In brief – 12 February 2010

Big savings at the trust

SHETLAND Charitable Trust has implemented more than £2 million of savings in its budget for 2010/11 which was approved by trustees yesterday (Thursday).

The trust annual revenue budget has been reduced by 16.6 per cent from £12.36 million to £10.3 million.

The savings include the changes to the Christmas bonus scheme, reductions in grant payments to the arts, recreation and amenity trusts, as well care charges.

Trust financial controller Jeff Goddard said further savings will have to be identified over coming years.

Trustees also agreed to continue with the work to review funded bodies in a bid to make further saving to the trust’s expenditure.

No biscuits for trustees

FUTURE meetings of Shetland Charitable Trust will again be held in the council chamber after trustees heard that this would be the most cost effective option.

Previously, trustees had moved from Lerwick Town Hall to the Clickimin Centre in a bid to demonstrate its independence from the council, but found the acoustics in the gym hall not to be up to the job.

A report yesterday (Thursday) told trustees that they could hold their regular meetings in the town hall for £77.25 per meeting or opt for the Islesburgh community centre where room 16 would cost them £94.

In a closely fought contest the town hall option, proposed by Betty Fullerton, won by 11 votes to nine against Islesburgh, put forward by Laura Baisley.

Mrs Baisley had argued that Islesburgh was less crowded and, importantly, also served biscuits with the coffee.