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Heritage chief faces MSP grilling National Trust finances 'sound'
(about 1 hour later)
National Trust for Scotland bosses will be asked by MSPs to explain the problems which have led it to a cost-cutting and redundancy programme. The head of the National Trust for Scotland has insisted the charity's finances are "sound", despite a major cost-cutting programme.
The conservation charity said it had been hit hard by the recession and falling visitor numbers. Chief executive Kate Mavor told MSPs the body had been hit hard by the recession and falling visitor numbers.
But union officials have strongly criticised the management's strategy. The trust has announced plans to cut more than 60 full-time jobs and close several properties.
National Trust chief executive Kate Mavor, who will appear at Holyrood's economy committee, said the charity had been "living beyond its means". But Ms Mavor insisted the charity had a "good year" in 2008 and had started to rebuild its finances.
The National Trust for Scotland, which plays a crucial role in protecting and promoting cultural heritage, oversees more than 100 sites, including Culloden Battlefield and the island of St Kilda, a world heritage site. The National Trust for Scotland, which plays a crucial role in protecting and promoting cultural heritage, oversees more than 100 sites, including Culloden Battlefield and the islands of St Kilda, a world heritage site.
'Secret' process Ms Mavor said the trust had lived beyond its means for many years, relying heavily on cash reserves, which had become dangerously low.
But the cost of maintaining them is taking its toll and, earlier this year, the trust announced plans to cut more than 60 full-time jobs and close several properties. But she told Holyrood's economy committee things were now looking up, insisting: "Our financial situation is sound.
In a submission to the committee, Ms Mavor said a rise in maintenance and conservation costs had been accompanied by falling visitor numbers. "We have had a very good year last year which shows that, for the first time for many years, our general reserves are on the increase."
She said: "The trust has been living beyond its means for many years, relying too heavily on its reserves and reducing them to an unacceptably low level."
UNDER THREAT Leith Hall, Aberdeenshire:UNDER THREAT Leith Hall, Aberdeenshire:
A campaign is under way to try to stop the historic stately home from being sold off, in the face of possible national trust plans to turn it into private homes. A campaign is under way to try to stop the historic stately home from being sold off, in the face of possible National Trust plans to turn it into private homes.
The trust has said it is expensive to run and it does not get enough visitors, but local residents have launched a drive to save it.The trust has said it is expensive to run and it does not get enough visitors, but local residents have launched a drive to save it.
David Livingstone Centre, South Lanarkshire:David Livingstone Centre, South Lanarkshire:
Set-up in Blantyre to commemorate the legendary Scottish explorer, the centre was earmarked by the trust for closure.Set-up in Blantyre to commemorate the legendary Scottish explorer, the centre was earmarked by the trust for closure.
It has since been granted a reprieve, and will stay open after South Lanarkshire Council, the centre's trustees and a private donor stepped in to save it.It has since been granted a reprieve, and will stay open after South Lanarkshire Council, the centre's trustees and a private donor stepped in to save it.
The trust will continue to manage the centre, while the council has taken over the management of the gardens and grounds.The trust will continue to manage the centre, while the council has taken over the management of the gardens and grounds.
The chief executive said some savings had been achieved, but added: "The organisation reforecast in the light of the credit crunch and worsening recession, which showed the need to act quickly to protect the level of general reserves and secure the trust's finances." Ms Mavor explained: "On the subject of our finances, we are in a good position, moving forward with confidence that the cuts that we've had to make, as many organisations have had to in this time of recession, will serve to secure the financial stability of the trust."
She said cash reserves were set to grow next year, but the union Prospect, which represents many trust staff members, said the trust had been brought to its knees. "In addition to that, I would just like to reassure anybody that we have opened our accounts to anybody who's wanted to come and find out what goes on behind the scenes."
"Prospect has a major concern about the treatment of staff by the trust, before, during and after the current crisis in its wake," the union told the committee. The chief executive said the trust was now on track to be in surplus, adding that concerns over debt issues was "a total misunderstanding of our accounts".
"Prospect members were extremely frustrated that the business cases they produced were largely ignored, rather than being welcomed in helping make the best decisions under the circumstances. Ms Mavor also dismissed concerns from the trade union Prospect that the trust was "secretive" and had ignored staff suggestions on cash-saving measures.
"Staff have also been immensely frustrated by the secrecy with which the trust has gone about this process and do not accept this was generally necessary." The chief executive said there had been full consultation with the workforce.
Prospect said a large number of staff were now going to quit because they had lost confidence in their employer. Despite recently announcing National Trust membership had hit an all-time high, its chairwoman, Shonaig MacPherson, announced she was to step down from the post. Members had tabled a motion of no-confidence.
Despite recently announcing National Trust membership had hit an all-time high, its chairwoman, Shonaig MacPherson, announced she was to step down from the post, after members tabled a motion of no-confidence.