Scots heritage gems face threat of sell off

Published on Saturday 26 September 2009 00:28

HISTORIC laws that prevent the National Trust for Scotland selling off its most treasured properties could be scrapped to secure the financial stability of the charity, The Scotsman has learned.

Chief executive Kate Mavor said the troubled trust had in the past taken on too many properties – the vast majority of which are loss-making.

She said a strategic review, to be undertaken over the coming year, should look at scrapping laws dating from 1935 that prevent the trust selling its most significant holdings.

The charity is responsible for many of Scotland's greatest treasures, including Culzean Castle, St Kilda and the isle of Staffa.

The proposal is likely to throw the troubled conservation charity into fresh controversy, raising a storm among members at today's annual general meeting, which many were hoping would offer the chance for a fresh start following a year of difficulties.

The Scotsman has learned that a motion of no confidence in aspects of the trust – due to be subject to a vote today – was yesterday withdrawn, opening the door for the charity to move on from its difficulties.

However, critics said the possibility of removing the 74-year-old laws – which they say define the trust's raison d'etre – threaten to bring fresh turmoil to Scotland's largest conservation organisation.

Bill Fraser, from campaign group In Trust for Scotland, said: "This would put some of the nation's most treasured properties and attractions at risk. We would regard a radical change like that as extremely worrying."

In a candid interview, Ms Mavor told The Scotsman she was full of enthusiasm and confidence for the future of the trust. Nonetheless, she said the trust could not rule out properties needing to be sold in the future. She emphasised none were in its sights at the moment.

Currently, most trust attractions, including Culzean Castle, St Kilda, Brodie Castle, Glencoe, Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire and the Munro Ben Lomond, are deemed "inalienable" by law, which means they cannot be sold or mortgaged.

However, a review of the trust is to be carried out over the coming year – expected to be led by former Scottish Parliament presiding officer George Reid.

Ms Mavor said that although the remit of the review had not yet been set, it was likely to look at whether the "inalienability" laws should be revoked. This is something that would require an act of parliament.

"Part of the governance review will be to look at whether that's fit for purpose moving forward," she said.

She added that the trust's actions were "limited by the constitution", which it wanted to review.

NTS cares for 130 properties, covering more than 78,000 hectares, including castles, mansions, mountains, coastlines, islands, woodlands, battlefields and gardens.

Ms Mavor highlighted that all the properties ran at a loss, except eight that were fully paid for through endowments.

Often, she said, NTS had been bequeathed properties because the owner had not been able to afford to keep them.

"We have taken on other people's financial burdens," she said. "Happily we have very, very generous donors … which gives us funds to look after all these treasures." However, she added: "In the past, we have taken on things that we probably shouldn't have because we couldn't afford them and we have over-reached ourselves.

"We do have too many things to look after for the amount of money we have."

Ms Mavor argued that when NTS was established, historic buildings had no other protection. But now there was listed building status and other conservation organisations, meaning even if sold then they would still be cared for.

She added: "We have to review what we are here to do. We are not the only people in the game of protecting things."

Ms Mavor made clear that it was "not our intention at the moment to look at inalienable properties" but added that "anything might happen in the future. The recession might deepen".

Alan Denney, Scottish national secretary for the union Prospect, which represents most staff at the trust, said it would be a "landslide issue" if the inalienability laws were scrapped.

"Whilst understanding the difficulties that the trust has with properties they can't dispose of, these were given to the trust for the benefit of the people of Scotland.

"If they suddenly want to change the position so they can sell off what they like, it will have long-term consequences.

"Why would someone want to leave something to the trust? Because they want it to be maintained for the people of Scotland."

Mr Denney added that many of his members who worked for the trust would be "somewhat taken aback if the whole raison d'etre changed".

He told The Scotsman that he would like the AGM to be a fresh start, but said this issue could bring that into question.

"If the cat is out of the bag on this issue then until it is resolved uncertainty will breed difficulties."

The charity has had a turbulent year. It announced the closure of 11 properties and 91 redundancies and later revealed plans to sell its historic headquarters in Edinburgh. In the event, 65 full-time posts were lost and three properties were mothballed.

The remit of the strategic review will be decided by the trust's council on 30 October. Proposals for changes to the trust will be put before the governing council in June – in time for them to be adopted at next year's AGM.

FACT FILE

&#149 THE National Trust for Scotland is the country's largest conservation charity.

&#149 It was established in 1931 to be guardian of the nation's heritage of architectural, scenic and historic treasures.

&#149 Over the past year, it had an income of 48,150,000 and spent 38,677,000

&#149 The trust's reserves currently stand at about 4 million.

&#149 The majority of the charity's income comes from membership fees, donations and legacies, and over the past 6 million was provided by government grants – from bodies such as Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

&#149 The trust takes care of one World Heritage site, 16 islands, 76,000 hectares of countryside, seven national nature reserves, 26 castles, palaces and country houses, four battle sites, 23 wedding venues, 35 gardens, 72 holiday properties, more than 50,000 artefacts and four birthplaces of famous Scots.

&#149 Among the best known of the properties and land in its care are Culzean Castle on the South Ayrshire coast, Glencoe, and the island of St Kilda.

&#149 Despite the recession, 2008 to 2009 has been a good year for membership, which reached a record high, at 309,000.

&#149 Family membership costs from 5 a month.