The Listed Places of Worship (PW) Scheme enabled faith groups to claim a refund for VAT on repairs to their listed buildings, if spend over £1,000.
The scheme is run by DCMS and treated as part of their spending. There have been over 1000 claims. The Chancellor set a tight budget for DCMS.
Successive budgets have renewed the scheme in 3 year periods.
This government are doing a spending review in two parts:
Lots of PW’s waiting for a decision, because of the impact on their building projects. DCMS under pressure, but agreed:
Second phase of spending review will be announced in June. There remains lots of uncertainty about what DCMS will decide beyond 2026.
National Churches Trust (NCT) are still analyzing the effect. At a high level:
For Cathedrals and those with ongoing building projects it will leave a large hole in their funds.
Parish churches with once in a generation projects (e.g. roof repairs) had assumed they would be able to claim more. Well over 100 -150 projects underway which are facing financial shortfall.
The big focus for NCT and PW’s is to keep the scheme going; making it clear in the run up to spending review why the scheme is so important. PW’s are at the heart of the community.
There are likely to have been a large number of smallish claims. All to do with the timing of works.
Think so- but not any guidance at the moment. £40m previous figure is misleading, as not been reached. £30m - £33m usually.
We don't know, but there's a real risk. DCMS holds the budget and they're under financial pressure. No sign that the treasury care about culture and heritage - they don't get the link between these buildings and wellbeing.
4. There’s an opportunity for CFF to get behind this. What can we be doing now?
NCT still getting their head around the next phase of the campaign. They are collecting stories about negative impact. There needs to be an important bit of engagement with DCMS, MP's and No. 10 about the importance of this scheme for faith in Britain. An opportunity for CFF to publish a joint press release and open letter, and for members to get behind NCT in what they are doing. |
NCT still trying to gauge from churches how it will affect their projects going forward. Many responding that there is a shortfall and projects may not go ahead.
We need to collate those stories. There has been lots of collaboration with church groups.
There needs to be something soon, on the back of the recent announcement, to create a groundswell of noise, including the CFF voice, between now and June.
Some. NCT had a piece in the Jewish Chronicle just before Christmas. Difficult to engage with Muslim community. Sir Philip to think about whether connection with Culham St Gabriel is needed.
Yes, came from the two lead Bishops for buildings. They put the emphasis on gratitude that the scheme is carrying on. The Catholic Church put out a stronger statement.
Government used % of grants rather than total value. NCT looking at this. For now, the most powerful things are stories and examples - good projects that are now in doubt.