Cut more jobs and sell off property, NTS told

• At risk: Kellie Castle in Fife

George Reid, the former Scottish Parliament presiding officer, who is leading a review of the cash-strapped charity, said his report was likely to recommend joint working with bodies across the whole heritage sector in a number of areas, as part of a "rationalisation" of effort to protect Scotland's historic treasures for future generations.

He said the organisation, which was forced to cut 45 jobs last year to reduce costs, desperately needed to reduce its responsibilities to the nation, and try to do "less, but much better".

In a detailed update on his review, Mr Reid said that he had ruled out for the first time the idea of the NTS merging with its counterpart in England or with Historic Scotland, the other main heritage body north of the Border.

However, he hinted his review would probably recommend that the NTS and Historic Scotland share resources and staff, create joint membership and ticket packages, and promote all of their properties under one banner.

Over the next few weeks, civil servants and ministers will be asked to help draw up proposals which could have a major impact on the running of both NTS, a charity, and Historic Scotland, a directly funded government agency.

Mr Reid said a new parliamentary bill was likely to be needed to approve a full-scale overhaul of the trust, with a new directorate expected to be created to act as a watchdog on the charity's board. However, this move could open the door to the NTS changing its long-standing constitution that prevents it from selling off many of its most significant holdings.

Mr Reid said the "stated goals" should no longer exceed the financial resources of the organisation, adding that it needed to "rationalise" further its vast estate of properties.

Six attractions earmarked for closure last year were given a reprieve following a huge outcry from NTS members – Kellie Castle in Fife, the Hugh Miller Museum in Cromarty, Haddo House in Aberdeenshire, the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre, Barry Mill in Angus and Inveresk Lodge Garden, East Lothian.

Hutchesons' Hall in Glasgow, Hill of Tarvit Mansion House in Fife and Leith Hall House in Aberdeenshire were all closed.

Mr Reid said it was essential that the trust was able to balance its books in future and boost its financial reserves.

He said it had too many responsibilities and ambitions, without adequate resources.

"We are looking at a rationalisation of the estate. We're looking at the very real costs, in my view, of bureaucracy and double governance," he said. "We are looking at joined-up working – not a merger – across the entire heritage sector in Scotland.

"Why are we doing that? We want the resources to put conservation excellence first."

Mr Reid said a five-year strategic plan was likely to be recommended, along with the possible creation of a directorate to monitor the existing NTS board.

"These changes are most likely to require a new act of the Scottish Parliament," he said.

Bill Fraser, a member of In Trust for Scotland, an action group formed to challenge NTS policy, said: "It is no great surprise to hear George Reid saying this. It's very much in line with what we've been hearing in recent months.

"We fully support a fundamental review of the organisation, and we are realistic about the fact some properties may have to close. We know NTS is going to have to cut its cloth accordingly.

"Our main issue last year was the whole way the closures were handled – there was no consultation with the members and the staff at the properties did not even know anything about it. There has to be a rational long-term view taken of the whole business. We've asked for the membership to be involved with that, and that's what has been happening."

Mr Reid was charged with overseeing a full-scale review of the NTS last November, after months of turmoil over a huge cost-cutting programme. Mr Reid was appointed weeks after NTS chairwoman Shonaig Macpherson said she would be stepping down.

He has already declared that the NTS was clearly "over-governed and under-directed", with almost 200 people involved in controlling the charity.

His review, which is being overseen by a panel including entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer, former Scottish health minister Susan Deacon and the Duke of Buccleuch, the current NTS president, is expected to be completed by June of next year.

A spokeswoman for the NTS said yesterday: "These are not final recommendations at this point and, as Mr Reid's review is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage."

However, a spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: "We look forward to hearing more from Mr Reid's review and are already progressing some of the issues he has raised about our partnership working with the National Trust for Scotland.

"We work closely with the NTS, as we have many shared aims."

• Inveresk Lodge Garden in East Lothian faced closure last year but, despite receiving a reprieve, still faces an uncertain future, as do all National Trust for Scotland properties

Grassroots revolt saved properties after cost-cutting campaign revealed

THE National Trust for Scotland faced the biggest revolt in its history in 2009 as it embarked on a huge cost-cutting programme.

Officials warned they needed to save 3 million over a three-year period, blaming a slump in visitor numbers and a drop in the amount of money generated by legacies and investment funds.

The economic downturn was said to have heightened the financial crisis at the NTS, which has 130 properties across Scotland and 315,000 members, but gets no direct funding from the Scottish Government.

The NTS – Scotland's biggest conservation organisation and the nation's third-biggest landowner – warned its reserves had slumped to just 4m, some 13m lower than its target.

However, the NTS's plans for savings triggered a revolt from its membership after officials said they wanted to cut 90 jobs, close 11 sites and sell off the NTS headquarters building in Edinburgh.

Most of the threatened sites were later reprieved following a high-profile campaign mounted by members and union leaders. Eventually, the number of redundancies was halved. However, NTS went ahead with a decision sell-off of its home in Charlotte Square, in Edinburgh's West End, and relocate its headquarters to a business park in the west of the city.

The NTS estate covers more than 78,000 hectares, including castles, mansions, mountains, coastline, islands, woodlands, battlefields and gardens. Among its best-known sites are Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, St Kilda and the munro Ben Lomond.