On 17 November the IHBC joined a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Civic Societies to explore the impacts on local communities of the loss of local authority staff and services in conservation and archaeology, and what responses might help!
Led by Laura Sandys MP, the APPG Chair, and supported by Freddie Gick, Civic Voice Chair, the discussions were led by Shadow Heritage Minister, Helen Goodman MP, and Chris Smith IHBC speaking on behalf of English Heritage, with former English Heritage Chair Baroness Andrews also in attendance.
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘This was a great opportunity to explore at first hand the huge impact these invidious local authority cuts are having on some of their most important clients and users: the local civic societies! These societies are the un-sung heroes of heritage planning, and it is sadly only too rare that they have a real voice in shaping the local services that remain very close to their hearts and lives. The media regularly sounds off about businesses and development being slowed down by planning, but when do communities get a chance to air their disappointment over the impact of heritage cutbacks?’
‘One society member noted how the loss of conservation staff in their authority led directly to the rapid degradation of one of the finest local public areas, while another noted how the lack of any hope of funding stopped communities from adding critical value to the already over-stretched services in their areas. Such funding usually would be channelled through a local conservation officer, but today there is no-one interested in making the effort to find them resources.’
‘It was also a very useful opportunity to highlight the importance of our recent Guidance Note on local authority duties in the provision of conservation services, and the expensive consequences that may arise when such services fail.’
‘I was also able to point out that the Note also contains our recommendation that communities get told just what heritage services are being provided by their authority, with an easily accessible website statement on heritage capacity there. That way there’s no confusion: users can see what, if any, skills are in place, and if the conservation capacity is not clear, they’ll know why the service is not delivering.’
For the report that inspired the discussions, which includes data gathered by the IHBC, see the EH website
IHBC’s position on the staffing
Read and download the IHBC’s Guidance Note on ‘Planning Authority duties in the provision of appropriate specialist conservation advice in England’
