The Captain Tom Foundation is prone to shut down following an investigation into its administration, a listening to to resolve the destiny of an unauthorised spa at his daughter’s dwelling has heard.

The organisation, which was based in June 2020 in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore – after he shot to fame by doing sponsored laps of his backyard through the COVID pandemic – is presently being investigated by the Charity Commission.

Barrister Scott Stemp, performing on behalf of the late fundraiser’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin, mentioned: “It’s not news to anybody that the foundation, it seems, is to be closed down following an investigation by the Charity Commission.”

Captain Tom Foundation: What has happened and why is there an inquiry?

He additionally advised the listening to, on the headquarters of Central Bedfordshire Council, that the muse was “unlikely to exist” for much longer.

The admission was made at an enchantment launched by Ms Ingram-Moore and her husband against an order to demolish a building in the grounds of their £1.2m home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

The pair have been initially granted permission to construct an L-shaped construction of their backyard in 2021, with their plans stating the positioning could be used partly “in connection with The Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives”.

However, final yr they submitted a retrospective utility for a bigger, C-shaped constructing containing a spa pool, together with a kitchen and bathrooms.

The new utility was rejected by Central Bedfordshire Council, which then served an enforcement notice demanding the “now-unauthorised building” be demolished.

Chartered surveyor James Paynter, a consultant for the couple, advised the listening to the scheme had “evolved” to incorporate the spa pool.

He mentioned: “It was felt that a larger building could provide this extra space for this extra facility going forward. The spa pool has the opportunity to offer rehabilitation sessions for elderly people in the area.

“They need to provide one-to-one periods, solely on a a few times per week foundation. They felt this further limb to create a C-shape was wanted to create this facility.”

Read extra from Sky News:
Woman dies after bus crashed into city centre shop
Baby dies after harbour incident
Rolls-Royce confirms loss of up to 2,500 jobs

Mr Paynter mentioned the constructing would additionally provide the “opportunity for people to meet on a coffee morning basis – that’s probably not going to be more than once a month, like a church opening up for a coffee morning for Macmillan”.

“There’s going to be the opportunity to open the garden – we’ve heard the garden will open once per year for a fete,” he mentioned.

In a written enchantment assertion, Mr Ingram-Moore additionally mentioned the heights of the constructing that was initially authorised and the brand new construction have been “the same”.

The listening to was overseen by planning inspector Diane Fleming, who was appointed by the secretary of state.

Around half a dozen neighbours attended the assembly, with one arguing that the constructing is “49% bigger than what was consented” and is near his property, including: “It’s very brutal.”

‘Bit of a monstrosity’

During the listening to, Ms Fleming was proven neighbours’ views of the spa block – together with from the backyard of retired credit score supervisor Jilly Bozdogan.

Afterwards, Ms Bozdogan described the constructing as a “bit of a monstrosity”.

Speaking to Sky News in her backyard, she mentioned: “It’s totally ruined the view. That’s why I’ve planted trees to try and block it out.”

She added that her 99-year-old mom, who she lives with, is so upset that she “sits there and cries”.

Ms Bozdogan mentioned how the undertaking had “really affected” the muse and that she would “not give any more money to it”, a sentiment shared by “quite a few people”.

Frances Shaw, whose property additionally backs onto the complicated, advised Sky News it “taints” Captain Sir Tom’s title, including: “Hopefully people still appreciate what Captain Tom did.”

Richard Proctor, planning enforcement workforce chief for Central Bedfordshire Council, mentioned: “The original building that was approved was because of public good outweighing harm.”

He added: “There hasn’t been any information provided to the council about the use of the spa.”

Ms Fleming mentioned she would make a go to to the positioning, earlier than making a written resolution at a later date.

The Charity Commission first launched a probe in March 2021 into the Captain Tom Foundation’s accounts, which confirmed in its first yr £160,000 was given away in charitable grants, whereas £240,000 was spent on administration and fundraising prices.

The watchdog expanded it to a statutory inquiry in June 2022 after changing into involved about preparations between the charity and an organization linked to the couple.

This summer season, the muse stopped taking cash from donors after council chiefs issued the demolition order.

Sir Tom raised £38.9m for the NHS, together with Gift Aid, by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday on the peak of the primary nationwide lockdown in April 2020.

He was knighted by the late Queen throughout a singular open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle in the summertime of 2020. He died in February 2021.