This consultation Following the publication of the IHBC’s research into conservation services, as part of its joint paper on historic environment services in LPAs, Huw Morris, in ‘Planning’, 15 May 2009 has highlighted the dangers of skills shortages in conservation and historic environment planning services, writing under the headline ‘Cutting conservation skills runs counter to heritage enthusiasm’ as follows:
‘The public has always had a fascination with heritage and this shows no sign of waning. The past gives a sense of continuity and defines a place’s character as much as any other factor. According to figures released by English Heritage last year, seven out of ten people visit historic attractions. With the credit crunch hitting household budgets and more people choosing to holiday at home, this trend can only be expected to rise.
Meanwhile, the recession is having a dreadful impact on local authority budgets. The very people who have the task of conserving our historic environment are feeling the swish of the axe. At first glance, a loss of 66 posts may not look that much. But this still accounts for five per cent of professionals across the country. It is a slippery road and one that should not be travelled.
The true cost of getting rid of planners will be seen in a few years’ time with slower decisions, reduced quality, stalled schemes and frustrated applicants. Equally as bad, hitting conservation services stores up problems for the future. Plenty of regeneration projects have been sidelined by today’s lack of credit and many are inextricably linked with heritage.
When the economy recovers, these schemes will still struggle to get off the ground without the right people and skills in place. As heritage groups warned this week, not every Tom, Dick or Harry is up to the job of judging the complex issues surrounding world heritage sites, buildings at risk or the effects of alterations to historic structures. Make no mistake about it, lose them now and repent later.
One of the major lessons for the built environment professions at the turn of this century was that efficiency measures and legislative reforms can be introduced until the cows come home but none amount to much without the professional input and specialist expertise to carry out the job. These are dispiriting times because some hard-fought victories since then seem to be going into reverse. It is a terrible thing when history starts repeating itself.’
The issue also gives significant prominence to the research itself under the title ‘Heritage groups warn of sector skills loss’, observing that:
Heritage bodies have jointly called for urgent government action to preserve historic environment services as research revealed a drop in specialist officers. Analysis of local authority conservation and archaeology services in England found a recent fall in staff levels that could jeopardise regeneration projects and economic development, the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, English Heritage and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) claimed. They want the DCMS to use its forthcoming statement on the historic environment to reaffirm that such services are integral to planning departments and discourage cuts in staffing.
Figures compiled by the heritage bodies show that while the number of specialist officer posts grew by 210 between 2003 and 2006 to 1,224, it dropped by 66 to 1,158 in 2008.
English Heritage planning and development director Steve Bee pointed out that local authorities must recognise that many conservation tasks are statutory rather than discretionary duties. “Specialist archaeology and conservation staff are the front line of heritage protection in this country and councils must acknowledge this. A future lack of such staff would create pressure and expense for householders applying for consent and could block the renewal projects vital for economic recovery,” he stressed. “Skilled judgements on cases such as heritage at risk, historic parks and gardens, world heritage sites and historic places of worship cannot be carried out by someone with insufficient experience,” he added. Bee warned that if current pressure to reduce staff is not resisted, the ability to deliver and sustain reforms in heritage protection would be vulnerable.
IHBC chairman Dave Chetwyn urged councils to maintain their commitment to sustainable regeneration and economic development during the recession. “We are especially concerned over the loss of design and heritage specialists who play such a crucial role in delivering effective services and development for the long term,” he said. “This is the worst possible time for local authorities to lose the skills that will be so vital to securing future growth.”
http://www.planningresource.co.uk/opinion/ByDiscipline/
Environment/905440/Cutting-conservation-skills-runs-
counter-heritage-enthusiasm/
