A Council Meeting comprising 50 elected and 24 ‘representative’ members is to be held on Friday 30th October with Rt Hon George Reid to formulate the way forward.

Merely to tinker with the current unwieldy, undemocratic, somewhat vague current governance will reduce the NTS to an unworkable anachronism.

Members are urged to contact In Trust for Scotland either by post or by e-mail info@intrustfor scotland.org.uk with their thoughts on necessary improvements to rethink the entire NTS governance system, preferably based on experiences of working with the NTS.

We consider our 1,451 signed Members’ requests for an Extraordinary General Meeting, to receive seven clearly stated reports, means our views are essential to making a significant contribution to the proposed governance review.

For a guide to the existing governance structure go to this blog

This motion (Motion 1) was introduced to the AGM on 26 September by Mary E Mackenzie on behalf of the many seconders

President – Fellow members,

Like many, I was dismayed by a series of media briefings by the Executive in March 2009, immediately after the accounting year ended on 28 February.

I decided to “do” something so wrote a letter to “The Herald”.  In this published item, I suggested a possible NTS EGM, requiring 2000 signatures. In next day’s post I received an encouraging message from Mr Bill Fraser, a complete stranger, and that was the start of  “In Trust for Scotland”. (our contribution to the Trust).

To open seemingly bolted doors, information requested by members (in the wake of the shock announcements),  is our aim,  and to be welcomed as partners,  in this great Scottish enterprise, including the very special volunteers.

We have all long acquiesced in a hierarchical NTS governance structure, whereby the Council reports to the Chairman, and Deputy Chairman, appoints and removes non-Executive members of the Board, which in turn submits three reports to the Coucnil annually. However, it has become abundantly clear that a governance review is absolutely crucial. We welcome the announcement that Mr George Reid will head this major task.

A serious weakness is the lack of an individual business plan for each of our properties, including accessible lists of insured contents, and a statement of all major donors’ recorded wishes.

Today we now must ensure a renaissance in our Trust’s continuing saga, including transparency. Therefore we call upon the conveneers of the following four standing committees to attend the 2009 AGM in order to personally present the Report and recommendations of their respective committees and also to respond to the questions and comments of attending Members thereon.

The standing committees are:

The Audit and Risk Mangement Committee

The Conservation Committee

The Finance Committee

The Nominations Committee

I and the seconders ask you to support the motion enthusiastically.

NB: The NTS apparently disbanded the Finance Committee through the Board, with the approval of the Council, prior to the  AGM