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19th April 2007, 03:34 PM
What's the scoop wtih the county job advertised? My memory is admittedly a bit fuzzy, but wasn't it just a few months ago that the service there was dissolved and curatorial advice kind of lost? Has there been a change of heart? Is this legal?
Any clarification appreciated.
All the best
ML
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19th April 2007, 03:49 PM
It was my understanding that the curators here left for their own reasons and were simply not replaced by the council.....until now. Not sure of the legality, I don't know if actually employing an archaeological adviser is a statutory requirement on the council (my gut feeling is no....) and would love to hear from anyone who does know!!
don't panic!
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19th April 2007, 04:13 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by hurting-back
It was my understanding that the curators here left for their own reasons and were simply not replaced by the council.....until now. Not sure of the legality, I don't know if actually employing an archaeological adviser is a statutory requirement on the council (my gut feeling is no....) and would love to hear from anyone who does know!!
don't panic!
I didn't mean the legality of having a service (I don't think it is either) but the legality if they dissolved the service, thus making the officers redundant, and then a few months later start it up again.
Did they leave or were they pushed? I really can't remember!
thanks
ML
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19th April 2007, 05:21 PM
This is the sequence of events as I understand it - correct me if I'm wrong! The heritage team as such was wound up and a number of staff made redundant. The remaining staff were split - the planning archaeologist going to the planning dept and the SMR staff going to the record office. Prior to this there was a round of job evaluations with staff effectively having to re-apply for their jobs. Next, the 'new' planning archaeologist may have found their reach reduced in that planning matters in the districts were dealt with on a consultation only basis - in other words checking of weekly planning lists was out and a 'don't ask - don't tell' policy in. E.g.
Quote:quote:liaise with the district councils in respect of significant planning applications submitted to them
The planning archaeologist of long standing recently left the 'new' post to join a large archaeological consultancy firm (I wish him every success). Unfortunately, no laws have been broken to my knowledge! Northants County Council cited financial difficulties as the reason for this affair. Both the County and the districts have been without archaeological advice for some months to my knowledge, a gap in cover that may be explained by the period in the financial year - and also by the efficiency of local government HR services. While I wouldn't want to put any off applying for this post, I hope the above serves as useful background info to how highly heritage is valued by this organisation. And yes I have read the AUP.
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20th April 2007, 09:19 AM
Yep vulpes' sequence of events just about hits the nail on the head
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20th April 2007, 11:46 PM
Thanks for that vulpes, I knew there was a gap in service and about the individual you refer to, but I didn't realise things were that....unpleasant.
H-B
don't panic!
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21st April 2007, 02:09 AM
Quote:quote:We would also welcome applications ... from those who would also be able to provide advice to the County Council on historic sites and buildings generally.
No worries. The situation in Northants is one of great concern in the region and also flags up the potential precariousness of curatorial services in general. I'm also concerned about the precise meaning of the above sentence. :face-huh:
Not really a 'pot person'.
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22nd April 2007, 07:10 PM
This may not be too worrying. The chances are the County Council is one of the larger land owners in the county and may simply wish to have someone in house who can advise on their landholdings and buildings. A relatively large part of my job is doing just this especially as everything is being sold off.
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25th April 2007, 02:04 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by vulpes
Both the County and the districts have been without archaeological advice for some months to my knowledge, a gap in cover that may be explained by the period in the financial year - and also by the efficiency of local government HR services. While I wouldn't want to put any off applying for this post, I hope the above serves as useful background info to how highly heritage is valued by this organisation. And yes I have read the AUP.
True up to a point Vulpes. Through an archaeological colleague curently in northants I learnt that there was never a time when the county was totally without archaeological coverage. Apparently the former DC incumbent has been retained to provide archaeological advice on a (presumably) ad hoc basis until his former seat is filled. Not an ideal scenario but better than nothing at all perhaps. In addition to this, one of the northants district councils (dont know which one) has an archaeologist amongst the staff and he has been able to provide additional archaeological monitoring and advice. The delay in filling the county DC position wasn't due to HR - it was down to agreement on the changes to the job description.
