Accounts show how the charity behind Kent's biggest wild animal parks paid more than £150,000 in 'interior design services' to the wife of its chairman.

The Aspinall Foundation, which is already under investigation by The Charity Commission for 'serious concerns' about finance and governance, paid the six-figure sum to Victoria Aspinall, the partner of the organisation's figurehead Damian.

The charity says it received "value for money" and details how the large payment - sent in 2020 - was "subject to a rigorous benchmarking exercise".

Mrs Aspinall was previously paid £12,500 for interior design services in 2019, but her fees multiplied significantly last year.

Her sum is the equivalent of 10% of the charity's annual donations from the public and donors - which came in at £1.5 million.

Mrs Aspinall, who married Damian in 2016, is classed as the designer behind recent additions to the charity's ever-expanding portfolio of luxury sites at Port Lympne.

She was the creative director for the new Leopard Creek accommodation, and its new Garden Room bar and restaurant, which is located in the historic stable yard of the site's mansion.

Published accounts for the charity state how the £150,000 transaction was "at arm's length".

Its financial annual report reads: "During 2020, the Foundation paid Mrs V Aspinall £150,158 at arm's length for interior design services.

"The fees charged were subject to a rigorous benchmarking exercise to ensure that the foundation received value for money."

A payment of £124,231 was also sent to Foundation trustee Charles Filmer, who is the director of accountancy firm Alvarium.

The annual report states: "Fees are charged at a discounted rate and comprise a fixed element for day-to-day accounting and administrative work, and a time-based element for additional project-based work.

"All invoices are approved by the chairman and by one of the independent trustees."

Not in relation to the payments revealed in recently published accounts, there are currently two investigations under way - with both the Foundation and the Howletts Wild Animal Trust under the microscope.

The Charity Commission is separately probing both over "serious concerns about governance and financial management".

In March of this year, it launched a formal statutory inquiry into both - to examine their administration, governance and management.

A statutory inquiry is the commission's most serious form of investigation.

In cases where serious wrongdoing is proven, charities can be taken over or even forced to fold.

When the inquires were launched, the regulator said the "opening of an inquiry is not a finding of wrongdoing".

Back in March the Aspinall Foundation said: "We remain firmly committed to our ethical and legal duties as a charitable body.

"Our trustees will continue to work openly and transparently with the Charity Commission to ensure best practice governance and compliance."

The Foundation has been approached for further comment relating to the 'interior design' payments.

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