News / Trust seeks comments on reform
SHETLAND Charitable Trust is inviting local people to comment on its plans to remove local councillors’ control, describing it as its “biggest ever decision”.
For the past 35 years the £200 million trust, one of the largest charities in Scotland, has been dominated by Shetland Islands Council’s elected members with just two independent trustees.
New proposals drawn up with advice from one of the country’s top lawyers, Roy Martin QC, would end SIC control and introduce a majority of independents from whom a chair would be chosen.
The plan to appoint the independents was condemned as “undemocratic” by councillor Gary Robinson last month, but a governance review group examining the issue for more than two years believe they have come up with the best way forward.
Now they are seeking local people to comment on their proposals before a final decision is made on 21 September.
The suggestion is to reduce the number of trustees from 23 to 15, seven of whom would be councillors and the remainder chosen from the wider community.
Local people could put their names forward for selection and a specialist body in this field would draw up a shortlist of candidates with the best range of skills, experience and knowledge.
The final recommendation would then be made by an independent panel, chaired by a charity expert from outwith Shetland.
Independent trustee Sir John Scott, who has been a proponent of change for many years, said the proposals would be “a tremendous symbol of the new era that we are entering”.
Sir John said: “I am very pleased that the governance review group has come up with such a balance between public representation and personal ability.
“The electorate will be able to choose seven trustees through the council elections, while local people who wish to serve as trustees can put their names forward for selection.
Trust chairman Bill Manson added: “This has been a huge undertaking and I would like to thank the trustees who have put so much time and effort into this.”
“We have sought public opinion and advice from experts in charity work and these proposals reflect the advice we have received. We want a transparent process of selecting the best people from the community to work alongside seven councillors who are elected by local voters.
“As trustees we carry a great responsibility for looking after Shetland’s community funds, and I believe the review group has struck the right balance between change and continuity.”
“However we would still like to hear what the Shetland community thinks about these proposals and we invite comments to the Trust before we make the final decision on 21 September.”
Details of the governance review group’s proposals can be found at www.shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk/
Comments should be sent to mail@shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk or by post to 22-24 North Road, Lerwick no later than 20 September 2011.
Comments received will be shared with all trustees.
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