Freedom of information response

Finances for friends of park groups

Publication date: 
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Request: 

1. can you tell me if the friends of park groups have any annual allowance to assist with their function 
 
2. Can you confirm that all the friends of parks groups have an elected committee of local people and have their own community bank accounts  or charity accounts 
 
3. Can you indicate the funds held by each friends of parks group in these accounts and does the council oversee independent  auditing of accounts 
 
4. Do the groups have access to grass cutting equipment 
 
5. As an indication of efficacy can you indicate how many events each friends of park group organised at each venue in 2023
 
6. Are these groups set up to accept and administer large donations from outside bodies not involving the council

Response: 
  1. Can you tell me if the friends of park groups have any annual allowance to assist with their function 

           No

  1. Can you confirm that all the friends of parks groups have an elected committee of local people and have their own community bank accounts or charity accounts 

We do hold not the data for the smaller community groups, some of the larger groups that are incorporated as Community Intertest Companies have their own election process and directors change. They are not required to update us as they normally do this via Companies House.

  1. Can you indicate the funds held by each friends of parks group in these accounts and does the council oversee independent  auditing of accounts 

Thurrock Council does not oversee the independent auditing of accounts as these groups are not part of the council. They are separate entities.

 

  1. Do the groups have access to grass cutting equipment

The council maintains all parks across Thurrock including grass cutting.

  1. As an indication of efficacy can you indicate how many events each friends of park group organised at each venue in 2023

We do not hold this data.

  1. Are these groups set up to accept and administer large donations from outside bodies not involving the council

We do not hold this data.

Request reference:
FOI 13521