31st March 2012, 08:29 AM
serpentine Wrote:Well, perhaps not in house (alternative being long-term arrangement as for the Welsh Archaeological Trusts) but I'm very uneasy about use of consultants as curators, irrespective of their former role - unless the curatorial service had simply become a separate body and wasn't commercially funded. How to guarantee consistency, impartiality, and the cumulative benefits that comes from long term stewardship? Individual or corporate gain, communal loss? Particularly as regards HERs, and the two are inextricably linked. But that's a whole new thread. :face-stir:
I have a lot of sympathy with that argument....in reality though, even if curatorial services are located within local authority set-ups, many are charging for 'on demand' services, in nearly all cases to private developers and in many cases to archaeological organisations requiring data for commercial purposes. Isn't that in effect commercial funding?
The NPPF rather skirts around the location and extent of the services that underwrite the heritage provision of the advice....but I have no doubt that some form of 'British' compromise will arise out of this. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of our larger commercial archaeological ventures isn't already considering the creation of an HER management operation (that's pure speculation by the way and not in anyway rumour or gossip mongering!!)
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...