Letters / Credit for breaking ranks
The people of Shetland require full democratic control of Shetland Charitable Trust so that they can decide if too little money is spend on sport and culture and too much on those in need, or the other way around.
By electing trustees Shetland’s inhabitants would also be able to say if the oil money should be gambled on one big project or otherwise invested.
No councillors should be able to serve and vote on the trust, otherwise cabals will form and manipulate the trust to do the council’s bidding. This is why, following the McFadden commission, most Scottish councils advised councillors to step down from trusts. The trust does not need to disbar them. It remains an issue for the SIC.
There will be no shortage of civic minded candidates. Many able potential candidates did not apply to become appointed trustees because they did not wish to serve on the trust whilst it remains dominated by partisan councillors.
The current appointed trustees are a useful stepping stone to full democratic accountability. Some should be asked to remain for one term for the benefit of continuity.
If they want to serve for a further term thereafter they should face the electorate.
Trustees should be able to offer themselves for reelection once and once only. The more people who have served, the closer the trust will be to the people and the better it will be understood and the more responsive and proactive it will become.
Half the trustees’ posts should be up for election midway through the term of the other half. This would secure continuity and progression. Where a vacancy arose between elections a reserve candidate who was nearly successful in the previous election could be co-opted on.
The more people who are trained in the responsibilities of being a trustee the better. This would improve the running of all Shetland’s trusts. Free training should be available annually to all those interested.
These arrangements are unlikely to secure a bridge to Shetland’s young people so our Youth MSPs could be entitled to receive minutes and briefing papers and attend with speaking rights. A bridge to the council is similarly desirable and could be achieved by allowing the civic leader similar speaking rights.
Some mechanism still needs to be found to ensure the trust hears from and engages with those living in poverty and who are otherwise voiceless.
It must be remembered the trust exists to help Shetland to deal with the many ongoing negative impacts of the arrival, presence and the departure of big oil.
Jonathan Wills deserves some credit for breaking ranks and allowing us to see that the current unelected trustees intend to complete their partial reorganisation without properly consulting the people of Shetland (Wills wants trust to restore democratic control; SN, 25/04/16)
The fact that the appointee trustees would consider doing this shows the inherent snobbery of the appointee system and how manipulative councillors on the trust can be. There are people in every corner of Shetland who instinctively would do better.
These reforms might yet result in Shetland Youth Information Service being reopened, Disability Shetland’s funding being secured and independent support and advice on drug and alcohol problems again being made available free from the cash starved NHS.
There needs to be a mile of clear water between the Shetland’s Charitable Trust and the SIC if the trust is ever to be sufficiently trusted and charitable.
Peter Hamilton
Sundibanks
Scalloway
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