Trusting the Trustees

On 21st January I asked Sheffield City Council, via a Freedom of Information request, how it had been exercising its duty as trustees of Blacka Moor.

Dear Sheffield City Council,

Land at Blacka Moor was gifted to the public of Sheffield in 1933.
Sheffield City Council takes on the role of charitable trustees. I
would like to know how the trustees have exercised their duties in
relation to Blacka Moor and monitored the management of that land
by the lessees, Sheffield Wildlife Trust, over the last three
years.
(actual request is a bit longer, see website)

I have had no response from SCC yet despite the 20 day period allowable for answering FoI request having expired.

Not surprising since I'm pretty sure the fulfilling of these duties in relation to charitable land is a very low priority. In fact my guess is they don't bother with it at all.

The trustees of Sheffield Wildlife Trust, via their Chair, Anne Ashe, did reply to my letter written in December. You can read that response here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_uXN_NTCzDHRmFEUE9HdG5sX28/edit?usp=sharing

It is in the main a not unexpected defensive statement designed to give the impression that everything in the garden is fine, though being open to suggestions. I will make some later on. Suffice at the moment to note the comment responding to my criticisms and the view of the trustees: "no concern has been expressed about the management of Blacka Moor, either at the site visit we had there last June, or at any other time". Does this need a comment? Just this one for the moment: Trustees of any charity that express no concerns are not worth having.