from Sunday Herald, 23 August 2009
One of Scotland’s most effective campaign groups, Ramblers Scotland, is planning a bold bid for independence in an attempt to recover from the draconian cuts imposed by its London headquarters.
The organisation has had its budget slashed by 79%, its staff reduced from seven to two and salaries cut. The threat of closure still hangs over its office at Milnathort in Perth and Kinross.
But now the Ramblers Scottish executive has decided to seek more autonomy from its British masters. And it has completely lost faith in the organisation’s senior managers south of the border.
As one of Scotland’s leading recreational bodies, Ramblers Scotland, played a major role in the land reform legislation which has given Scotland amongst the best arrangements for public access to the countryside in the world. Formed in 1985, it has 58 walking groups and 7,500 members.
The Sunday Herald revealed in June that Ramblers Scotland was facing the biggest crisis in its history. To make up funding shortfalls, the governing board for Great Britain had decided to slash £300,000 from its budget.
At a meeting last week, the Scottish executive condemned the cuts as “completely unacceptable” and accused the governing board of failing to make any meaningful response to its representations.
Executive members agreed to give “active consideration” to ways of taking more control of their own organisation. They called for debate amongst members on the best options, including complete independence.
One option is for Ramblers Scotland to be funded directly by Scottish members, instead of receiving a grant from the Ramblers in London. But the financial and practical implications still have to be worked out.
“If they won’t grant us more autonomy, then complete independence will become more likely,” warned Dennis Canavan, the former MP and MSP who now convenes Ramblers Scotland.
He said that Scottish executive also expressed no confidence in the Ramblers British chief executive, Tom Franklin. Canavan accused Franklin of of misleading the governing board about Scotland.
“As an MP and MSP I have been involved in many industrial disputes, including the miners, and I’ve never seen a group of workers subject to such shabby treatment,” Canavan told the Sunday Herald.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. I don’t think Tom Franklin understands Scotland at all. He’s trying to control events from London without understanding the reality of devolution.”
The Ramblers in London defended what had been done by pointing out that the organisation had been hit by the recession. “In order to balance the books, the trustees of the Ramblers reluctantly decided that significant staff cuts were unavoidable,” said Ramblers vice-chair, Tom Fisher.
“Cuts were made in a number of areas, including the Wales and Scotland offices. Tom Franklin has implemented the decisions of the trustees with great sensitivity in a difficult situation and enjoys the full support of the trustees.”
The problems afflicting the Ramblers could have ramifications for other voluntary organisations with headquarters in the south of England. “What has happened has been raised with us,” said Ian McCall, the chair of Scottish Environment Link, which brings together over thirty groups.
“It’s a potential concern that other organisations could face a similar situation. I think it’s likely that we will have a look at governance issues for cross-border groups.”
Some health and social groups have also suffered from cuts imposed by London. In April the Harry Potter author, J K Rowling, resigned as patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland after a proposed reorganisation caused staff to quit.
Lucy McTernan, the deputy chief executive of Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations argued that the biggest problem now facing the voluntary sector was the recession. “Evidence shows all types of funding are down and many organisations are having to tighten their belts, just at the time their services are needed most,” she said.
“Local government and public sector funding is now harder to access; corporate sponsorship is massively reduced, lottery and grant-making trusts have been hit, and there is less money coming to Scotland through European structural funding. Just one of these things is a major issue. When they all come at the same time, it's a perfect storm.”
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