Melton Mowbray Town Estate

Constitution

Melton Mowbray Town Estate was established in 1549 and is registered with the Charity Commissioners (Registered Charity Number 222142). Our governing document is the "Charity Commission Scheme" of 1^st December 1989.

The charity’s registered address is:

Town Bailiff’s Cottage, 2 Park Lane, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0PT

Objects

The charity is established for the benefit of the inhabitants of the "area of benefit" (the area that the charity can operate in as set out by the governing document) in such ways as the Feoffees see fit. The "area of benefit" is shown on a map which can be seen in the Town Estate Office.

Primarily, the Town Estate endeavours to enhance the community life of the inhabitants of Melton Mowbray by providing communal facilities and promoting community projects of a charitable nature.

The scale of charges adopted by the Town Estate for sports ground rent, market tolls etc are intended to be sufficient to generate enough income to meet all expenditure incurred in providing the facilities.

Finance

The Estate derives part of its income from capital investment in stocks and shares; which must be approved by the Charity Commissioners, to prevent wild speculation and, with land and property leases is valued broadly at £1,451,622 (2007). The decisions on these are made by the Feoffees.

The Feoffees' Management Committee undertake the running of the Estate on behalf of the body of the Feoffees, whilst the Town Bailiff controls the day to day working income, made up of market stall rents, yielding about £251,084 (2007), land and property rents, the hire of Estate facilities and refreshment kiosk sales.

The overall turnover is of the order of £484,475 (2007). In general, charity and youth organisations are given preferential rates whilst commercial enterprise is managed on a strictly profitable basis, in accordance with the Charity Acts.

Staff

There is a permanent staff, consisting of the Town Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Administrative Secretary and Market Administrative Secretary, that along with the ground staff and kiosk assistants totals about 26.

Much of the heavy work of market stall erection (in the early hours of the morning and in all weathers) is done by the ground staff helped by lads in higher education.

There is a panel of professional expertise: accountancy, valuation, investments, architecture, horticulture, legal, medical etc retained for specialist advice.