7th November 2006, 01:20 PM
Gary
You have asked an interesting question and one well worth trying to answer because your right, some of us are publicly accountable. Basically all work carried out as part of the planning process (which is over 90% of work in Britain) is subject to control by the Local Planning Authority (who are usually advised by a County/District archaeological officer). If an LPA sets conditions on a planning permission (or requires pre-determination evaluation) and they decide the archaeological evaluation or mitigation is insufficient (i.e. not fit for purpose) they can either declare the development invalid (or take enforcement action) or refuse planning permission. As all LPAs are governed by elected members, in theory its you (and me) through your (our) locally elected representatives who archaeologists are accountable to. However, in practice because most archaeologists are within the private sector they are only really accountable to voluntary codes (such as the IFA standards). However, county/district archaeologists are of course accountable to the public through their employer and the councils complaints/disciplinary procedure.
Steven
You have asked an interesting question and one well worth trying to answer because your right, some of us are publicly accountable. Basically all work carried out as part of the planning process (which is over 90% of work in Britain) is subject to control by the Local Planning Authority (who are usually advised by a County/District archaeological officer). If an LPA sets conditions on a planning permission (or requires pre-determination evaluation) and they decide the archaeological evaluation or mitigation is insufficient (i.e. not fit for purpose) they can either declare the development invalid (or take enforcement action) or refuse planning permission. As all LPAs are governed by elected members, in theory its you (and me) through your (our) locally elected representatives who archaeologists are accountable to. However, in practice because most archaeologists are within the private sector they are only really accountable to voluntary codes (such as the IFA standards). However, county/district archaeologists are of course accountable to the public through their employer and the councils complaints/disciplinary procedure.
Steven