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Latest: Welcome to the BEFS e-Bulletin. Over the next
8 weeks BEFS is going to manage a research project aiming to fill the
information gap on how the Historic Environment sector would like to see
intermediary functions delivered in the future. As soon as the
project starts, all BEFS members and subscribers will be receive more
detailed information. Non-members interested in providing input should contact
BEFS (prinsell@befs.org.uk or
0131 220 6241).
The next General Meeting - and AGM - of BEFS member representatives will take place
on Thursday 27th August, and is followed by a presentation (open to all)
by Malcolm Cooper, Chief Inspector, Historic Scotland, on the topic
'Taking the wide view: travelling along the heritage dimensions of
placemaking' (to attend, please contact the BEFS office for further
details).
We are also very happy to
announce that Jo Robertson has had a baby girl, born 15 July. Both mum
and baby doing well.
For further information on BEFS visit: www.befs.org.uk .
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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
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Publications
Scotland's planning system
(SG 03/08/09)
Further measures to create a more effective planning system to support
economic recovery come into effect today. The changes include:
Establishing local review bodies so that councillors, rather than the
Scottish Government, can review decisions made over small-scale, local
developments;
A requirement on developers to consult communities before submitting major
development proposals;
More information being made available on planning decisions;
Increasing the options for planning authorities to take effective
enforcement action.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/08/03093350/1
- publication
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/08/03080507
- news release
Scottish
Historic Environment Policy (HS 27/07/09)
This revised consolidated SHEP includes the government's new policy on
Battlefields. It also sees the publication of the final Ministerial policy
on Listing and Listed Building Consent. There are no substantive changes to
previously published policy on Scheduling, Scheduled Monument Consent,
Gardens & designed Landscapes and Properties in the Care of Scottish
Ministers.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/policy/shep.htm
Withdrawal
and Replacement of the Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation
Areas (SG 27/07/09)
The policy elements of the Memorandum have been superseded by the
development of Scottish Ministers' Scottish Historic Environment Policy
(published in a revised form on 27
July 2009).
The detailed guidance provided by the Annexes to the Memorandum is
superseded by Historic Scotland's ' Managing Change in the Historic
Environment' guidance note series.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/22103736/0
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Scottish Government news releases
Climate
Change Bill (SG 05/08/09)
The Climate Change Scotland Bill has been granted Royal Assent and will now
become an Act of Parliament. Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said
the legislation now means Scotland is a world-leader on action against
climate change, one of the most serious threats facing our world.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/08/05131424
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News releases
Simpson
and Brown appointed to co-write castle restoration guide (HS 03/08/09)
Simpson and Brown, one of Scotland's leading firms in conservation
architecture, has been appointed to work in collaboration with Historic
Scotland to prepare a guide on how to restore castles and tower-houses as
part of the Agency's Scottish Castles Initiative. The contract to
co-produce the text was awarded by Historic Scotland following a tender
process which attracted entries from architectural firms throughout the UK
and beyond. Historic Scotland and Simpson and Brown will now prepare the
guide which will outline the best conservation practices and act as a
resource pack for prospective owners and developers. The guide will also
contain the best examples of historic building restoration in Scotland.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news_search_results.htm/news_article.htm?articleid=24700
Battlefields
given new protection (HS 27/07/09)
The creation of a new Inventory to protect to Scotland's historic
battlefields was announced today by Culture Minister Michael Russell .
Speaking
at Killiecrankie in Perthshire on the 320th anniversary of the Battle of
Killiecrankie, Michael Russell said: "The battles fought on Scottish
soil still have huge resonance for many people.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news_search_results.htm/news_article.htm?articleid=24573
Interim
CEO for A+DS Appointed (A+DS 05/07/09)
Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) has retained Trevor Muir OBE as the
organisation's Interim Chief Executive, to drive through the changes needed
to make A+DS an Executive NDPB by March 2010. Trevor Muir was Chief
Executive of Midlothian Council from 1996 to 2009 and held several
positions with Glasgow and Aberdeen prior to this.
http://www.ads.org.uk/news/626_interim-ceo-appointed
Monument
Watch Scheme considered for Scotland's Built Heritage (30/06/09)
Colin Tennant (CEO - Scottish Stone Liaison Group) met Aileen Campbell MSP
(Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Office of the First Minister of the
Scottish Government) on 30 June to discuss Monument Watch. Monument Watch
is operated in several European countries and is aimed at owners of
heritage buildings.
http://www.nhtg.org.uk/regionsandhomecountries/scotland/news/monumentwatch09.aspx
Renewable
Heritage Guide (Changeworks 05/09)
Changeworks has, as part of the Renewable Heritage project, published a
comprehensive good practice guide for householders and professionals on
installing all types of micro-renewable technology on older and historic
buildings.
http://www.changeworks.org.uk/content.php?linkid=424
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Recent parliamentary questions
Answers
will appear in a subsequent Bulletin, with questions reproduced. Questions
marked with a triangle are initiated by the Scottish Executive in order to
facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament. Questions in
which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an
"R".
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Recent parliamentary answers
Questions
marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Executive in order
to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Q S3W-24916 Patricia Ferguson: To ask
the Scottish Executive what factors it took into account in deciding to
reduce its proposed statutory guidance on sustainable development from 52
paragraphs in Statutory Guidance on Planning and Sustainable Development:
Consultation Paper published in March 2007 to the two paragraphs in
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) Consultative Draft published in April 2009.
(SP 18/06/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(16/07/09): The decision to incorporate statutory guidance under Section 3E
of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 into the draft consolidated
Scottish Planning Policy reflects the Scottish Government''s commitment to
proportionate and practical national planning policies and to scaling back
the amount of national planning advice. Through the consolidated Scottish
Planning Policy, national planning policy is being expressed in more
concise terms to make it clearer, easier to understand and more accessible.
Q S3W-24917
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that
planning authorities comply with their sustainable development duty as
required by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006. (SP18/06/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(16/07/09): The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 places a new duty on
planning authorities to exercise their development planning functions with
the objective of contributing to sustainable development. In the first
instance, it is for planning authorities to consider how best to achieve
this, in preparing each strategic development plan and local development
plan and carrying out the related Strategic Environmental Assessment, as
required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Where there are outstanding objections to a plan, the 2006 act requires
that an examination must be held. A reporter from the Scottish Government's
Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals will hold the
examination. If issues are raised around the way the content of the plan
demonstrates compliance with the new duty, then they may be considered at
the examination. As well as having a specific role in the final approval of
Strategic Development Plans, Scottish Ministers are involved at each stage
of the Strategic and Local Development Plan process and may intervene where
there are concerns that statutory requirements are not being met. However,
through close working between Scottish Government officials and planning
authorities, as well as the early engagement of key agencies, it is hoped
that late intervention can be avoided.
Q S3W-24918
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that
planning authorities are provided with guidance on implementing the
sustainable development duty placed on them by the Planning etc. (Scotland)
Act 2006. (SP 18/06/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(16/07/09): Guidance on planning and sustainable development will be
provided through the consolidated Scottish Planning Policy when it is
finalised, and through the National Planning Framework for Scotland.
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Other parliamentary activity
Motion
S3M-4663?
Maureen Watt: Devolving Marine Conservation-That the Parliament
acknowledges the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution's recommendation
that marine conservation policy should be devolved to Scottish control;
notes that Scottish Environment LINK believes that the marine Bills
currently before Westminster and Holyrood provide a unique and quick
opportunity to devolve responsibility for marine conservation; considers
the devolution of marine conservation to be vital for the north east and
other coastal areas, and believes that by working together the Scottish and
UK governments can ensure that this opportunity is not wasted. (SG
10/08/09)
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Events
Local
Landscape Designations - Planning workshop
10 September at Edinburgh City Chambers
This seminar will provide the opportunity to discuss issues arising from
the consultative draft, review best practice and consider future actions
for landscape protection and management. If you would like to attend please
contact before 14 August 2009
Andrew Smith Tel 0131 469 3762 Fax 0131 529 6205 email Andrew.Smith@edinburgh.gov.uk
SSDF
Autumn Plenary - 'Copenhagen's Climate Change Choice....mitigation,
adaptation or suffering?
18 September 2009, 10am - 4pm, Òran Mór, Byres Road, Glasgow
The SSDF Autumn plenary, chaired by Rob Edwards, will focus on the
forthcoming United Nations Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen and
the role Scotland has to play in addressing Climate Change. The key
speakers on the day include Pete Smith, Professor of Soils & Global
Change at the University of Aberdeen who sits on the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Michael Northcott, Professor of Ethics
at the University of Edinburgh. There will also be a series of case studies
on the practical and inspirational things that people in Scotland are doing
to combat climate change.
Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information and to book a place, contact ssdf@sdc-scotland.org.uk by
Monday 7th September.
A Marine
Bill for Scotland
30 September 2009, Venue to be confirmed (Edinburgh)
Richard Lochhead MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the
Environment, will be speaking on the introduction of the Marine Bill to the
Scottish Parliament, April 2009.
Hearing from key Scottish and UK Government representatives, this
conference will consider the provisions within the Bill, looking at the
issues and how the measures might be effectively delivered as well as some
of the key debates. The agenda will explore the need to balance the
multiple uses of the sea, from marine renewables and fishing to
conservation tourism, as well as looking elsewhere to learn from other
countries' experiences in regard to marine policy and coordination of
marine planning and management. Speakers will also address how the
Scottish and UK Marine Bills will work together to reform the marine
environment and protect and promote our seas across the UK.
For more information and to book a place contact http://marinebill.holyrood.com/
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Training
Traditional
Rubble Seminar
28 August 2009, Penicuik House, Penicuik
The aim of this seminar is to provide professionals with a sound
understanding of the historical context, materials and conservation issues
in relation to traditional rubble masonry and structures to assist in the
specification and execution of masonry repair projects.
£65 + VAT. For more information about this seminar and other training
opportunities offered by Charlestown Workshops please contact on admin@scotlime.org or 01383 872722.
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 Anne Wilkinson awilkinson@befs.org.uk or call
the BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241. We hope that you find the Bulletin
useful, however if you wish to be removed from the circulation list, please
get in touch.
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