THE Charity Commission has intervened in a row over representation on a North Craven charity.

The Hartley Trust was created in 1894 to provide funding for Long Preston School and bursaries and scholarships for children in Long Preston, Hellifield and Halton West.

But the board of trustees has been without a Long Preston representative for a year after the parish council's nominee, Philip Johnston, was rejected.

Confusion then arose between the council and the Hartley Trust trustees over who had the final say on outside appointments.

Now, Hellifield representative Frank Pedley has resigned, saying he was concerned about the way the trust was being run.

The Charity Commission was contacted by both Long Preston and Hellifield parish councils and the Hartley Trust to clarify the situation. It ruled in favour of the parish councils.

Mr Pedley told Hellifield Parish Council's annual meeting: "When I volunteered to take the place of Audrey Hogg, who had resigned from the Hartley Trust last year, I fully intended to serve the full three years, which would have brought me nicely to the grand old age of 90. I am sorry that this will not now happen."

He said he was upset that the trustees had claimed the right to decide whether the parish council nominees were suitable.

"Once I obtained a copy of the Trust deed, I realised that this claim was mistaken," said Mr Pedley. "All my efforts to persuade the trustees to reverse the decision failed and eventually Long Preston Parish Council - supported by Hellifield Parish Council - felt they must make a formal complaint to the Charity Commission.

"Within a very short time the Commission told the trustees that they were wrong and that they should admit the Long Preston nominee to the Trust."

Mr Pedley explained that the trust had been set up by John and Mary Hartley, who had left their legacy in the hands of representatives of the ratepayers in Long Preston, Hellifield and Halton West. He said the main reason for his resignation was that the trustees were not running the trust in the democratic way on which the Hartleys would have insisted.

"I hope my successor will have a happier time," he added.

The Hartley Trust is said to own assets valued at £1.9 million and provides valuable assistance with its scholarships. Last year, 35 post GCSE students received grants of £300 each.

The Trust also used some of its assets to help provide a new building for pre-school children at Long Preston Primary School.

A statement from the Trust said trustees had voted to request that Long Preston Parish Council reconsider its nomination in line with Charity Commission guidelines which state that any outside body appointing a trustee to a charity is bound by law to do so in the best interests of the charity'.

The council declined, and so the trustees sought confirmation from the Commission on which body had the final say.

The statement added: "This showed that the parish council had the right to insist on its nomination. This ruling was immediately accepted at a special meeting of the trustees and the procedures associated with the appointment have been put into effect. The parish council's nominee will be invited to the next meeting."

Mr Johnston told the Herald he was delighted to eventually be invited to join the trustees.

"I look forward to attending my first meeting with them, but also sorry that Long Preston has not had any involvement for the past year when clearly decisions involving Long Preston may well have been taken."