When interests conflict

The game of "follow the money" which I attempted with the charity Cosgarne Hall, which provides accommodation for vulnerable adults in the St Austell area, prompted me to seek clarification from the Charity Commissioners about the role of its former chief executive and landlord John Coventry, who resigned as chief executive in February. This is the commissioners' reply:

"Whilst Mr Coventry was the CEO and also renting property to the charity there was a conflict of interest. We are satisfied however that this was properly managed. The resignation of Mr Coventry does remove the conflict of interest but this conflict would only have been of concern if it had not been properly managed. It is inevitable that conflicts of interest occur in charities. The issue is that charity trustees identify and actively manage these. "