FOI release

FOI - Due Diligence and Compliance Checks on Regal Community Centre Lease

Some or all of the information requested was not provided because we didn't hold it.

Case reference FOI2025/00061

Received 3 November 2025

Published 4 November 2025

Request

Dear Oxfordshire County Council Freedom of Information Team, I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information regarding Oxford City Council's (OCC) due diligence and compliance checks on the Regal Area Community Association (RACA, Charity No. 1041414) as the operator of the Regal Community Centre (Ridgefield Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 3BY), a council-owned public space for hire. RACA manages the centre under a lease (or other similar/written agreement) from OCC, with a recent renewal approximately in summer 2025 as mentioned by RACA trustees. As a regular user and council-commissioned service provider (Go For It! and AFiUK), I require this information to understand OCC's oversight processes, particularly in light of RACA's governance issues (e.g., outdated trustee register, inquorate board) and our ongoing exclusion from the centre. Please provide the following: 1. Any due diligence reports, governance reviews, compliance assessments, or risk evaluations conducted by OCC on RACA prior to or during the lease (or other similar/written agreement) renewal (~summer 2025), including checks on RACA's Charity Commission registration, trustee details, quorum, constitution, published policies (e.g., complaints handling, safeguarding, conflicts of interest), and equality compliance. 2. The date of the most recent compliance check or audit on RACA or the Regal Community Centre (including any internal audits, site visits, or lease monitoring from 2022 to present). 3. Copies of any correspondence, memos, or notes between OCC and RACA (or internal OCC discussions) from January 2024 to present regarding RACA's compliance with Charity Commission rules, lease terms, equality duties (PSED, Equality Act 2010 s.149), or tenant management. 4. OCC's standard policy or procedure for conducting due diligence on community association tenants before lease (or other similar/written agreement) renewals, including Equality Impact Assessments. 5. A copy of the current OCC policy governing council staff volunteering in community centres or other properties that are leased from the council. 6. All Conflict of Interest Declarations submitted to OCC by its employees regarding their voluntary roles with RACA. 7. If no such checks were conducted for the 2025 renewal, confirmation of this and the reason. 8. A copy of all correspondence (including emails, letters, and meeting notes) between OCC officers/members and RACA representatives concerning the organisations "Go For It!" or "AFiUK" for the period January 2024 to the present date. If any information is withheld under exemptions (e.g., s.31, s.40, s.43), please provide a refusal notice with reasons and public interest test. I request this in electronic format (PDF or Word) where possible. If costs exceed the appropriate limit, please advise on narrowing the request. Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your response within 20 working days. Sincerely, Tony Gerald Operations Manager Go For It! - Putting ability at the heart of Oxfordshire Regal Community Centre, Ridgefield Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 3BY. (map here) t: 07957 721 250 e: tony.gerald@goforituk.org w: www.goforituk.org fb: https://www.facebook.com/goforituk [cid:image001.png@01DC4CE7.C69A2760] GFI - Putting ability at the heart of Oxfordshire

Response

Thank you for your email dated 3rd November. Unfortunately, Oxford Direct Services does not hold the information you require. I recommend you redirect your enquiry to Oxford City Council who are responsible for FOI - Due Diligence and Compliance Checks on Regal Community Centre Lease in Oxford city, via the web form here, or by email to freedomofinformation@oxford.gov.uk, as I believe they will be better placed to answer your request.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Oxford Direct Services' response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.