I was just parroting what an examiner had told me the day before. And also every FI I ever met. I had not consulted the ANO.
So thanks for the link. I did a text search on 'chart' and came up with the core MEL for almost every kind of glider, aeroplane and helicopter flight, in Section 1 Para 4 and Schedule 4.
A(2) Maps, charts, codes and other documents and navigational equipment necessary, in addition to any other equipment required under this Order, for the intended flight of the aircraft including any diversion which may reasonably be expected.
Interestingly it also said:
3 The following items of equipment are not required to be of a type approved by EASA or the CAA:
(a) the equipment referred to in Scale A(2);
I am not a lawyer, etc, etc, but I think that tells me my cut chart would be fine on its own. And it could be 1/2 mill, or 1/4 mill, or even an OS map if my trip was short enough and I had some notes on Airspace, etc.
But this goes against everything I was ever told, so if I have missed something, I would love to get a link to it!