Pro Bono Requests: Can you assist?
Please see West of England Pro Bono Committee's two pro bono requests below. If you can please share these with your networks, would like any more info, or can possibly assist, we’d be most grateful indeed. Please contact westofengland@probonocommittee.uk
- Overview - For the last 9 months Quartet Community Foundation have been working with Bristol City Council’s (BCC) property Team, Bristol Councillor Kelvin Blake, Voscur and Robert Bourns to help the charity ‘Hillfields Family and Community Trust’ settle their affairs and surrender their lease with BCC on a community centre. The centre has been closed for the last year as the charity has run into financial difficulties.
Once the lease is surrendered, the council will be able offer a new lease to another charity that is waiting in the wings to re-open the community centre and start providing services again for the local community, which have been much lacking since it closed.
Pro bono request – HELP NEEDED PLEASE! In order to surrender the property lease, there is one final small & quick piece of legal work that needs completing. To enable Bristol City Council to accept the charity’s surrender of their lease on a community centre in Bristol, a property Solicitor is needed to write a short statement in section 11.3 of their TR1 land registry form that states something on the lines of:
‘In line with the legal requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (as amended) relating to selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of charity land in England and Wales, the trustees, instructed a Chartered Surveyor to complete a Designated Advisor Report for the property. Based on the report’s recommendations, the Trustees have made the decision to fully surrender the lease to Bristol City Council…’
The surveyors Designated Advisor Report (which can be provided) concludes that “it is our opinion that it is in the best interests of the Charity to negotiate a surrender of its leasehold interest and notify the Land Registry accordingly.”
Once a Solicitor has written this statement, the charity’s trustees will be able to surrender their lease, and the council can offer a new lease to another charity who will start providing services again for the local community
All documents can be provided by John Stienlet on request. The property is: Hillfields Youth Centre, Thicket Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 4EH
When – As soon as a kind volunteer can assist with this, hopefully before the end of Jan/ early Feb 2025 if possible.
- Overview - A Solicitor has kindly been acting for a pro bono client in relation to a property matter which was referred to them via the Bristol Pro Bono Committee. An issue has arisen within the matter, concerning care home costs and a request by the county council for the client to consider entering into a Deferred Payment Agreement linked to a property which is co-owned by the client. The Solicitor is unable to advise on this issue and the client has requested support through the West of England Pro bono Committee.
Pro bono request – The private individual is seeking advice on entering into a Deferred Payment Agreement for care home costs, as requested by their local authority, in relation to a property which is co-owned by the client.
When – The client would appreciate this support as soon as a kind volunteer is able to assist.