City of york archaeology under threat

[BAJR]

I will do...

it is just downloading now..

had to get it from the Council --- they no happy... this was purely an excercise in restructuring the departmental assets in such a way to meet the challenges for the future. They seem a bit irritated that it is coming out into the public gaze... nice one people! ( you know who you are!! cheers! )
And if you check the Evening Press the morrow, you will find the newspapers are now on it...

One of the most important sites in England and er.. a part time archaeologist... whose job will gently fade away once he retires... no way york!


Now... can anyone come up with some figures to show how costs to meet the legislative requirements will cost them an arm and a leg more than they are currently spending - thus costing the tax payer more...

:face-thinks:

[Antipesto]

well I seem to recall being told that at one point the MOD/defence estate's only actual archaeologist was a student placement from Bradford (in charge of defending Salisbury Plain from tanks that miss their turning/commanders who cant read a map etc).

[BAJR]

For immediate release

Cabinet: Review of City and Environmental Services directorate

City of York Council's Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals to the council’s City and Environmental Services (CES) structure to reflect the changing shape and funding of local government, at a meeting on Tuesday 12 February 2013.
Over the past four years the council has implemented changes to the structure of the authority, stemming from the Organisation Review. Since the proposals were agreed in 2009, significant changes have taken place in local government regionally and nationally.
These changes present both a significant challenge to the organisation in terms of maintaining services within decreasing financial resources, but also opportunities to bring together services in a structure more suited to supporting all council priorities.
It is for these reasons that proposals have been developed to reduce costs, introduce a more coherent and efficient management structure and to streamline and re-align the CES directorate structure to focus on priorities such as economic growth, via regeneration, income generation through new ways of working and thus strengthening the services future to protect key services.
To support this, Cabinet will be asked to consider a recommendation that will take the senior management structure of three Assistant Directors and 11 Heads of Service, to a leaner model of two Assistant Director posts and five Heads of Service.
Taking into account that the review is to be delivered in two stages; the detailed changes for the preferred option for Phase 1, which is an interim transitional arrangement, will be implemented during 2013/14 and a saving of £262,000 is anticipated to be delivered in that year. The reduction in posts represents savings of £1.048 million by 2014/15.
Councillor James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council, said: “The council is facing a financially challenging period due to government funding cuts and I recognise that we need to do all we can to secure essential services.
“I would like to pay tribute to staff across the council who continue to maintain a high standard of work and commitment to our communities despite the ongoing financial challenges and uncertainty.”
Darren Richardson, Director of City and Environmental Services, at City of York Council, said: “We know that our staff are our greatest asset and will be instrumental in delivering the council’s priorities so greater investment in staff development at all levels and encouraging a less hierarchical, more innovative way of working will be vital to enable us to deliver our priorities for the city and its communities.”
Consultation on the proposed restructure of the City and Environmental Services directorate has been on-going since November 2012 with employees[SIZE=4] and trade union representatives.[/SIZE]

[shovel-bum]

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10292501...erts_warn/

[BAJR]

Nick Pearson, of York firm On Site Archaeology, which has worked in cooperation with city archaeologist John Oxley on a number of digs over the years, slated the proposed reduction in his hours, claiming: “It could both damage the city’s stunning archaeological remains and also lead to delays in major developments as developers struggled to meet their statutory obligations.”

More quotes..

Sir Ron Cooke, deputy chair of York Civic Trust, said: “These staff are really essential to York. York’s heritage - above and below ground - is a vital ingredient of its present and future economic success. To maintain and improve it requires staff of experience and ability.”

Now here is what the Council Communications have said... same as they said to me...

A council spokeswoman said there were a number of proposals to re-structure the authority’s city and environmental services department, which included the archaeology team. She said the proposals, aimed at reducing costs, introducing a more coherent and efficient management structure and streamlining and re-aligning its structure, had been put to staff.
She added: “At this stage of the CES review, nothing is confirmed. Given the consultation period is still ongoing, and will be until the end of April, it’s really not appropriate to comment on specific roles and the impact (if any) could happen as a result of these proposals.”

She said the council was keeping an impartial view until staff had had the opportunity to give their views and said feedback would help to influence the new structure of the department.

feedback would help to influence the new structure

lets make sure it does!

[BAJR]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Action-aga...3552263538

Get liking!

[Sith]

(in charge of defending Salisbury Plain from tanks that miss their turning/commanders who cant read a map etc).

Oi! I resemble that remark.

I understand that DE may be headed back towards the 'one placement student' model thanks to the recent financial unpleasantness.