+- BAJR Federation Archaeology (http://www.bajrfed.co.uk)
+-- Forum: BAJR Federation Forums (http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: The Site Hut (http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: HEACS Press Release (/showthread.php?tid=812)
HEACS Press Release - BAJR Host - 3rd February 2008
Protecting Scotland's rich heritage - no need for full review says the Minister..
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP, has responded to three important reports from the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS) about how best to care for Scotland's rich heritage.
The Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland was established in 2003 to provide independent strategic advice to Scottish Ministers on issues affecting the historic environment.
Liz Burns, Chair of HEACS, said: "Scotland's extraordinary wealth of historic sites, monuments and buildings makes a huge contribution to the quality and character of our surroundings. The historic environment is also important for tourism, building communities, sustainable development and the Scottish economy. The Council's recommendations are intended to help government ensure that Scotland's rich heritage can be adequately protected and cared for in the 21st century".
The reports covered three major issues: whether there is a need for review of the law relating to heritage protection; the role of local authorities in conserving the historic environment; and the criteria that should be used to assess whether a property should be taken into state care.
One key recommendation was that the fundamental shortcomings of current legislation can only be addressed through the introduction of new historic environment legislation. The report says that this is needed not only to protect the historic environment better, but also to enable this key asset to contribute to the government's wider objectives, such as the promotion of social and economic regeneration.
However, the Minister has ruled out any major review of the legislation to protect Scotland's heritage, preferring to invest in improving the workings of the current system. Liz Burns said: "This response is disappointing. It differs from the situation in England where reform is underway, with the current system due to be replaced by a new Heritage Protection Act. Nonetheless, we welcome the Minister's intention to consider ongoing legislative changes as opportunities arise and hope that there will be a vigorous and proactive approach to taking this forward in the months ahead. There was strong support from the sector for HEACS view that the status quo is no longer an option, so a process which leads to change is necessary".
Mrs Burns said that Council is pleased that some of its recommendations have been accepted, with several already implemented. "For example, the criteria we recommended should be used to assess whether a property should be taken into state care have been accepted and are now being built into Historic Scotland's policy for the acquisition of properties."
"We especially welcome the positive response to many of our recommendations on the role of the local authorities, including the decision to carry out a survey of local authority policies and resources for the historic environment, and the re-establishment of the Local Authorities Historic Environment Forum. The Minister's response shows that central government places a high value on the role of local authorities in conserving the historic environment."
Another key recommendation was that there should be a statutory duty of care for the historic environment for local authorities and other public agencies. Liz Burns said: "This has also not been accepted, but we welcome the Minister's commitment to Action Plans to help secure a high and uniform standard of care for the historic environment in all local authority areas."
The full text of the Minister's responses, and the HEACS reports, can be read at: http://www.heacs.org.uk.
HEACS is the advisory Non-Departmental Public Body which provides Scottish Ministers with independent strategic advice on issues affecting the historic environment. HEACS was established in 2003 under the Public Appointments & Public Bodies etc (Scotland) Act 2003.
HEACS is chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Burns CMG OBE and comprises 12 members drawn from a wide range of relevant professions and backgrounds.
In its first term (2003-2006) Council was asked by the Minister to address the following issues:
Whether there is a need to review heritage protection legislation in Scotland;
The role of local authorities in conserving the historic environment;
The criteria that should be used to assess whether a property should be takn into state care; and
The availability of adequate and appropriate traditional materials and professional and craft skills to meet the needs of the built heritage.
HEACS submitted the four reports to Patricia Ferguson, the (then) Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, in the summer of 2006. In December 2006 the Minister provided an initial response which welcomed the four reports.
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani, provided a final response to three of the four reports in December 2007. These can be read in full on HEACS' website: http://www.heacs.org.uk. A final response to the skills and materials report is still awaited.
For further information, contact HEACS Secretariat, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH; email olwyn.owen@scotland.gsi.gov.uk; telephone 0131-668-8810.
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu