BCC Governance

What is the BCC?

The Badingham Community Council (BCC) was formed on the 1st January 1967 as part of a nationwide initiative to establish county and local community councils.  (Do note: this type of community council is not the same as the community councils that you'll find in Wales and the North of England, which are equivalent to Parish Councils.) 

Suffolk’s county community council became a charitable company limited by guarantee in 2012 and is now called Community Action Suffolk .

The BCC is now a charity.  A Constitution set up the charity’s Objects and Structure.  It was revised and updated in November 2021.  Broadly, the BCC's ‘charitable purpose’ is to provide facilities and amenities to the people of our village aimed at improving conditions of life.  Its specific Objects are:

1. To provide adequate recreational facilities, playing fields, playgrounds, community centres and other amenities of a similar character for the benefit of the community residing in Badingham and the neighbourhood in the interests of social welfare and with the object of advancing education, furthering health, relieving poverty, distress or sickness or in pursuing any objects that now are or hereafter may be deemed in law to be charitable by improving the conditions of life of the persons for whom the facilities are primarily intended.

2. To raise subscription or otherwise funds for the furtherance of the objects of the Council.

What does the BCC do for me?

It:

• publishes the Echo magazine;
• provides and manages the defibrillator;
• arranges social events including the annual Fete, and Natter and Chatter evenings during the winter, Wreath Making workshops, a subsidised Christmas Lunch;
• holds regular draws (the ‘Little ERNIE’);
• funds regular quizzes (currently at the Village Hall);
• runs regular Bingo Nights;
• runs a Tuesday Table Tennis Club; and
• supports other village organisations – for example we are involved in various commemoration events.  

National public support services are more available than when we were formed, so we haven’t of recent years been involved in educational, health and poverty related work - but could still be.

What is your structure?

The BCC should consist of the following:

1. The Officers of the Council, viz: The President; Chairman; Vice-Chairman; Treasurer; Legal Advisor; and Secretary, to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.

2. Vice-Presidents (up to a maximum of two).

3. Representatives of:

3.1. The Badingham Parish Council.

3.2. Such voluntary organisations as may be invited by the Executive Committee.

3.3. Such sports organisations and clubs as may be invited by the Executive Committee.

3.4. Subscribers under Section 4.

3.5. Such persons as may be accepted for membership by the Council and such terms as the Council may from time to time decide.

But it has been some time since the ‘full’ Council in the form set out above has met, and this is something that we are hoping to address during 2025-26.

Do you have a managing committee?

The BCC appoints an Executive Committee (EC) annually from the above (i.e. 1 -3), the number being determined by the Council (or if it has not met, those present at the AGM).

The current Executive Committee of trustees is:

Sonja Russell, President

Rob Johnston, Chair

Wendy Birtall, Secretary

John Lloyd

Michael Skinner

 

You can read the latest minutes, which will be uploaded after each meeting.  New trustees are always welcome.  The role won’t put you at risk, as many people mistakenly believe, provided you are sensible, and the time commitment isn’t too great.  You could be voted in at the AGM or co-opted during the year – if you are interested in joining mid-year, please contact our secretary via badinghamcc@gmail.com

Do you publish a Report and Accounts?

We now publish a Report and Accounts ahead of each AGM.

When reading the Accounts, please note that they come in several sections:

the first section is our formal ‘Financial Accounts’ that we would submit to the Charity Commission, were we larger;

the second part is a standard Bank Reconciliation;

the third part is an Analysis that shows you what funds we received from our supporters, what we did with the funds, and our Reserves; and

the fourth part is an Assets and Liabilities Register.

The Accounts are reconciled between each year, are Independently Examined and signed off by the Examiner, whose Report is also included.

We’ve heard people saying, ‘why haven’t you spent all the money shown in your accounts?” We can’t spend to our last penny, because we must keep a sensible level of reserves to ensure we remain viable and there is money there if a project with big benefits turns up.  We now have a Reserves Policy explaining in more detail, and the Accounts show our reserves.  We will in future publish Business Plans that show what we’re planning to spend on.

Can I advertise in the Badingham Echo?

You certainly can – fees are low, making it a great cost-effective way of marketing your local business.  Just contact our secretary via badinghamcc@gmail.com who will put you in touch with the Editor, or contact the Editor direct using the details provided in each Echo.

Do you award grants?

We can award grants to help other groups wanting to do things that align well with our purpose. We don’t grant to certain types of people/groups and types of projects.  This includes individuals, commercial firms, and Government organisations.  That doesn’t mean a person with a good idea can’t get funded.  We are always happy to talk and see if others might also benefit and who knows, a wider funded project might come of it.

We have a detailed Grant Awarding Policy, but it is technical to comply with legislation and the rules governing charities.  Put briefly, all charities must be strict about the way their money is used, because it is really their supporters’ money.  That means we will expect applicants to be of a certain status, which we’ll check. We’ll need to make sure money is used within the scope of our purpose and as agreed with you.

So, if you have a great idea and feel we could help, just talk to us - contact our secretary, at badinghamcc@gmail.com, currently Wendy Birtall.  We can help you through the fine print if needed and help you fill in the Application Form.  Most applications are simple and decided at our regular meetings, after which we make payment quickly.

Our biggest challenge recently has been receiving few creative ideas that might need funding, so do come forward with yours!

How do I become a member and volunteer for you?

Membership runs from the 1^st October to the 30^th September each year and allows you to contribute to the charity and if you wish take part in the Little ERNIE 50:50 draw.  Fees are very modest, and we’d love everyone to join!  If you have any questions, just contact our treasurer on bill.badinghamcc@gmail.com

The village has always been very good at supporting us when needed and we would appreciate it if you could get in touch if you can lend a hand.  We would like our members, and indeed all residents, to play a bigger part in helping with events and activities.  In the past, we were sometimes contacted to say that members who wished to help had not been asked to.  We hope this will be a thing of the past as our new membership form asks you for contact details.  

When is your Annual General Meeting (AGM)?

It is held each November in the Village Hall. 

The AGM is another great opportunity to have your say.  We welcome anyone who lives in the parish, but please note only paid-up members of the BCC may vote. Documents for the upcoming AGM can be found on the left (scroll down the page on a mobile phone)