WEYMOUTH and Portland Borough Council has been slammed for ‘taking money from charities’ by asking for contributions from groups collecting for good causes.

The borough council has come under fire from vintage car group Transport of Yesteryear, for asking them to pay £96 to collect money for charity on council land.

The non-profit group stage three events a year where they put their vintage cars on the seafront and collect money for Joseph Weld Hospice and the Dorset Air Ambulance. In an email to the group the borough council said the charge for three events would be £96.

The council said it does not charge charities for street collection permits but did charge for events taking place on council land. It said it was happy to offer discounted rates for charity events, but due to the current financial climate it had to ensure costs were covered.

This year the borough council has made £2,905 from site fees from charitable events.

Carle Graham, from Transport of Yesteryear, said charging groups to collect for charity was ‘unacceptable’ and it was taking money away from good causes.

He said he could understand the charge if the borough council needed to provide marshals or equipment, but that the group cost the council nothing to be on the site and their vintage car displays brought thousands of people into the town.

He said: “The whole principle of this is not acceptable. We manage and control these static vehicle displays with our own marshals in hi-vis jackets, so why is it necessary to charge us? In effect the council are taking from the charities and that is unforgiveable.”

He added that over the 14 years they had been doing the displays they had always had a good relationship with the borough council.

Mr Graham added: “I sincerely hope the council will re-think this and drop the charge, otherwise we will have to pull out of Weymouth.

“We are non-profit making group of friends who enjoy showing our cars in the full knowledge that we are supporting charities and our community.”

Borough Council spokesman for finance and assets, Colin Huckle said: “We do not charge charities for a street collection permit or for charities wishing to make use of the town centre and promenade fundraising pitches.

“However, we do make a charge for events that take place on council land.

“We are happy to offer discounted rates for charity events, but unfortunately due to the current financial climate we must ensure we cover costs incurred by the council taxpayer for the delivery of the events service.”

New charging system

THE borough council said it requires anyone wishing to collect on behalf of a charity to apply to them for a free permit.

A spokesman said: “This helps to reassure the public that the charity collection is legitimate.”

The revised charging system for events taking place on council land is being introduced as a two-year phased approach following the WPBC management committee review of events and festivals service in September.

The new charges are as follows:

  • Commercial events from £315 per event day.
  • Non-commercial events from £210 per event day.
  • Charity events from £80 per event day.​ 
  • Build and breakdown days 50% of the above rates.