Klare Ball, nee Fielding, was a director and the majority shareholder at Cross Platform Media Ltd, based in Chatham.

The Insolvency Service report into her conduct found that she caused or allowed the business to trade to the detriment of HMRC from 7 February 2020 to 29 April 2022 when the business went into voluntary liquidation.

At the time of liquidation VAT liabilities including surcharges payable to HMRC up to when the business ceased trading, on 30 September 2021, totalled at least £93,649.

The initial statement of affairs showed HMRC owed £55,242 in PAYE, and £121,075 in VAT.

The Insolvency Service report also stated that CPM’s bank statements revealed that between 8 February 2020 and 30 September 2021 the company paid out £979,322.

Of this, £324,354 was paid in wages of which Ball received £14,478.

In the same period HMRC was paid £11,727 in respect of VAT. 

Between 11 February 2020 to 21 September 2021 the directors’ loan account increased from £15,461 to £213,095, an increase of at least £192,886.

This amount was still owed to the company when it was liquidated.

As a result of her actions Ball has been disqualified for three years and six months, with the ban coming into force on 13 August.

Her month of birth is May 1982, and her last known address was in Gillingham.

Cross Platform Media had an estimated total shortfall of £224,875 at the time of liquidation. This figure also included a Bounce Back Loan of £50,000.

Its titles included Future Constructor & Architect and Public Sector Build Journal.

Filings relating to the liquidation stated that an asset sale agreement had been agreed prior to the liquidators’ appointment.

Cross Platform Media’s business, goodwill, work in progress, and office equipment were sold to Red Hut Media Ltd for the sum of £19,500 to be paid in instalments.

Red Hut Media was incorporated on 23 September 2021.

Ball was subsequently appointed as a director of Red Hut Media on 1 June 2023 but this was terminated four days later.