MS Society suspended powers of its Scottish council

Governance | Gareth Jones | 22 Apr 2009

The national board of the MS Society has revealed that it suspended the powers of the charity’s Scottish council last year because it refused to address concerns over staffing, governance and operational issues “despite repeated requests”.

In a letter to the charity’s 3,500 Scottish members, chair Tony Kennan OBE and chief executive Simon Gillespie have laid bare the conflict which author JK Rowling said was to blame for her stepping down as patron last week.

They revealed that the decision to suspend the council’s powers in September 2008 followed a failed mediation process, and will stand until an ongoing UK-wide governance review is concluded.

The pair cited as issues that need to be addressed: “relatively low levels of public awareness of the MS Society in Scotland, the need to grow larger and stronger membership, and also to significantly increase income”.

They said “most” Scottish council members had now agreed to work with the board on an individual basis, and added: “The board believe strongly that it is time to stop internal bickering and concentrate on the real business of the MS Society – to fight MS throughout the UK.”

Not an attempt to permanently remove power

The Society has also made available a Q&A document on the dispute, which empathises that the suspension of powers was “in no way” an attempt to permanently remove power.

Following the suspension, the Society says attempts were made by some council members to undermine the process. Denise Fagg MBE was also suspended as a trustee in September 2008 before resigning this month.

Directory: MS Society
Who's Who: Gareth Jones

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