From Mr Michael Robinson
Sir, - I would like to add to the advice in Maggie Durran's
column (Gazette, 11 January) on the
avoidance of problems from having an excess in a restricted fund
after a fund-raising appeal. The outcome of a successful
application under the Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme
is not, technically, a "reclaim", "refund", or "recovery" of VAT.
It is a grant, which should be accounted for as additional income,
not as a reduction of the VAT-inclusive expenditure.
Such a grant is unlike most other grants, in that it can be
applied for only after money has been spent, and when the receipted
invoices are submitted. The intention of the donor of this grant
(the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) cannot therefore be
to provide money for a specific use. It would seem to follow that
an LPW grant may not need to go into the restricted appeal fund
that incurred the expenditure.
MICHAEL ROBINSON
36 Trevelyan Way
Berkhamsted
Herts HP4 1JH