NTS reforms win support

Members of National Trust Scotland have backed a package of reforms aimed at modernising the charity.

Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of the recommendations suggested by George Reid, former presiding officer of the Scottish parliament, after a nine-month strategic review. Only two of the 426 delegates voted against the proposals.

Recommendations include creating a five-year strategic plan, calculating the cost of repairing and maintaining the trust’s estate, selling ancillary properties and reducing the number of trustees.

A new board will be elected in April. It will be made up of 15 trustees, compared with 87 previously, in an effort to reduce over-governance and “bring the trust more in line with charity-based practice”, said a spokeswoman.