New trust’s first meeting

THE NEWLY reformed Shetland Charitable Trust will meet for the first time on Thursday morning.

The trust’s first duty will be to elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its 15 members when they gather at Islesburgh Community Centre.

The new trust consists of seven elected and eight appointed members, removing for the first time in its 35 year history Shetland Islands Council’s dominance from the £200 million charity.

The trust has been responsible for distributing the profits from Shetland’s oil-funded reserves to a wide range of community organisations.

A £10.48 million budget for next year is also set to be approved on Thursday, which general manager Ann Black said would be a “historic day”.

“The newly reformed trust will work to shape SCT’s future in difficult economic times so that it can enhance the quality of life for Shetland’s inhabitants for many years to come,” she said.

The independent trustees, selected by a panel chaired by former public appointments commissioner for Scotland Karen Carlton, are: Betty Fullerton, Catherine Hughson, Bobby Hunter, Ian Kinniburgh, Keith Massey, Stephen Morgan, Ian Napier and James Smith.

They are joined by seven councillors who were elected in the council chamber in December. They are Malcolm Bell, Peter Campbell, Robert Henderson, Andrea Manson, Drew Ratter, George Smith and Jonathan Wills.