Lincolnshire Agricultural Society in dispute over charitable rate relief
The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS) is set to challenge West Lindsey District Council’s decision to remove its charitable rate relief.
LAS, which operates from Lincolnshire Showground, is a non-profit making charitable organisation set up in 1869 with the aim of educating people across the county about food, farming and sustainability.
Because of the work it does for the Lincolnshire community in terms of education on food and farming with schools, colleges and charitable organisations, LAS has had an 80 per cent charitable rate relief for decades, but this has now been called into question by the council – which has taken the matter to court.
However, LAS is fighting the action on the basis that without the rate relief, some of its events could be scaled back, including the size and scale of the Lincolnshire Show – a situation it says could have a “domino effect” on local businesses.
LAS chairman Jane Hiles said: “This has been a really difficult time for us. All of the work that the LAS carries out is for the good of the county – and its people and therefore, we strongly believe we should receive a charitable rate relief.
“Without the charitable rate relief, the LAS could be faced with an annual increased cost of almost £70,000 per year – money that is currently earmarked in delivering our educational work.”
The LAS, which has had a permanent home at the Lincolnshire Showground for more than 60 years and celebrated its 150th anniversary last year, gift aids 100 per cent of surplus funds from non-charity bookings into maintaining the showground and delivering its educational work.
Hiles added: “We do not make a profit on the Lincolnshire Show. It is a showcase event held every year for the good of the community, businesses and the farming network. It may seem that we are securely funded, but in fact our margins are extremely tight and we have to constantly review costs.
“The wet show in 2019 and the burden of the legal costs we incurred in the action with West Lindsey District Council, resulted in a trading loss of more than £100,000 in the year 2018/19.”
Jayne Southall, CEO of the Lincolnshire Showground, believes it could be a landmark case if the showground is forced to relinquish its charitable rate relief.
She said: “The showground operates in the same way as around 20 other major agricultural showgrounds across the UK. The UK agricultural industry relies on its county showgrounds to be centres which host conferences, meetings and major events.
“We believe the showground plays a pivotal role in allowing the LAS to achieve its charitable objective and that, as such, the venue should qualify for the charitable rate relief that it has always historically received.
“The Lincolnshire Show requires year-round planning and organisation to ensure high standards of safety, quality and educational value and not only do we fulfil our charitable objectives with the show and the showground, but we also make a huge difference to the local economy, supporting local businesses and providing lots of temporary jobs.”
