have worked within a number of charities and it doesn't help this debate if the facts are just wrong.

Charities in the UK have been responsible for some of the most effective and groundbreaking campaigning in our history. Nobody can surely be suggesting that the Ramblers, NSPCC, the Rowntree Trusts, Shelter, RSPCA, Terence Higgins Trust, Stonewall have ever been neutered by being charities. Indeed they have more independence and more influence than bodies who have to toe the political line such as trade unions.

The charity commission and government specifically recognise the role of campaigning charities in policy, and they have made it clear that campaigning is not linked to funding.

Frankly the insular, self centred CTC I joined in the 1980s deserved to loose its place at the campaigning table when the city campaign groups kicked off. A body whose remit is to serve society and therefore can speak as the voice of everyone who cycles is just what we need. Who do you want to represent us - Sky? Better to make CTC as good as it possbly can be by using the system to our advantage.