John Barrett: Zoo membership won't be kept in a cage any longer

Published on Monday 9 May 2011 14:21

Is history about to repeat itself at crisis-hit Edinburgh Zoo, asks John Barrett

There used to be a zoo in the north of Edinburgh, near the site of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which lasted for only 18 years from 1839. It was popular, and was called the Royal Edinburgh Zoological Gardens. It closed after it was sold off to a commercial concern that was just interested in making money. It appears history might be about to repeat itself.

In recent years the zoo appears to have lurched from crisis to crisis. Currently, many members feel that they have been left in the dark for too long and a group has demanded an extraordinary general meeting, at which a vote of no confidence in the chairman and board will be discussed.

The meeting will take place this Thursday and interest from the estimated 23,000 members has already resulted in the venue being changed from the zoo itself to a larger venue at Murrayfield Stadium.

The importance of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which runs Edinburgh Zoo, spreads throughout the country and beyond.

As well as providing a family day out, it has responsibilities for conservation, education and research projects, both in Scotland and internationally.

As a life member, each year I am sent the annual report showing the many good things going on, but there is also a clear risk of the organisation spreading itself too thinly.

The zoo has often trumpeted its multi-million pound masterplan, but anyone who had the nerve to question the need to sell land for development was told that they were putting this plan at risk.

Many members have told me that they feel the board and former chief executive overstepped the mark regarding disposing of and developing land that was given to the RZSS for the specific use of the zoo.

The performance of the board must be held up to close scrutiny. They need to demonstrate exactly what actions they have taken in recent years to ensure the organisation was well managed. They need to show what their value actually was.

I have no doubt that the individual board members have a range of skills and talents, but I am not convinced the board delivers the needs and aspirations of the membership.

When I made my maiden speech in parliament, I proudly mentioned the fact that I probably represented more penguins than any other MP in the UK. Sadly, the once top-class enclosure now looks neglected.

It is important to the local and Scottish economy as one of the top-ranking tourist attractions in the country and it is on one of the most beautiful zoo sites in the world on Corstorphine Hill. The future of the zoo will require a significant investment to ensure that it remains a first-class attraction.

What is required, as well as improved communication, is strong leadership with a vision for the future that is shared by the membership and a first-class team to implement it.

The current board and senior management have provided neither the leadership nor vision required and many members feel badly let down by the current board.

I will be at the meeting on Thursday to ask some tough questions, such as: Why are senior staff currently under investigation and suspension? Why does the zoo look so run down? Why has morale amongst the staff been allowed to fall to an all-time low?

Why has there been no chief executive in place to lead the team? Why have so many attractive exhibits been removed from the zoo without any plan to maintain an interesting and exciting collection in Edinburgh? What has the board, which is ultimately responsible for the competent running of the RZSS, been up to and have they neglected their duties?

Have there been secret talks about outsourcing the park to an overseas operator? Have the board acted in a responsible way? Why have the members been kept in the dark and are usually the last to know what is going on at their own organisation?

Is the zoo being deliberately run down in order to make it look like the only option for the future is for the park to be sold?

Is history repeating itself?

&#149 John Barrett was the MP for Edinburgh West and a former RZSS council member

Emergency talks after miserable months

A RECORD number of Royal Zoological Society of Scotland members are expected to attend an emergency meeting at a hall inside Murrayfield Stadium to discuss the future of Edinburgh Zoo on Thursday.

The meeting follows a tumultuous few months for the zoo since it secured a deal to bring the UK's only pandas to the Capital from China.

In March, it emerged that RZSS chief operating officer Gary Wilson, who had also been acting as chief executive, had been suspended amid "anonymous allegations". An investigation concluded that the allegations were unfounded.

Director of animals Iain Valentine was suspended in April following allegations of financial impropriety, and director of development Anthony McReavey was sacked for "bringing the society into disrepute". It has also emerged the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator have begun an investigation into the zoo's recent management problems.