Summary of the Chairman and Director-General's Reports
This, the 108th AGM of the National Trust, was William Proby’s first as Chairman. He described how during his first six months as Chairman he has been struck by the wonderful diversity of the Trust’s properties and the inspiration they provide to visitors.
The Trust faces considerable challenges, however. There is continuing pressure on its resources, and although the Organisational Review has been largely completed, the Trust is now in the process of considering wide-ranging changes to its Governance structure which would take about 18 months to implement.
He asked members to endorse the findings of the Governance Review, pointing out that the changes would be vital to giving the Trust a governance structure that would increase the level of its efficiency, openness and transparency.
He also highlighted the need for the the Trust to continue broadening its appeal to a wider cross section of society. It must continue developing the interpretation of its properties, building on programmes – such as its volunteering programme – to provide the maximum level of public involvement in its activities.
The acquisition of Tyntesfield, Mendips and Red House were highlighted. Each represented very different aspects of heritage and created exciting opportunities to work with and attract a wide cross section of society in new and exciting ways.
He closed by pointing out the future presented gave strong grounds for optimism. The Trust owns some of the most beautiful properties in the world and enjoys unprecedented levels of support from volunteers and from members.
Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust reported that it had been a wonderful summer for visiting, with visitor numbers well up and with membership levels reaching record levels. Enterprises profits were also showing strong growth.
She highlighted how the three aims that she had highlighted in previous years remained important in guiding the Trust’s work. These were:
Showing leadership in the regeneration of the countryside
Deepening understanding of cultural heritage.
Promoting education and lifelong learning, making it central to what we do and enriching people’s lives
It was also vital that the Trust continued in making a contribution to public debate. The Trust had been a campaigning organisation for 108 years and Fiona highlighted how this year the Trust had been active in farming, heritage protection, tourism, aviation, GM crops, land use planning, and energy. The Trust was able to speak as a practitioner – carrying the authority of practical experience
She highlighted how there are frequently no easy answers and the Trust must work hard with others to deliver solutions. At Stonehenge and Hindhead the Trust is looking to achieve major landscape change; in some cases – such as at Dunham Massey and Cliveden – the Trust is itself the developer.
She emphasised that the Trust’s work has always been about the active management of change. But the Trust has an obligation to look after its estate in perpetuity and must ensure that any development must be of high quality and of high environmental standards, meeting the needs of the local area.
Fiona also focused on the examples of Cuckmere and Birling Gap where the Trust is tackling change in the form of coastal erosion and is working with local communities to try and deliver the best solution.
She described the Trust’s commitment to transparency and openness, highlighting how Tyntesfield was giving people unique access to the Trust’s restoration work. The new BBC documentary had been entered into in the same spirit.
Fiona thanked members and volunteers for their suberb support throughout the year.
Download a copy of the minutes from the 2003 AGM (PDF 72k)
Annual Reports and Accounts
Laurie Magnus provided a review of the Trust’s financial position, highlighting how although income was at record levels, the Trust’s surpluses were continuing to decline. This reflected the increased costs arising from an unfavourable investment climate, increased pension and insurance costs, and expenditure on IT infrastructure needed to improve the Trust’s operational efficiency. He outlined how the Trust would be looking to increase income and reduce costs in order to build its surpluses back up again over coming years.
Read the annual report and accounts
Elections to Council
William Proby annouced that following Clarissa Dickson Wright’s very recent withdrawal from the Council, members were being asked to vote for 11 candidates to this year’s Council.
Read the results of the election to Council
Resolutions
Members were asked to vote on three key resolutions concerning:
- Changes to the Trust’s governance structure recommended by the Governance Review Group in its report published in April 2003.
- The banning of GM crops on National Trust land
- The Trust’s plans to develop housing on the Canadian Red Cross Hospital Site at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire.
Read the AGM 2003 voting results
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