PART of the Conservators’ legal costs accrued during the St Ann’s Well row could be recouped through insurance – but more work is needed.

In a letter to the Conservators’ board the Charity Commission questioned if the inquiry committee’s report identified weakness in the governance and decision-making of the conservator’s board of trustees and whether the charity was liable for the legal expenses incurred.

Steve Bound, conservators’ director, said the commission also asked if costs could be recouped through insurance.

Mr Bound said: “If it’s not covered we’ll ask the commission ‘do you think that’s a reasonable use of the charity’s money?’ If it is covered, we will take further advice.” The commission’s letter to the board said the Conservators had “a duty to recover property lost to the charity which has resulted from breach of trust or [legal] duty.”

The commission also found the recently published Conservators’ St Ann’s Well report did conclude the “behaviour fell below that expected of a public body”, but it did not “specifically consider the duty of care in relation to a trustee.”

The total expenditure was £78,765.17, including the legal costs of the Conservators and Mr Redman – broken down as £37,970.02 and £28,508.65, respectively.

The remainder was spent on PR advice and consultancy services.

  • An earlier version of this article mistakenly read: The commission also found the recently published Conservators’ St Ann’s Well report did not conclude the “behaviour fell below that expected of a public body”, nor did it “specifically consider the duty of care in relation to a trustee.”