Charitable Trust, independent of Council

[Kavi Ugl]

The quantity of millions held in the trust funds will be too tempting for "politicians from the scottish mainland" they will have it by hook or by crook, its always been the way n always will. Holyrude will take anything Shetland has got n the populous will still go snivveling after them. As soon as that profane parliament was declared i did exclaim Shetland could kiss its rear goodbye. Without even studying , they are quite capable of forcing the council to merge with the trust funds and stop all central govt monies, hence saving them money ,constructively taking the trust funds. Shetland has been constantly been under attack from scotland

 

This is the nub of the problem for Shetland and even Gussie Angus has warned about it for years. The government bods sooth think that they have a "right" to Shetland's oil monies and they will, as du says, get it by hook or by crook.

 

And yes, what gaules me is that Shetland is like a dog that gets beat and still goes grovelling back to "the master". Unbelievable.......

[Guest Anonymous]

Thats a whole lot of tax if the goverment really wants to play dirty.

considering which govt it is , can they play any other way ?

[Skunnered]

^^^Well, we've just got rid of the most dishonest, conniving, conceited, overspending government that's been in Westminster for a very long time, so whatever this lot do, it surely can't be as bad as the last lot!

[Guest Anonymous]

best thing this lot can do is bring the edinburgh govt into line, there lies the biggest threat

[jimmy parks]

The main problem arises because the SIC insist in keeping control of the CT by having the majority of the Trustees made up of Councillors. If they would give way on this and make the majority independent Trustees, then they probably wouldn't have to combine the CT accounts with the SIC's accounts, and they wouldn't be in danger of losing their charitable status.quote]

 

Dis has been said before but unelected trustees is not the way forward. It was tried with the development trust and was a disaster, because the independents were chosen by the councillors. And why on earth is Lord Scott sitting on the charitable trust? Just cos he happens to have the biggest hoose in Shetland? Na na boys dis canno go on.

I suggest the way forwards is to have a separate election running simultanously with the SIC election, thereby folks can vote for who they want. We certainly dont want our money controlled by unelected "business people" who walk of with thoosands of pounds after failed salmon ventures.

[Skunnered]

^^^I entirely agree that the independent Trustees should not be unelected. They should most definitely elected for that particular job, and I think the suggestion that they should be elected at the same time as the local councillors is a good one.

But the Trustees should NOT be the same individuals as the councillors.

[Spinner72]

^^ Also agree. Indeed the idea of electing at the same time as councillors would be perfect.

 

No reason the two groups cannot work closely, and aside from the legislative advantages, it would bring another set of checks and balances into the equation. Win-win?

[Skunnered]

When the SIC held its "consultation" this view was put forward by many individuals and several community councils, but completely ignored by those in authority, of course.

[MitzyMu]

Couldn't agree more that the Charitable Trust should be independant.

How can 22 counsellors be in charge of the Trust without it being a conflict of interest ?? It's just an easy way for certain folk to be able to gain funding without having to be accountable to Shetland residents for whom the trust was intended in the first placeI raise my hands in despair !!!!!!!!!!!

[voxreasonable]

I have no idea how I became the author of this topic. It seems to have been going on for years. I only joined Shetlink this month....

[Fjool]

^ Probably a side-effect of threads being merged. I didn't do the merge, so I can't say for sure. But this is the most likely cause that springs to mind.

 

Nothing to worry about.

[voxreasonable]

Not yet paranoid.

[skaterboy]

Should we be lending money to companies to keep them afloat during difficult trading times when the directors of said companies are buying properties abroad, guest houses, fancy boats etc.

Surely it is the responsibility of the directors to pay themselves a salary in keeping with the profitability of the company, and surely it is the responsibility of the trustees to make damn sure that said directors are not just paying themselves inflated salaries, putting the future viability of the business in jeopardy.

When a company is failing there is usually a good reason for it and more often than not poor management is to blame, especially when it is others folks money they are squandering.

[swc123]

I see John Scott has now come forward with a proposal for change:

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2010/08/26/new-proposal-from-john-scott-seeks-to-end-sic%E2%80%99s-control-of-200m-charitable-trust

 

I wonder if any heed will be paid to this one, or will it be a case of bury head in the sand again from incumbents?

[Malcolm]

^^^^ Link does not work...