A RESTRUCTURE is taking place at a village hall after five committee members took the decision to resign en masse during a public meeting.

Former trustees Jonathan Mather – the chairman – along with John Brunt, Brian Gorski, Philip Grundy and Alyson Whitlock all stepped down following a debate on how to run The Barlow Institute — the charity which overseas The Barlow in Bolton Road, Edgworth.

The Barlow Institute currently constitutes an unincorporated charity. The former trustees had hoped to make it a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) before the end of the year.

In the minutes of the AGM on May 23, Mr Mather wrote: “The board has been advised and agreed that the charity should convert to CIO. This will afford the board and the charity a greater degree of protection.

“This is very important and, in the board’s view, essential to the future of the charity.”

However, the Bolton News understands that, faced with opposition to these proposals during a vote at the Annual General Meeting on August 1, all five trustees resigned.

A new board of trustees was formed in the immediate aftermath of the resignations, consisting of Parish Cllr Stephen Danks, Cllr Colin Rigby and Parish Cllr Daniel Wild. Since the meeting, Mark Sutherland together with Christine Waring have also been appointed.

However, former trustees are questioning the legitimacy and legality of this new board.

Former trustee Brian Gorski said: “The election may not be valid because they did not use the correct constitution. We are in conversation with the Charity Commission as to whether this is legal.”

He added: “If you do not have the endorsement of the community and the support of the community, then there is absolutely no legal or constitutional reason why you should continue as a trustee.

“The trustees felt that, if they were not representing the majority of the community, then they should not be trustees.

“It is all rather sad that it has come to this.”

Minutes from last week’s AGM have been posted on The Barlow website, detailing the decision to set up a working group to consider ‘the implications for The Barlow, be it a CIO or other legal entity affording limited liability’.

Cllr Rigby, who represents West Pennine ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “During the meeting, the CIO issue came up. One of the trustees spoke about the options and changes.

“Then there was a vote and on that basis, all five of the committee resigned. It is really quite frustrating because the previous board has done some good work.

“There are lots of types of CIO. We need a professional to give us some advice.”

Residents have been invited to attend the Parish Council meeting on September 3 for a progress report.

The historic building was taken over by members of the community in 2011 after Blackburn with Darwen Council announced £42,000 of funding annually would be pulled along with paid for staff.

Since the takeover, The Barlow has been the focal point for community events, with these taking place on an almost daily basis.