IHBC’s latest Council received impressively positive feedback, as we advance the 3rd of our Parliamentary ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation…’, and ‘Investigate the complex challenges in heritage management processes and skills…’– here focussed on helping Local Authority (LA) conservation, with more details & updates to come.
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘We’re delighted with how the programme was received – with nearly 20% of delegates offering 10/10 in our quick online Zoom survey, and with lots of useful comments too.’
‘We’ll update further as we get more feedback – including from those not able to attend. For now it is clear that we are laying strong foundations for the next stage in our Parliamentary-linked advocacy on behalf of the hard-pressed regulators in conservation-related services, as outlined HERE.’
IHBC’s COUNCIL UPDATE
IHBC’s Councils are live events open exclusively to IHBC members
Council minutes, with updates, are Council’s formal record
For Council on 8 April 2026, a film and two papers submitted:
Chris Connelley in conversation with Joanna Saady: ‘Conservation in conversations: ‘Before the pre-App – an alternative approach in regulation’
Adam Dyer: ‘Green upgrades for London’s heritage homes’
Serena Cardozo: ‘From private sector architect to local authority conservation officer, via Public Practice’
Links to these papers are included in the final invitation to all members from IHBC’s President.
If you are a member and have not received the invitation & links to content, email Joanna Theobald at contact@ihbc.org.ukfor a re-send
Council feedback and more may be submitted online HERE
Council is supported by IHBC’s CREATIVE Conservation Fund
‘For this Council we focussed on the most stretched of these public service providers: those supporting conservation outcomes in local government, our heritage managers working at the coal-face of community-based conservation and amenity.’
‘We had lots of useful input and thoughts from across our membership on the day, and we know that more will come. Those contributions will help us plan both our next steps in this programme as well as our wider strategy, as we continue to push for targeted help and support for all our members, especially for those in local government and the services they work so hard to deliver.’
Rebecca Thompson, IHBC President said: ‘It was a thoroughly enjoyable Council Meeting on 8 April, with updates on Charter progress and IHBC’s Corporate Plan 2026-2030.’
‘On the day, we heard about Surrey’s initiative to train conservation officers, the statistics supporting this need and the importance of the IHBC network. We also heard interesting perspectives from speakers, staff and members, with the golden thread showing the importance of IHBC membership and support.’
‘I’m delighted to be able to thank our speakers, Christopher Reynolds, Bob Kindred, Sheena Campbell and Shona Simpson, who shared their understanding for the support required for Local Authority Conservation Officers and services across the UK.’
‘I’m also keen to offer a heartfelt thanks to those contributing papers for reference – Serena Cardozo, Adam Dyer and Chris Connelley. Given the positive feedback on all even to date, we will be welcoming them live in the near future as we advance our advocacy here.’
‘For now, I do look forward to welcoming you to our Annual School in June – online or in-person – broadcasting from Newcastle, where we will no doubt be able to continue these conversations.’
David McDonald, IHBC Chair said: ‘I was delighted to attend Wednesday’s IHBC Council and pleased to see so many members there.’
‘The presentations on the theme of local authority capacity from across the UK were all to a very high standard. It was particularly inspiring to see conservation officers looking towards a variety of innovative actions to deal with the pressures facing local authority planning services.
Sarah Homer, IHBC’s Support Officer, who will manage the forthcoming survey, said: ‘We were very pleased with the response to our themed Council on conservation in local government on 8 April, as we shape and signpost our planned light-touch, scoping survey.’
‘Updates on progress will come in future NewsBlogs and communications, while if you have any thoughts on the content and form of the survey, or would like to make sure that you are consulted, please do contact me at support@ihbc.org.uk.’
Rebecca Thompson wrote in her final Presidential Council invitation to members:
… Alongside our usual business we will offer members an exclusive and selective scoping of matters linked to the Local Authority Conservation Officers & Services in the UK.
Member-led presentations on topical issues will help shape our plans, all informed by your contributions at Council, online and apart.
Topics include… [ NB: Links to submitted items in original invitations to members]:
1. Presented papers (c. 5 mins each)
- Christopher Reynolds, Historic Buildings Officer, Surrey County Council: ‘The IHBC’s Competences: A career management tool in local government’
- Bob Kindred MBE, Managing Director/Owner Bob Kindred Heritage Consultants Ltd: ‘IHBC’s Market Intelligence Surveys: Lessons for conservation management, from a data interface’
- Sheena Campbell, Conservation Officer Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council & IHBC Branch Consultant: ‘The value of Conservation Officer Groups & the IHBC’
- Shona Simpson: IHBC Trustee and Built Heritage Officer, Glasgow City Council: ‘The Conservation Officer Group – a view from Scotland today’
2. Submitted items (for noting only, with feedback in chat and onlineHERE, and potential for presentations at a future event or meeting):
- Adam Dyer, Conservation Team Manager, London Borough of Camden: ‘London Councils on London Retrofit Heritage Homes Guide: ‘Green upgrades for London’s heritage homes’
- Serena Cardozo, IHBC Trustee and Principal Conservation Officer, Uttlesford District Council: ‘From private sector architect to local authority conservation officer, viaPublic Practice’
- Chris Connelley, Senior Conservation Officer and Conservation Lead for Eastbourne, Arts Ambassador for Eastbourne, Eastbourne Borough and Lewes District Councils, with Joanna Saady, IHBC Treasurer and Trustee, Director, Ecotecture Ecological Design Ltd: ‘Conservation in conversations: ‘Before the pre-App – an alternative approach in regulation’
3. Advancing IHBC’s 3rd Parliamentary Commitment
- Sarah Homer, IHBC Branch Consultant and Support Officer: ‘Planning the IHBC’s Scoping Survey for its 3rd Parliamentary Commitment’
As previously noted, this Council responds to the 3rd of our Parliamentary ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation…’ … presented in Westminster last November. That commits us to ‘Investigate the complex challenges in heritage management processes and skills and respond accordingly’, and you can see more detail HERE.
Do remember too that our Council is the IHBC’s advisory and training forum, open exclusively to IHBC members of all categories. Councils offer you the opportunity to raise matters from the floor – virtual or otherwise – so you can help shape our future activities and plans as well as plan your own professional development, including especially in voluntary roles with us, as outlined in our NewsBlog call HERE.
Future Councils will continue to build on our distinctive approach to CPD for the Conservation Professional, supporting practice alongside updates and debate on current sector and IHBC issues.
I hope you enjoy the enhanced participatory experience offered by our next Council, and join in discussions with colleagues in our informed – but still necessarily controlled – environment, and look forward to welcoming you there.
To suggest content or contribute to our ongoing Council discussions, please lodge suggestions, queries or concerns by completing the form HERE
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