20th April 2006, 02:50 PM
I find this development horrifying. Curatorial/Development Control services in County Councils (or other authorities) are the bedrock of archaeological protection in England, and provide the essential precondition for the proper operation of PPG16. They should be seen as the irreducible core of any Council's archaeology provision, not as the first target for cuts.
The field unit is not an essential service at all - it could quite easily be hived off as a separate entity. The difference, of course, is that the field unit is self-funding (and probably actually makes money for the council), whereas the curatorial service cannot make money by definition.
What may happen here, of course, is that the SMR officer (relocated in the Record Office) will find themselves doing the County Archaeologist's job as well, without the pay, recognition or influence to do it properly, and will be unable to keep up with the SMR job because of the demands of DC work.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
The field unit is not an essential service at all - it could quite easily be hived off as a separate entity. The difference, of course, is that the field unit is self-funding (and probably actually makes money for the council), whereas the curatorial service cannot make money by definition.
What may happen here, of course, is that the SMR officer (relocated in the Record Office) will find themselves doing the County Archaeologist's job as well, without the pay, recognition or influence to do it properly, and will be unable to keep up with the SMR job because of the demands of DC work.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished