Tories' bid to revive association
TORY bosses have called a special meeting of North Somerset's troubled Conservative Association – in a bid to try to lift the organisation out of supported status.
Association chairman Anita Heappey has called for the meeting on September 13 at which it is hoped new trustees will be elected via a secret ballot. The move follows the suspension of trustees Philip Bourqui, Derek Rigby and Arthur Terry in March by the Conservative Party.
Mr Terry and Mr Rigby, who took over as trustees in May 2011, and Mr Bourqui, who has been a trustee since 2002, are responsible for the assets of the association – including the Nailsea office – and the funds related to it.
Their suspension came after Tory party officials alleged they refused to provide full disclosure of the trust's record and documents, including the accounts and leases relating to the premises.
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The trustees have always denied any wrongdoing and say they see no justification for their suspension.
As a result of the dispute and the suspensions, the association cannot confirm the appointment of the trustees, leaving it unable to access funds held by them.
Without income from the trust, the association's monthly expenditure is exceeding its income and if the dispute is unresolved, it faces running out of money by late October.
The association, which was put in supported status last February, would be faced with finding alternative sources of funding or to try to replace the suspended trustees.
Comments
by ceembee
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 8:23PM
“Why can't the Tory Central Office disband the whole thing & start again?”
by patcrose
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 3:24PM
“And what will happen next. A row over the secret ballot whatever the result ? I see a number of portishead tories in my local and they are all fed up with the scandal that has now gone on for over a year.Worse, since most of them aren't interested in attending meetings dominated by a clique supporting the accused ,the result seems a foregone conclusion and can only result in further grief.”
by PortisheadAH1
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 7:32AM
“Good to see this finally reported but why not when it first happened and why not the contents of Cllr Cameron's letter and comments when even the BBC covered it?”