2nd November 2010, 12:31 PM
I disagree with you Uo1 (Of course!!) but you are entitled to hold an opinion on EH.
My disatisfaction with cuts in EH funding is that we will see the dissipation of many years of accumulated knowledge and expertise across the range of EH activities with no perceptible saving to the public purse. In the first instance redundancy costs will more than offset any potential savings and secondly maintenance work on EH properties and sites will still be required. One imagines that outside contractors bought in to cover the deficiences caused by EH staff reductions will charge 'premium rates', again resulting in extra costs rather than cost efficiences. As you wallow in 'schadenfreude' perhaps you might consider the implications of cuts for the sake of cuts rather than for any cost efficiences.
As we are (apparently) in a Domesday scenario regarding EH funding and staffing, I was thinking that BAJRites might come up with more positive suggestions as to the future. I mean is it time to realise that perhaps a 'national' heritage service amalgamating CADW, EH, Historic Scotland and the Northern Ireland DoE service might be one way forward? Such an amalgamation might achieve cost savings without severely impacting on the skills and professionalism of current staff. And whilst we are at it why not bring the National Trust(s) into the equation. Other countries seem to manage heritage fairly efficiently without the plethora of bodies that we have in the UK....
My disatisfaction with cuts in EH funding is that we will see the dissipation of many years of accumulated knowledge and expertise across the range of EH activities with no perceptible saving to the public purse. In the first instance redundancy costs will more than offset any potential savings and secondly maintenance work on EH properties and sites will still be required. One imagines that outside contractors bought in to cover the deficiences caused by EH staff reductions will charge 'premium rates', again resulting in extra costs rather than cost efficiences. As you wallow in 'schadenfreude' perhaps you might consider the implications of cuts for the sake of cuts rather than for any cost efficiences.
As we are (apparently) in a Domesday scenario regarding EH funding and staffing, I was thinking that BAJRites might come up with more positive suggestions as to the future. I mean is it time to realise that perhaps a 'national' heritage service amalgamating CADW, EH, Historic Scotland and the Northern Ireland DoE service might be one way forward? Such an amalgamation might achieve cost savings without severely impacting on the skills and professionalism of current staff. And whilst we are at it why not bring the National Trust(s) into the equation. Other countries seem to manage heritage fairly efficiently without the plethora of bodies that we have in the UK....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...