Friday 18 March 2011

Follow the money

We're running a story on BBC Radio Cornwall tomorrow morning about the financial arrangements between Cornwall Council and Cosgarne Hall, the St Austell charity which provides accommodation for people whose lives are so chaotic they can't live anywhere else.

John Coventry, who is secretary to the charity and who has been a vocal campaigner against the council cutting its Supporting People budget, tells me that there isn't an arrangement between the council and Cosgarne Hall - because the relevant Supporting People contract is with him personally.

It's a complex tale and one which the council itself is now looking into. Some councillors, notably Truro's Fiona Ferguson, have asked if the £288,000 worth of contracts with Mr Coventry represent best value for money.

Accounts filed with the Charity Commissioners show that Mr Coventry and his wife, as owners of the properties which house up to 40 Supporting People clients, received rental income of more than £193,000 in the 15 months to March last year.

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