e-Bulletin no.20  19th August 2008

Short-cut to sections:-  Consultations | Publications | Scottish Government news releases | News releases | Recent parliamentary questions | Recent parliamentary answers | Other parliamentary activity | Events | Training  | Job vacancies

Consultations 

Forthcoming consultations
  
Action on Climate Change: Proposals for improving the energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings
Consultation containing proposals for primary legislation on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from existing non-domestic buildings. - expected summer 08.

NPF 2 SEA Supplementary Assessment of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 Consultation Paper.
This supplementary report sets out the findings of an additional process of environmental assessment of Candidate National Developments. - expected summer 08.

Consultations

Sustainable Seas for All: a consultation on Scotland's first marine bill (SG 14/07/08)
Launching the consultation Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland's seas are special. In the 21st century, we need to ensure that we have arrangements in place to provide a sustainable future for our marine environment".
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/11100221/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/07/14101129

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Publications

Scottish Planning Policy SPP 3: Planning for Homes (Revised 2008) (SG 28/07/08)
Setting out The Scottish Government's policy on the identification of housing requirements, the provision of land for housing and the delivery of homes through the planning system.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/25092557/0

Cost Impact Analysis for Low Carbon and EcoHomes Standard Housing using Lifecycle Costing Methodology - Research Findings (SG 07/08/08)
Research to establish, for a range of dwelling types, the likely capital and lifecycle cost implications of achieving specified EcoHomes ratings and 30% and 60% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/06121308/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/05135448/0

RIAS publishes The Western Seaboard (24/07/08) This is the latest publication in the popular series of illustrated architectural guides published by the RIAS.
http://www.rias.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s2_22&newsid=2823&back=home

Scotland's Woodlands and the Historic Environment (FC 15/08/08)
This publication outlines how the forestry sector can tap into this rich cultural heritage and help develop historic sites - including designed landscapes and ancient woodlands.
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebPRByCountryLang/494C026E7863531A8025749B0054DC3E

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Scottish Government news releases

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News releases

First step in reviewing Shetland's protected monuments (HS 22/07/08)
Historic Scotland staff are visiting Shetland in the first step to reviewing protected monuments on the Islands. During their visit the Scheduling team will go to various historic sites to gather information in preparation for a three year programme of updating the information available on scheduled monuments in the area.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=19722

Conservation charity calls for proper protection for Bannockburn (NTS 25/07/08)
The National Trust for Scotland charity has pledged to work with Historic Scotland to ensure that the Trust's Bannockburn battlefield and other important battle sites across Scotland are better protected. http://www.nts.org.uk/NewsStory/292/

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Recent parliamentary questions

Answers will appear in a subsequent Bulletin, with questions reproduced.

S3W-15098 John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change building regulations to improve energy conservation in new houses. (SP 28/07/08)

S3W-15100 John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to expand and improve locally-based energy generation projects. (SP 28/07/08)

S3W-15545 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its single outcome agreements with the 32 individual councils in Scotland or make them available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. (SP 18/08/08)

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Recent parliamentary answers

Q     S3W-14827 Joe FitzPatrick: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will collect information on the energy performance of non-domestic buildings once energy performance certificates are introduced in January 2009 and, if not, whether any other body will collect this information. (SP 07/07/08)
A     Answered by Stewart Stevenson (23/07/08): Information from energy performance certificates for new, non-domestic buildings is currently placed on the building standards register maintained by local authorities. We are endeavouring to identify an appropriate register for existing non-domestic buildings.

Q    S3W-14898 Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering the establishment of a brownfield regeneration forum. (SP 11/07/08)
A     Answered by Stewart Maxwell (25/07/08): The Scottish Government will be a member of the recently established UK National Brownfield Forum, which is being sponsored by the Department of Communities and Local Government and Defra. We will await further developments with the UK National Brownfield Forum before considering whether there is any requirement for the establishment of a distinct brownfield forum for Scotland.

Q     S3W-14899 Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the provision of guidance in relation to the assessment of contaminated land. (SP 11/07/08)
A     Answered by Richard Lochhead (25/07/08): In addition to the statutory guidance which was last revised in 2006, the Scottish Government is working with DEFRA, the other devolved administrations, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Environment Agency to review the current technical guidance on risk assessment, known as the Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) framework, used in the determination of contaminated land. This guidance, first issued in 2002, provides a methodology to help assess whether there is a significant risk to human health from exposure to a particular contaminant on a given site.

Q    S3W-14910 Robert Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Building Standards Advisory Committee energy working party to report. (SP 11/07/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (29/7/08): It is intended to report in full to ministers, on the proposed changes to section 6 of the Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbooks, in early 2009.

Q    S3W-14912 Robert Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to consult on the next changes to section 6 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. (SP 11/07/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (29/07/08): It is intended to consult on the next changes to section 6 of the Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbooks in early 2009.

Q    S3W-14971 Marilyn Livingstone: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14103 by Stewart Maxwell on 19 June 2008, what funding and resources will be (a) provided by it and (b) transferred from Scottish Enterprise to local government to support town centre regeneration in each of the next three years. (SP 11/07/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Maxwell (01/08/08): The Scottish Government has worked with COSLA to agree a new approach to managing and funding local delivery. As part of this, we have agreed to devolve responsibility and funding for local matters to local councils wherever possible, including for town centre regeneration. It is not the Scottish Government's intention to create new ring fenced funds for specific issues. Agreement has also been reached with COSLA on the key elements of the transfer of local regeneration functions and resources to local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area, in line with the enterprise networks reform package announced in September 2007. In line with the agreement, the lead role in local regeneration projects, which might include town centre regeneration, will in future lie with local authorities.

Q   S3W-14649 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to raise public awareness about the requirement for an energy performance certificate at point of rental or sale of a property from January 2009. (SP 26/06/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (29/07/08): Seminars are planned later this year for those involved in the sale/rental process and a range of guidance leaflets for different sectors is being developed at present.

Q    S3W-14652 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a "public building" in complying with the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings. (SP 26/06/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (29/07/08): Public building means a building with a floor area of more than 1,000 square metres, which is occupied by public authorities and institutions providing public services, and which can be visited by the public. Guidance is also provided in Clause 6.9.3 of the Scottish Building Standards Non-Domestic Technical Handbook.

Q    S3W-14655 Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on measures to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the existing building stock and whether the results of the consultation will be analysed and published before the commencement of parliamentary scrutiny of the Climate Change Bill.  (SP 26/06/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (29/07/08): A two-stage process of consultation on measures to improve the energy performance of existing buildings is proposed. The first consultation will focus on non-domestic buildings and is expected to be launched within the next few weeks. We will endeavour to provide an analysis of this consultation prior to parliamentary scrutiny of the Climate Change Bill. The second consultation will cover measures related to existing housing and it is planned to issue this later in the year.

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Other parliamentary activity

*The Parliament is in recess until 1st September*

Debates

Committee Meetings

Motions

*S3M-2323 Margaret Mitchell: World Heritage Status for the Antonine Wall-That the Parliament welcomes the decision of the UN cultural body, Unesco, to make the Antonine Wall, which was the most northerly point in the Roman Empire, a World Heritage Site; notes that the wall stretches for 37 miles across the central belt of Scotland from Bo'ness, near Falkirk, to Old Kilpatrick in West Dunbartonshire; looks forward to the boost to the local economy and tourism in the area and specifically for the communities of Cumbernauld, Falkirk, Bo'ness and Kirkintilloch located along the wall, and congratulates Historic Scotland, East and West Dunbartonshire councils, Falkirk Council, Glasgow City Council and North Lanarkshire Council on the successful campaign to have the significance of the landmark fully recognised and accorded world heritage status.

Petitions

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Events

Place, Space and Conservation - The Regeneration Game: 13-14 November 2008, Manchester
A major conference exploring the impact of heritage-led regeneration on crime reduction, health and social and community cohesion.
Further details, contact Diane Kendal: 0207 925 0199, diane@ahf.org.uk.

Holyrood Events Conference: Successful Scotland: The Way Forward for Single Outcome Agreements: Tuesday 30 September 2008
Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
The launch of Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) across Scotland's 32 local authorities is forging an entirely new relationship between local and national government.
http://conferences.holyrood.com/content/view/584/142/

Conserving Scotland's Retail Buildings: 22 September 2008, The Lighthouse, Glasgow
Historic Scotland seminar: this seminar will examine the historic and materials associated with the architecture of Scotland's retail buildings and will consider current issues facing their conservation and protection. Cost: £35.25.
Further details: bernadette.shevlin@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, 0131 668 8683.

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Training

Scottish Lime Centre Trust: Building Conservation Masterclasses
Our masterclass series is aimed at architects, conservation officers, surveyors, engineers and other professionals who work with historic buildings:

Innovative Re-use and Adaptation of Churches: 27 August 2008
This masterclass aims to examine some of the common problems faced when re-using or adapting churches. (£125 + Vat)

The Structural Repair of Historic Buildings: 17-18 Sept 2008
SLCT are pleased to again welcome Ian Hume to Charlestown Workshops to present this two day masterclass, suitable for anyone involved in the structural repair of historic buildings. (£195 + Vat)
Location: Charlestown Workshops, Rocks Road, Charlestown, Fife
Booking:  To book or check availability phone 01383 872722 or e-mail admin@scotlime.org. 
                   

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Job vacancies

National Trust for Scotland: Policy Officer
Salary: £24,314 (pro-rata) fixed term until 16 November 2009 
Location: Edinburgh
The Policy team is crucial to our success as Scotland's leading conservation charity in ensuring that our views on conservation, heritage and the environment are heard and help influence policy in Scotland.  This role focuses on internal policy development as well as responding to external consultations and providing informed advice to stakeholders on our policy objectives. To enjoy this role, you will have a proven track record in policy work, experience of advocacy and working in a cross-functional environment.
Contact details:  Recruitment hotline 0131 243 9417 or via joinus@nts.org.uk for an application pack.
Closing date: FRIDAY 22ND AUGUST 2008

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Information in the Bulletin is extracted from a number of websites; including the Scottish Government (SG); the Scottish Parliament (SP); Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS); Historic Scotland (HS); Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE); Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG); Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); National Assembly for Wales (NAW); Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS); Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA). For further information, links are provided to the relevant documents. Back copies of the Bulletin are available approximately one month after publication on the BEFS website.

If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Jo Robertson jrobertson@befs.org.uk or call the BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.