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Mid Devon District Council Crushes Boys’ Olympic Dreams
Culm Valley Boxing Club is shutting down today due to MDDC deciding to charge it business rates.
Originally the council thought it a good idea to have a Boxing Club in the local are and provided some small funding to help start up costs (see minutes). The police were involved in helping set it up.
10-15 people train here a week under the guidance of Coach Mark Barrrington. Two of the 15 year old boys had behavioural problems at school, but have since settled down and are training regularly.
The Club is non profit making, barely being able to cover the rent, with Mark putting his own money into the club. Excelsior has sponsored it with £2k of kit.
The politiicans will tell tell you about an “Olympic Legacy” but this is the reality of sport for most people in the country. Local coaches volunteering, using their initiative due to a passion for sport and helping others, but having obstacles put in their path by beauracrats.
MDDC have made a splash previously saying how sport helps educational achievement, but the people in the business rates department haven’t been told that.
In 2 years time, when young people in the villages of Willand and Uffculme watch the Olympics on TV and decide they want to get up and do something- here is one less choice they will have.
Well done to Mark for setting it up and to all the people who have been training there- it is nice to see some positive work in the local community. If any local people have a space for the Club to train, please contact Mark on 07773900346.
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Comments
Looks like it might be poss to get this changed?
‘Not for Profit’ Relief
The authority has the discretion to grant up to 100% rate relief in respect of a non domestic property occupied by certain bodies not established or conducted for profit.
The authority has the discretion to grant up to 100% rate relief in respect of a non domestic property occupied by certain bodies not established or conducted for profit and whose main objects are charitable or philanthropic or religious or concerned with education, social welfare, science, literature, fine arts or the occupier is a club concerned with recreation.
Examples of these bodies are as follows:
* Football Clubs
* Rugby Clubs
* Grant Assisted Schools
* Tourist Information
* Village Halls
* Cricket Clubs
* Bowling Clubs
If you fit the above criteria pleaes use the link to the right to display and print a form to make application for this relief. Please ensure that you enclose a copy of your latest audited trading accounts with your application.
Hopefully we can restart the club soon?
Russell
Appalling – however – the minutes related to a Devon County meeting of THEIR subgroup mid devon funding committee, and business rates are Mid Devon themselves – and if you expect joined up thinking from these two – forget it!!! A few of us tried and failed to work in a joined up way but efforts were seriously opposed and limited!!! Don’t be surprised if Mid Devon aren’t aware of the funding..
Good luck I really hope you get the decision overturned – the group is extremely valuable and a very good thing.