As a former employee of the Shetland Charitable Trust I have
taken a keen interest in the proposals for its reform. The only options
available are those that fit into the legal framework that OSCR is the guardian
of. Returning the SCT’s assets to the SIC is impossible under present
legislation. The only options are for the reformed trust to change its
constitution again.
When the present reform proposals were shown to OSCR they
could only comment on whether the proposals met the requirements of charity
law, they could not comment on whether it was best for Shetland. They would be
open to considering a revised constitution in a year’s time and again would
only comment on whether it met trust law.
I consider the proposal for Shetland people to boycott the
appointment process to be incredibly short sighted. What we need to do is for
as many local people to apply to be trustees and for those appointed to press
for a new constitution allowing for elected trustees. It is your money, you
should decide how it is spent.
