This trust was set up as an arms length body in order to save ERC millions of pounds.

So far instead of saving money, it has cost ERC mega cash. ERC required to prop the trust up with 239,000, then another 277,000.

They then wrote them an unlimited cheque to assist them to balance their books. They also wrote off a projected savings target of 100,000.

Now in the recent budget we see that ERC have also written off a projected saving of 459,000.

In total this 'project' has cost ERC in excess of 1 million pounds. Yet four Cllrs decided the CEO of the trust deserved a pay rise. Barbara Grant, Colm Merrick, Danny Devlin and Paul O'Kane.

Cllrs Barbara Grant, Colm Merrick, Danny Devlin and Paul O'Kane were members of The Leisure Trust Board when all this took place -

There were specific financial implications during the year.

It was made public that 'East Renfrewshire Council had to bail out its struggling Culture and Leisure Trust.'

A projected overspend of £277,000 for the year 2017/18 was forecast in the Trust’s financial monitoring report and the council agreed to plug the funding gap.

The Cabinet were informed a ‘letter of comfort’ had to be written to allow the Trust to continue providing services in its sports facilities, libraries and community spaces, including the Barrhead Foundry.

An increase in funding from the council was also confirmed in a letter to the Trust.

ERC and members of the Trust had talks over a new management agreement as the current deal comes to an end this year.

In a report to the cabinet, the council’s head of accountancy, Margaret McCrossan, claimed it was “necessary to issue a letter of comfort to the Trust” to allow provision and development of services.

Ms McCrossan also confirmed that an additional £239,000 has been set aside to support the Trust.

A planned savings target of £110,000 has also been deferred.


Cllrs Barbara Grant, Colm Merrick, Danny Devlin and Paul O'Kane are still members of The Leisure Trust Board despite all the above.

The Leisure Trust Chief Executive Anthony McReavy received a pay rise despite all the above.

The Director of Education is still an 'observer' at Leisure Trust Board Meetings despite all the above.

But what of the rest of the Leisure Trust Board................

At the Board Meeting on 17 April 2018 Board Members Jim Wilson (Chair) (JW) and Dr Noreen Siddiqui (NS) took great exception to ERC Chief Executive Lorraine McMillan's views and tone regarding the CEO's view of the issues.

'The Chair responded robustly to question those views.'

' NS expressed unhappiness at the tone of the address by LM.'


Extract from minutes of 17 April 2018 Board Meeting -

Minute of an Extraordinary Meeting of the Board of Trustees of East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Ltd held on 17 April 2018

(Jim Wilson (Chair) JW,
Dr Noreen Siddiqui (NS),
Brian Davidson(BD)
Lorraine McMillan, Chief Executive ERC (LM))


2.Solace in Business – ERCLT Review

The findings and conclusions of the draft report were discussed.

The ERC Chief Executive (LM) spoke at length about her view of the issues.

The Chair responded robustly to question those views.

NS expressed unhappiness at the tone of the address by LM.

BD asked what the next steps would be in order to move forward.......


You can read the full minute here -

www.ercultureandleisure.org/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=23081&p=0

Brian Davidson resigned from the Board of Trustees on 9 September 2018.


Extract from minutes of 4 December 2018 Leisure Trust Board Meeting -

East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure Ltd
(A company which is a Scottish Charity (Scottish Charity Number SC0045726) incorporated in Scotland under the Companies Act with company number SC486489)

Minute of a Meeting of the Board of Trustees of East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Ltd.
Eastwood House, Giffnock on Tuesday 4 December 2018 at 3.00pm

4b
Board Appointments and Resignations
Appointments
Andrew Allan is appointed to the Board of Trustees.

The appointment was made after a number of meetings with Mr Allan and the CEO, the Director of Finance & Commercial Services also met with Mr Allan.

The Nominations Committee met to discuss and agree the nomination which was then presented to the Board of Trustees followed by East Renfrewshire Council for ratification.

Resignations
The two longest serving members of the Board of Trustees, the Chair, Jim Wilson and Professor Grant Jarvie have come to the end of the four year tenure for Board members.

Professor Jarvie will remain as a Board member.

Jim Wilson is standing down with advice from the Board as to when the best time to leave is, giving as much notice as possible to allow for a seamless transition.

The Chair was advised that a three month lead in to his departure will allow ERCLT to seek candidates for nomination to the Board of Trustees.

The Chair will remain on the Board until the end of the next Board meeting on 26 February 2019, serving the full four years on the Board.

The Chair paid tribute to Brian Davidson, the former Board member and Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee who resigned from the Board of Trustees on 9 September 2019. [Note from poster: Think that should be 2018]

The financial expertise and wider engagement Brian brought to the role since 2015 was commendable.

The diligence and scrutiny brought to bear as a director and chair of the FAR committee was exemplary and played an important part in the advances already made by the Trust and those now in train.

It was absolutely in keeping with our experience of Brian’s professionalism, that he ensured the 2017/2018 Annual Report and Accounts were concluded before tendering his resignation.


7.Report by the Chair of Finance Audit & Risk Committee (FAR)

The Board is asked to consider the report and comment on matters as appropriate.

The report was delivered by the acting Chair of the FAR Committee, Professor Grant Jarvie who expressed his sorrow regarding the departure of Brian Davidson, the previous Chair of the FAR Committee, and thanked him for his contribution to both the Board and the FAR Committee.

You can read the full minute here -

www.ercultureandleisure.org/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=23948&p=0

Just for info - How Professor Jarvie can remain on Leisure Trust Board -

------ Original Message ------
From: "Walker, Margaret" < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >
Sent: Wednesday, 13 Mar, 2019 At 11:30
Subject: RE: Resignations - Board Members

I write in response to your enquiry of 1st March.

As per the Trust Articles of Association, Trustees are appointed for a four year term.

At the end of that term they can seek re-appointment for a second term, as happened with Professor Jarvie:-

12. Term and Termination of Trustee's appointment

12.1 Each Trustee shall, once appointed, hold office for no more than four years from the date on which he is appointed (“Set Term”). At the end of a Set Term that Trustee may (subject to article 12.2) be reappointed or nominated for re-appointment (as the case may be) always in accordance with the provisions of these Articles.

12.2 Subject to article 12.3 a Trustee shall serve a maximum of two consecutive Set Terms.

12.3 Notwithstanding the provisions of article 12.2, a Trustee may serve one or more additional Set Term in addition to his second Set Term if the remaining Trustees determine at a meeting of the Trustees that special circumstances exist which justify the appointment of that Trustee for each Set Term in addition to his second Set Term.


Professor Jarvie will continue to serve as a Board member, fulfilling the duties of a member of the Board, laid out in the Articles of Association.

I now regard this matter as closed.

Yours sincerely
Margaret Walker
Personal Assistant to
Anthony McReavy
Chief Executive
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Limited