13th January 2006, 07:51 PM
I have to say that the current system of local (district) planning authourities contracting out archaeology to county councils is far from satisfactory in many respects.
Given the changes in the planning system and the proposed unified system of designation that are on the way the place for archaeologists in the conservation section of the planning departments in City, District and Unitary authourities.
The cuts in budgets are due to changes in the amount of money they recieve from central government. (Who did you vote for?) What voters in the south at least want in the main is that their council tax bills do not go up. The tendancy is therefore going to be to cut the things that there is no statuory requirement to do.
The view will be therefore is why should a county council provide a free service to district authourities? By cutting the service in effect the district authourities are force into having their own HER and DC archaeologists.
Similarly if the County Council runs a loss making archaeological contracting business there is absolutely no reason to keep on supporting them.
Expecting to be in a minority of one on this.
In any event not very nice for the individuals involved.
Peter Wardle
Given the changes in the planning system and the proposed unified system of designation that are on the way the place for archaeologists in the conservation section of the planning departments in City, District and Unitary authourities.
The cuts in budgets are due to changes in the amount of money they recieve from central government. (Who did you vote for?) What voters in the south at least want in the main is that their council tax bills do not go up. The tendancy is therefore going to be to cut the things that there is no statuory requirement to do.
The view will be therefore is why should a county council provide a free service to district authourities? By cutting the service in effect the district authourities are force into having their own HER and DC archaeologists.
Similarly if the County Council runs a loss making archaeological contracting business there is absolutely no reason to keep on supporting them.
Expecting to be in a minority of one on this.
In any event not very nice for the individuals involved.
Peter Wardle