PPS5 - Maintaining HERs

[destroyingangel]

DCMS intends to publish guidance for local authorities on the maintenance of HERs.

Basically we are waiting for the Heritage Protection Bill to finally get implemented... if it ever does. I think the government has enough 'problems' with the unremitting credit crunch (sure that is a breakfast cereal), national debt, upcoming elections and sleaze. I suppose little things like the country's heritage is small feed at the moment.

DCMS produced draft guidance for HERs in May 2008 (including a section on 'Statutory HERs' in line with the draft Heritage Protection Bill). We have been waiting for what seems a long time... still waiting.

As for access and the 'trauma' of having to use a HER... Yes, some archaeolgists think that they can do archaeology without using a HER (or any background information), thinking that they are an archaeology god, supreme being or oracle (some do unfortunately). Even though having been in archaeology for many years (and under different guises), I could never, ever say that I knew everything about the archaeology of this country, region, my town or even my own back garden. If need be, I could access 'tinternet things (NMR, Listed Buildings Online, Magic... whatever) to get a fair bit of background, but it isn't the whole picture is it? HERs are more than GIS and Databases, they are aerial photographs, publications, documents and... yes... grey literature reports. Remember that not everything available is on the net, not everyone has access to the net and that a fair amount of what is on the net is complete rubbish (ie wiki) and can't be trusted. The people that work in HERs are also (generally) helpful... providing information and guidance.

Furthermore, HERs are not there for just planners, curators, HER staff, county mounties, consultants and contracting archaeologists... they are there (I would like to stress this) for everyone to use (and more-often-than-not free of charge if you visit one). When they do charge, it is usually (if you can't or won't go in) for time taken to do your search, inevitable print outs, datasets, emails and postage. The service is for academic and non-academic research (ie students), community involvement (interested groups, community digs), specialists, even developers who can then argue a toss with curators, through to Joe and Joanna public who want to know a little bit of history about their back yard.

Give me a HER anyday. Yes, make them accountable, worthwhile and up-to-standard across the board... above all make them statutory and sort out funding for them.

... and aren't "Victorian bottle dumps" archaeology per se?

[BAJR]

A better argument for the HER I could not make. This is the point... the HER is more than just the GIS map on teh web.... MORE than just the link to OASIS.. it is also backed up by talented and dedicated people who can use teh information, known it and provide it.!

[desk monkey]

is that dedicated staff a heritage professional or Joe the Conservation officer?

Surely "joe the Conservation Officer" is a heritage professional - or at least should be :face-stir:. And perhaps, now that the PPS says that even Listed Building casework (!) should be informed by a professional assessment of evidence and significance, end up with mitigation recording where neccesary, and that all the resultant records and reports ultimately destined for the HER, just perhaps there ought to be some involvement for involving Conservation Officers in the management and curation of the HER :0. Heres a whole can of worms.....

[BAJR]

hey.... you ain't wrong in that. But Bev the Development Control Archaeologist would not tell Joe the Conservation Officer what to do, and Both should feed to Bob the HER. While Sue the Planning does her job. Joe can't do Bevs and Bev can't do Sues and Bob won't try to do ....etc... we could try. But best have this 'specialist' that they talk of. All working in some respect as heritage professionals. :face-huh:

[desk monkey]

Yep - to nick a phrase off an Inspector of Monuments I once knew "this could be a proper b*ggers muddle". For sure we all need to stick to what we know..... but it doesnt hurt to try and be freinds and listen to one another.

[kevin wooldridge]

I think there will be an inevitable time lag whatever the final decision on the statutory or non-statutory nature of HERs. Local authority budgets are being fianlised for the coming year at this very moment and it seems unlikely that any provision for new posts will make it through in this years Council Tax bills. This does however give a years grace to the powers that be (and oursleves as intrested parties) to make sure that suitable provision is in place for the beginning of the 2011/12 tax year.....maybe this is just the start of the discussion....

[Austin Ainsworth]

Unfortunately Kevin, that may be wishful thinking. There are already indications that the job security of some LA archaeologists is under threat for the financial year 2010/11 and forecasts for 2011/12 are even worse. Local Government cut backs regardless of who wins the next general election will happen so its not a matter of creating new LA posts but fighting to preserve the ones we already have.

[kevin wooldridge]

I absolutely agree Oz, and I wasn't imagining for a second that the pressures on LA funding were somehow going to bypass archaeology. My point was however that if access to and/or the maintenance of HERs became a statutory function for LAs, they would have to give serious consideration to how such facilities are to be funded. I was trying to say that they/we should spend the next year getting arrangements in place for the 2011/12 tax year, as surely it is now too late for the coming year. There is a major difference between statutory obligations to provide or use a service and 'permissory' functions in LAs. Most archaeological functions in LAs at present fall under the 'permissory' category rather than statutory functions hence the increased pressure to effect savings when other 'front-line' services are at risk.

[the invisible man]

LA archaeologists should be known as the Historic Information Service. Then LAs would have to provide HIS and HERs......

Sorry.

[BAJR Host]

You will be! :face-confused: