Breakdown in relations between trustees

OSCR has demanded that a Glasgow charity elect an entire new board after a spat between trustees.

Cycling and activity community group Free Wheel North had come to the regulator’s attention last August and subsequently opened an inquiry.

A previous inquiry was opened by the regulator in 2022 following governance concerns and concluded in 2023.

At that time the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator acknowledged the board was clear on the changes and improvements that needed to be made to the governance of the charity.

Now the watchdog says: “OSCR has continually set out its expectation that the charity trustees call and hold an annual general meeting, following the rules in the charity’s governing document to ensure the proper election of charity trustees.

“Due to the severe breakdown in the relationship between the charity trustees this has failed to happen.”

OSCR has told Free Wheel North to hold an extraordinary general meeting to allow its members to properly elect a new board to ensure valid appointments are made that cannot be challenged and will allow the charity to move forward.

It added: “Following the appointment of new charity trustees, OSCR will meet with the board, as a collective, to set out their legal duties as charity trustees.”

The charity courted controversy in 2022 when four staff claimed they were made redundant in the middle of their shift, triggering the first investigation by the watchdog into bullying and mismanagement allegations.

Free Wheel North has been approached for comment. This story will be updated should a response be forthcoming.