News / Trust vice chair resigns in protest
THE VICE chairman of the Shetland Charitable Trust has resigned from his post in protest at yet another trust meeting being called before next week’s election to release £6.3 million funding for the controversial Viking Energy wind farm project.
Lerwick South member Jim Henry said on Thursday night that he thought the issue should not be discussed again by trustees, most of whom will not be standing for election on 3 May.
An emergency trust meeting has been called for Monday, 30 April, after a formal request from seven unnamed trustees.
The meeting will be held in the Shetland Hotel at 10am just three days before the local government elections.
At least half of the current crop of trustees will no longer be in post as they are not standing for re-election.
Mr Henry, who said he will remain a trustee until polling day, said: “I think this should be left until after the election when at least half of the trustees will be new. I don’t like where we are heading with this.
“I didn’t feel comfortable with this, and that’s why I resigned. I will attend the meeting though.”
Mr Henry came in for criticism two weeks ago when he appeared to miscalculate the number of trustees present at a meeting to discuss the funding proposal, having to be informed by a member of the public the meeting was inquorate and could not go ahead.
This was the second time the trust has tried and failed to rustle up the numbers to vote on releasing sufficient funds to take the massive project to the construction stage, as too many trustees fear a conflict of interest.
The trust insists that an investment decision needs to be taken now to avoid diluting its shareholding in the 103 turbine development, which received planning consent earlier this month.
In a statement late on Thursday, trust chairman Bill Manson said he had no choice but to call the meeting.
“I can confirm receipt of a request from seven trustees, which is the minimum number required, seeking a meeting of the trust to discuss further investment in the Viking Energy project.
“These trustees have intimated that they feel frustrated they have been unable to make a decision at previous meetings because there has not been a quorum.
“They appreciate the same situation may arise again but feel the decision is such an important one it needs to be discussed. In particular they feel strongly they want their views recorded, whether a decision is possible or not.
“As a result it has been agreed to call a meeting for Monday 30 April 2012.”
Councillor/trustee Gary Robinson knew nothing about Monday’s meeting when he was approached on Thursday night, and described the attempt to slip it in before the election as “scandalous”.
Mr Robinson said it was high time for VE directors to explain to trustees what influence they had on the massive wind farm project.
“At best they are passengers on SSE’s steam train, and at worst they are just the lever to open Pandora’s Box,” he said.
Shetland North candidate Colin Arnot was quick to react to the news with a statement: “Having just heard of the charitable trust’s latest attempt to slip in a quorate meeting next Monday, days ahead of the council elections, I am horrified that there seems to be a last gasp panic going on to address the required funding issue for Viking!
“The current members had their opportunity and, frankly, blew it. It should now be up to the revised configuration of the trust, to be established after the people of Shetland have voted next week, to determine the way forward.
“Such a hasty arrangement would appear to be a smack in the face for the electorate of Shetland. We can only hope that numeracy lets them down again.”
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