Commentary on Parts Public benevolent collections
95.Sections 84 to 92 set out a local authority led system for licensing public benevolent collections which replaces the provisions for the licensing of public charitable collections under section 119 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The provisions are very similar to those in the 1982 Act. The main changes are the extension of the definition of public benevolent collections in section 84 to include collections of promises of money (such as direct debits), as well as collections of cash; clarification of the definition of public place under section 84 and the inclusion of powers under section 91 to regulate the collections of goods.
96.Section 85 requires organisers (unless exempted by subsection (2)) of public benevolent collections (collections of cash or promises of money in a public place, or from house to house or business to business) to apply to the relevant local authority for permission to collect. Organisers are exempt if they are designated as a designated national collector (under section 87), if the collection is in a public meeting, takes place on land occupied by the organiser to which the public have access either by virtue of an enactment or with the implied or express consent of the occupier of the land, or if the collection is by an unattended receptacle in a public place. An organiser of a public benevolent collection held without a local authority consent is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000) (unless the collection satisfies the exemption conditions). Section 86 requires local authorities to make any necessary enquiries before they either give permission to collect (with or without conditions), or refuse permission on a number of grounds. Local authorities may also withdraw permission already granted. Regulations under section 86may remove the duty on local authorities to undertake background checks for certain types of applications.
97.Under section 87, OSCR may designate charities who meet certain criteria as designated national collectors. This establishes a regime similar to the current provision under the 1982 Act by which the Scottish Ministers (now OSCR acting on their behalf) may designate bodies collecting in a number of local authority areas as “exempt promoters”. In the new regime, OSCR may specify the criteria to be met for the purposes of obtaining and retaining designated national collector status, and are required to consult certain persons beforehand. Collections by designated national collectors must be notified to the relevant local authority, who may prohibit the collection if it is likely to cause undue public inconvenience.
98.Section 88 sets out a process for organisers of public benevolent collections to appeal against a local authority decision. Further procedures for public benevolent collections will be set out in regulations made under section 90.
99.Section 89 gives OSCR powers to protect funds raised in a public charitable collection and section 92 requires local authorities to consider guidance issued by OSCR in relation to public benevolent collections.
100.Section 91 allows the Scottish Ministers to regulate the collections of goods from the public for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes through secondary legislation. These regulations could include a requirement to notify local authorities about the collection, and can create offences for non-compliance.