Date: 06 May 2009 Brocklebank: Membership must have role in charting NTS future The National Trust for Scotland must make the fullest possible use of its membership in developing an action plan to safeguard the future of the organisation and the Scottish Government must also be prepared to think creatively about how it might be able to support the Trust through these difficult economic times.
Speaking on the Trust’s difficulties following press speculation about its finances and the Prospect Union’s claim that if ‘we [the Trust] were a plc we would already be bankrupt’, Ted Brocklebank MSP, Shadow Minister for Culture, said:
“The National Trust is one of the best-loved and most important of Scotland’s charitable institutions. No one wishes to see famous properties closing, not least those in Fife, because of current funding difficulties; even worse if properties were to be saved this year and then to find themselves under threat a year or so from now.
“The National Trust has a responsibility to let its 300,000 members know just how serious the current funding difficulties are before longer-term decisions about the organisation’s future can be made.
“We’re told that there is an immediate £3m gap in the Trust’s finances for this year plus £3.8m still to be secured for the Burns Birthplace Project . This combined deficit could be addressed by a one-off £20 contribution from each of the existing membership. I’m sure I speak for many of my co-members in saying this would be preferable to swathing cuts in key staffing or the mothballing of unique properties like Hill of Tarvit.
“While such a levy might address the short-term problem, members would of course want to contribute to any action plan on the Trust’s long-term future. Having had discussions with the Minister and the Trust’s management I don’t think it is realistic to canvass Government financial support in the current climate, and certainly not before the Trust’s most valuable resource, its membership, has seen the books and been fully consulted on the way ahead.”
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