Tim Bennett-Goodman's blog

Civil Exchange has just published its Big Society Audit. See: http://www.civilexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/THE-BIG-SOCIE...

The London and Mayoral elections have been something of a distraction over the past few weeks but with them out of the way and a Bank Holiday weekend to take a breather, I’m getting back into blogging mode once more and might as well start with those elections...

Chancellor George Osborne's plan to reduce the level at which higher-rate taxpayers donating to a charity can reclaim the income tax paid on the money has caused an outcry amongst philanthropists which could seriously disadvantage charities.

Last Thursday evening I attended the AGM of Apex Arts (The Arts Council for Waltham Forest) at the Vestry House Museum in my capacity as an Honorary Life Member.

The Christian festival of Easter and the Jewish festival of Pesach (Passover) are currently in progress and I wish all our members of both faiths peace and joy at this time of year.

It was an honour and pleasure to be invited to attend the Queen's North London Diamond Jubilee Reception at the Town Hall earlier today, along with our Director, Enrique Saenz.

The Spring Equinox seems a propitious day to mark new beginnings and hopefully the completion of VAWF's input into the council's two-year consultation into the health of the local Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) will provide just such a fresh start.

As Chair of a charitable organisation, I'm prevented by charity law from involving VAWF in any political campaign. However, VAWF is well aware of, and shares, the concerns surrounding Waltham Forest Council’s decision to impose car parking charges in the Town Hall precinct 24 hours per day. Several of our member groups, and others in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), have contacted us to complain about its implementation.

Waltham Forest Council is seeking sector views on its draft Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy. VAWF's Board will be discussing this at its meeting on 9 February, the results of which will then be fed back to the council.

Either I've been walking round with my eyes closed for ages or I've spotted a genuinely new phenomenon. Today I noticed an estate agent's sign on vacant town centre business premises offering 'reduced rents'!