A new forum has been established to lead the implementation of Scotland’s Historic Environment Strategy (HES): Our Place in Time.
The Scottish Government writes:
A forum has been set up to lead implementation of Our Place in Time – Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop today announced the establishment of a Strategic Forum for Scotland’s Historic Environment which will facilitate the closer working of heritage organisations and other bodies to ensure Scotland’s historic environment is understood, valued, cared for, protected and enhanced.
The forum will provide strategic advice and direction on the management and promotion of our rich historic environment and oversee delivery of Our Place in Time.
It will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary with the following members having agreed to join the forum:
- Shulah Allan, Convener of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
- Petra Biberbach, Chief Executive, Planning Aid Scotland
- Sir Kenneth Calman, Chair, National Trust for Scotland
- Stephen Carter, Archaeological Consultant
- Douglas Connell, Chair, Museums and Galleries Scotland
- Bill Drummond, Chair, Scottish Council for Development and Industry
- Councillor Stephen Hagan – COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability
- Professor Emeritus Cliff Hague, Chair, Built Environment Forum Scotland
- Mark Hopton, Partner, LDN Architects
- Lord David Johnstone, Chair, Scottish Land and Estates
- Eleanor McAllister OBE, Economist & Planner
- Maria Perks, Chair, Association of Preservation Trusts
- William MacLeod, Chair, New Lanark Trust
- Ian Ross OBE, Chair, Scottish Natural Heritage
- Chris Stewart, Director, Chris Stewart Group.
The Chair of Historic Environment Scotland (the new lead public body for the historic environment sector in Scotland) will be invited to join as soon as they have been appointed.
Ms Hyslop said: ‘Scotland benefits from a hugely rich and diverse historic environment. It is all around us and includes our iconic sites recognised across the globe and also sites of local interest which contribute so much to regional identity.
‘Our Place in Time set out a strategy for our historic environment, a first for Scotland, and I am delighted to confirm that I have set up a strategic forum to oversee and lead the implementation of that strategy for the benefit of the people and places of Scotland.
‘In inviting members to join the forum, I was fully aware of the need to ensure that it was widely representative and also covered those key interests highlighted during the development of the strategy, as well as key partners such as the natural environment and museums sector. I was very pleased that all proposed members accepted the invitation and have shown a huge level of enthusiasm.
‘The forum will help to champion our historic environment and ensure the cultural, social, environmental and economic value of it is recognised across Scotland. Crucially, it will also work in and through the wide range of organisations on the forum and in the supporting groups which have or will be established. I look forward to working with the members as we take forward this important work.’
