Ministers respond to BEFS call to protect cultural heritage post-Brexit.
In mid-December BEFS encouraged its membership to lobby Members of the Scottish Parliament on what we perceived to be an anomaly in the definition of “the environment” within Part 2 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) Scotland) Bill. Our proposed amendment was not put forward by any MSPs but Scottish Ministers have responded with their reasoning as to why it was unnecessary.
Thank you to all those that contacted MSPs, it was not in vain as it resulted in better engagement between the Bill team and our colleagues at HES. Scottish Ministers also give a commitment below to ensure that cultural heritage protections are adequately considered by the new body Environmental Standards Scotland – although it is noteworthy that cultural heritage does not appear to be an area of expertise of the chair or members.
Scottish Ministers’ response:
“We do not agree that the definitions of “the environment” in the Continuity Bill should change in the way outlined in your correspondence. The reference given in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 is a representative list of issues to be included in the consideration of the potential significant effects of a project or programme. It is not a definition of the environment, and we do not believe that it can be used in the way that is proposed in your suggested amendments to the Continuity Bill.
With respect to the definition of the environment at section 12, we have designed the duties at sections 10(1), 10(2) and 11 of the Continuity Bill for the guiding principles on the environment to apply with respect to the natural environment. This will cover some aspects of cultural environment, but it is not our intention that the guiding principles should apply to the built element of the cultural environment, to architectural and archaeological heritage or to other parts of the built environment. These other considerations will remain valid in the conduct of Strategic Environmental Assessments, as they are at present.
In relation to the definition of the environment at section 40, we do not see the role of Environmental Standards Scotland (“ESS”) extending to ensuring compliance with the law on the historic and cultural environment or with the law on architectural and archaeological heritage. This would be the effect of the expanding the definition of the environment at section 40.
Officials have discussed this issue with colleagues in Historic Environment Scotland (“HES”). ESS functions in the Bill relate to monitoring and compliance with “environmental law” as currently defined in section 39 of the Bill: that is, so far as relevant in the current context, law mainly concerned with “environmental protection”. In terms of section 40(1)(b) “environmental protection” includes preventing, mitigating, minimising or remedying “environmental harm” caused by human activities. “[E]nvironmental harm” includes damage to property and impairment of, or interference with, amenities or other legitimate uses of the environment. We therefore consider that is clear that consideration of the cultural environment will fall under the definition of “environmental harm” at section 40(2).
We consider that when ESS sets out more detail about is functions in its Strategy, as required under section 18 of the Bill, the Strategy should include information about how it will take account of impacts on cultural heritage as a part of its judgments of environmental harm. We will encourage ESS to speak to HES and relevant stakeholders such as the Built Environment Forum as it develops its strategy.”
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BEFS needs your help to protect Scotland’s cultural heritage.
Scotland’s architectural and archaeological heritage are a fundamental part of our identity and economy, and it is important that they remain protected in post-Brexit legislation.
The definition of “environment” within the amended draft UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Bill is currently inconsistent with both Scottish and European legislation and it may weaken environmental protections for cultural heritage. The wording proposed following Stage 2 of the Bill’s progress introduces a new definition which could result in future legal challenge.
To fully align with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, referred to in sections 11 and 13 of the draft Bill , we would recommend that the definition of “environment” should be amended to match that found in Schedule 3, Section 6 of the 2005 Act which fully aligns with Annexe II of Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament.
We would propose the following amendments to ensure continued protection for cultural heritage and for consistency across Scottish legislation:
In section 12, page 10 line 14 leave out subsections 2, (a) and (b) and insert –
(a) means biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage, including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, and
(b) the inter-relationship between the issues in (a)
In section 40, page 23, line 19, leave out subsections (3) (a) and (b) and insert—
(a) means biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage, including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, and
(b) the inter-relationship between the issues in (a)
If you would like to protect Scotland’s cultural heritage, please do share the above with your MSPs. You can find out how to contact your MSP via this link.
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A new series of events to bring together volunteers, community groups and heritage professionals.
Archaeology Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Council on Archives, Northlight Heritage, the Scottish Community Heritage Alliance, and CIfA are delighted to announce Community Heritage Conversations, a new series of events to bring together volunteers, community groups and heritage professionals, providing them with a stage to share experiences, inspire one another with ideas and plans, and to celebrate the places that matter to us all.
Community Heritage Conversations is a re-imagining of Scotland’s Community Heritage Conference, which since 2012 has developed into a lively forum bringing together many different voices from the heritage world. Life has changed in 2020, of course, and this year the organisers bring you a series of monthly online events to explore the themes of resilience, innovation, adaptation & celebration. The series will start in November 2020 and run throughout 2021.
Regular attendees of the Community Heritage Conference will find many of the familiar features (and familiar faces) that have made it such a success – short talks showcasing the wonderful achievements of community heritage ventures around the country, lively discussions and, of course, the rapid-fire One Minute Mayhem.
The first Conversation will be a half-day event on the morning of Saturday 14th November, under the banner ‘Celebrating Resilience’, and speakers will be from community groups who have pushed forward with their projects during this oh-so-challenging year, and have ambitions for the immediate future. The event promises to be a memorable day of talks through hearing from those involved with community heritage in testing times.
This will be followed on Wednesday 9th December by the second event, on the theme ‘Adapting to Digital’; more details of this will follow in the coming weeks. The organisers would like your help in shaping these Conversations, so please get in touch if there is a theme you would like to see discussed, or if you know of a great project that needs to be highlighted.
The Conversations will be hosted on Zoom and will be free to attend. Some people have found it difficult to engage with virtual platforms, but please be assured that the organisers will be on hand to help you get the most out of the day.
Details and booking:
- Saturday 14th November, 10.00 – 12.30 Celebrating Resilience
- Wednesday 9th December, 10.00-12.30 Adapting to Digital
Any questions – don’t hesitate to get in touch with the organising team at chcscot@gmail.com.
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Applications now open to the NLHF funded Business Support Programme, ‘Surviving to Thriving’.
The Business Support Programme ‘Surviving to Thriving: Supporting Sustainable Scottish Heritage Businesses’ was developed by Built Environment Forum Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland and greenspace scotland to support heritage organisations in Scotland to develop sustainable business models.
The programme will deliver a comprehensive resilience and leadership training programme free of charge to approximately 40 heritage organisations across Scotland.
Training will be tailored to the needs of participants, focusing on four main themes of leadership, governance, business planning and local community engagement, and will be delivered through leadership cohorts, training courses, organisational interventions, and bespoke facilitated sessions.
Designed to build resilience across Scotland’s heritage sector, StT will invest in individual and organisational capacity through a focus on building confidence and knowledge in business practice.
This project is designed to upskill and support the work of the heritage workforce across Scotland, including representatives from at-risk organisations in all fields, but with a specific focus on those organisations with tangible assets.
Training will directly engage with the heritage workforce at vulnerable organisations and will seek to address the skills gaps identified as required for a thriving heritage sector.
The programme delivery will commence April 2021 and run for 18 months, with the expectation that participating organisations participate in between 20-30 days training within that time period across the four strands.
Eligible organisations will be awarded a community grant to enable them to fully participate in the skills programme.
To have a chat about the programme and application join us at surgeries throughout November. Book a place at .
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BEFS Director reflects on the Government’s Programme for Scotland, highlighting areas of interest for the heritage sector.
Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland: The Government’s Programme for Scotland 2020-2021 was published on Tuesday. It covers the next seven months to March 2021. Neither heritage nor the historic environment are referred to directly within the programme but there are areas of direct and indirect interest.
Large sums of money are associated with low carbon recovery and active travel but these were already set out in the 20-21 Budget. Much focus remains on fuel poverty and retrofit, with one mention of repair and maintenance in relation to town centres. The low carbon economy does provide leverage for greater investment in the historic built environment and will hopefully be more fully addressed in the imminent Infrastructure Investment Plan, Review of the Town Centre Action Plan, and the update of the Climate Change Plan.
While it may be disappointing not to see the historic environment specifically referenced it is noteworthy that the overriding themes of inclusion, low carbon and localism are consistent with the findings of the recent meetings of the COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum. The Scottish Government is further looking at the importance of regional networks, which also chimes with our ‘call for ideas’.
The following items are of direct interest:
- Addressing Scotland’s colonial and slavery history
Partnering with Museums Galleries Scotland, in collaboration with race equality and museums sector stakeholders, we will sponsor an independent expert group to make recommendations on how Scotland’s existing and future museum collections we can better recognise and represent a more accurate portrayal of Scotland’s colonial and slavery history and what further steps should be taken to ensure people in Scotland are aware of the role Scotland played and how that manifests itself in our society today. This will include how to reflect, interpret and celebrate the wide?ranging and positive contributions that ethnic minority communities have made and continue to make to Scotland. - The 20 minute neighbourhood
We will also establish a Place Based Investment Programme, linking and aligning all place?based funding initiatives to ensure we have a coherent approach to effectively progress our 20 minute neighbourhood ambitions. As part of this Programme, we will invest £275 million to support community?led regeneration and town?centre revitalisation, including the repurposing of buildings, maintenance and repairs, reallocating external space and community?led land acquisition. This will also support the ongoing work on Clyde Gateway. - Community Development Trusts
As recommended by the Social Renewal Advisory Board, we will also look to strengthen our support for community anchor organisations – like housing associations and community development trusts – that provide essential services with communities. We will use our Empowering Communities Programme to build on the learning from the COVID?19 response, strengthen the community anchor model and support its wider take up
The following also have implications for investment in, skills for, and management of the historic built environment:
- Take forward our ambitions for 20 minute neighbourhoods – the creation of liveable, accessible places, with thriving local economies, where people can meet their daily needs within a 20 minute walk
- Identify vacant and derelict sites for green infrastructure initiatives
- £2 million Islands Green Recovery Programme
- Introduce a network of regional hubs to empower communities to develop local solutions to making the transition to net?zero and climate resilient living
- Develop a network of Climate Action Towns
- Over the next Parliament we will invest nearly £1.6 billion in transforming our buildings to ensure that emissions from heating are eliminated by 2040 to remove poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty. The deal uplifts Heat and Energy efficiency spend from £112m in 2019/20 to £398m p.a. in 2025/26 and will include: At least £95 million to decarbonise the public sector estate; Opening the £50 million Green Recovery Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP); Up to £50 million to invest in significant energy efficiency improvements to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh; £25 million for zero carbon energy infrastructure and heat networks for residential and commercial premises along the river Clyde’s path; Additional £55 million to support scale up of energy efficiency programmes
- Set out our vision and route map for transforming the way we heat Scotland’s buildings by publishing a draft Heat Policy Statement and refresh the Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map alongside the updated Climate Change Plan, to set out a clear pathway towards zero emissions from heat in buildings
- Launch a scoping consultation in autumn 2020 on standards for new buildings requiring them to use renewable or zero emission heating from 2024
- New £100 million Green Jobs fund, investing alongside a range of sectors – such as manufacturing, tech, and land based organisations – to support new and increased opportunities for green job creation across Scotland
- £60 million Youth Guarantee including increased opportunities for ‘green’ apprenticeships across public sector bodies
- A £25 million National Transition Training Fund aimed at bridging the skills gap between those facing unemployment and sectors with greatest potential for future growth, including focus on provision of green skills in areas of immediate demand like heat and energy efficiency
- Develop a Green Workforce and Skills Development Package with an initial skills gap analysis undertaken by NatureScot
- Publish the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan
- Create a Supply Chains Development Programme across key sectors of the economy, including where we see genuine sustainable economic potential or resilience for future pandemic waves.
- We will develop tools and guidance to support a green recovery and our wider climate and circular economy ambitions through procurement
- Continued funding for the Scottish Land Fund providing £10 million per year to help communities purchase assets
We are looking for your ideas on structural / strategic solutions that could fundamentally change the heritage landscape for the better.
In June-July 2020, the COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum (CHERF) hosted a workshop series to plan, coordinate, and communicate high-level sector-wide strategies and guidance for rebuilding, recovery and strengthening resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 200 individuals from 113 organisations attended the online discussions, which were chaired by BEFS Vice-Chair, Ian Baxter.
BEFS is pleased to share a summary report of the five workshops. Links to reports and resources from each themed meeting are also available in the summary report and on CHERF page. We remain in the very early stages of understanding what the consequences of COVID will be for heritage but there were three clear messages that arose from the discussions, which are explored in the report: relevance, exclusion and localism.
Following the successful completion of the initial workshop series and overwhelmingly positive feedback, BEFS is now looking to organise a series of informal events to explore ideas on what ‘building back better’ could look like for the sector.
Within this context, we are looking for your ideas and blue sky thinking on structural / strategic solutions that could fundamentally change the heritage landscape for the better.
Please frame your response around the questions:
- How could the sector infrastructure be adapted / transformed to support a green, just, renewal for Scotland.
- And, how could this be expressed regionally?
You may find Scottish Civic Trust’s Heritage Sector Map from 2018 a useful resource when thinking about wider strategic challenges and solutions for the sector.
Ideas will be shared, discussed, explored and challenged in an informal setting with interested stakeholders and colleagues. If you would like to submit an idea for consideration, please send a 150 word summary to research@befs.org.uk by Monday, 21 September 2020. Whilst we welcome submissions from everyone, if you are not a man, we would love to hear from you!
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Museums Galleries Scotland partnership with BEFS and greenspace scotland receive £497K for major investment in sector resilience training.
Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) is pleased to announce that led by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) and in partnership with greenspace scotland we have been awarded £497,300 from National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), to support major investment in building the resilience of the heritage sector.
Sector feedback has highlighted the immediate need for support and strategic investment to help heritage organisations to develop sustainable business models, improve their ways of working, and evidence the impact of their role within Scotland’s communities.
The partnership will deliver an 18-month project that will provide Scotland’s heritage organisations and businesses with support through a programme of training that will build sustainability with immediate and long-term impacts on their organisations and the sector as a whole. Leadership is the overarching theme of the programme and there are four main areas of training in the programme, which have been identified through sector feedback: board development, community engagement, financial planning, and business resilience. Organisations who are interested in participating are encouraged to fill out the Expression of Interest Survey.
MGS, BEFS, and greenspace scotland are national strategic organisations who work across all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, supporting 300 voluntary built environment groups, 407 museums and galleries, and 180 parks/greenspace organisations and groups. They have come together to deliver this project based on a legacy of shared values and previous successful partnership working. The strength of the partnership lies in the active relationships held by the organisations with and across different sectors.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“The sector has shown remarkable resilience in adapting to changing circumstances, but after a decade of austerity and consequent public sector funding cuts, and now the impact of COVID-19, many organisations have told us that they are struggling to plan and invest to adapt to these new financial realities.
We are very grateful for the investment from NLHF in this project, which enables us to work in partnership with BEFS and greenspace scotland to deliver a strategic programme that will upskill the sector in the business skills they need to support their immediate and long-term future.”
Caroline Clark, Director Scotland of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Collaboration is critical in building a successful and resilient heritage sector. I am delighted that this initiative will bring together cultural, built and natural heritage organisations to develop their business models and support capacity building. At this challenging time our funding, which comes from people playing The National Lottery, is crucial to helping the heritage sector manage change and improve sustainability so that its role in our nation and our economy is strengthened and recognised.”
Euan Leitch, Director of Built Environment Forum Scotland said:
“The unfolding economic scenario has made this resilience training ever more prescient. We look forward to working with our partner organisations in providing this stream of support to aid the sector as it works through the challenges ahead.”
Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland said:
“The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated how vital our parks and greenspaces are to our health, wellbeing and communities. After a decade of austerity and budget cuts, many parks, greenspace and other heritage organisations were already facing challenges. This timely new programme of strategic training and capacity building will support the wider heritage sector to develop the skills needed to move from surviving to thriving, with sustainable and resilient business models, to ensure that Scotland’s treasured heritage is sustained and continues to benefit communities today, tomorrow and for future generations.”
The programme has committed to support up to forty organisations and upskill up to eighty people within the sector. Each attendee will be paid a bursary and travel costs to attend the programme. The programme will be delivered in line with COVID-19 guidance.
To help deliver the programme MGS and partners will recruit a Business Support Manager and Business Support Assistant in the coming months.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Museums Galleries Scotland is the National Development Body for museums and galleries in Scotland and offers strategic development support to the sector. For further information about Museums Galleries Scotland visit the website.
- For organisations interested in participating in the programme fill out an Expression of Interest, which is designed to give a brief overview of the programme and capture interest at an early stage from heritage organisations. Full details of the programme will be announced later in 2020 accompanied by a range of information sessions.
- About the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
- greenspace scotland is Scotland’s parks and greenspace charity, a social enterprise working with national and local partners towards the goal that everyone can access and enjoy quality greenspace. More information at here and follow @greenspacescot.
- Built Environment Forum Scotland is an umbrella body for organisations working in the built environment in Scotland, drawing on extensive expertise in a membership-led forum. Further details are available on our website.
BEFS Is Providing Weekly Updates On COVID-19 Information Relevant For The Built Environment Sector.
The COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum (CHERF) has now met 3 times and the reports arising are available for Reopening Venues and Construction & Conservation, we would like to thank everyone for their input so far. You can find out more information about the CHERF framework and its purpose on the BEFS website.
Places are available for the further workshops, please register for the events in advance online:
• Tuesday 30th June, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Statutory & Policy
• Wednesday 8th July, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Education & Research
The independent Advisory Group for Economic Recovery (AGER) has published recommendations Towards a Robust, Resilient Wellbeing Economy for Scotland identifying interventions to support Scotland’s economic recovery and facilitate the transition towards a greener, fairer and more inclusive economy with wellbeing at its heart. The ‘shovel ready’ repair & maintenance agenda, as advocated in several submissions to the AGER, is not explicitly identified and BEFS has followed this up with a letter to Ministers. BEFS has also highlighted the pressing need for Ministers to lobby the Chancellor on reducing VAT on building maintenance as they are on VAT on Tourism. The Scottish Government will publish its response to the AGER recommendations in early July.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has has expanded the criteria for the Heritage Emergency Fund to help heritage organisations safely reopen in line with the Scottish Government’s new guidelines. The application deadline has also been extended to Friday 31 July 2020.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is also launching a wide-ranging review of its approach to diversity and inclusion. Chief Executive, Ros Kerslake, said the powerful protests happening across the world, including the UK, calling for a re-examination and a redress of racial inequality has led her to reflect on The Fund’s efforts and accelerate change. South Glasgow Heritage Environment Trust’s fast and simple response to the paucity of information generally presented on the roots of Scottish wealth provides a good case study, with a recently added paragraph on Links to Slavery.
Finally, we have updated our COVID-19 Funding Advice page with recent developments.
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BEFS Is Providing Weekly Updates On COVID-19 Information Relevant For The Built Environment Sector.
Over the last few weeks Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) have been working together to establish the COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum (CHERF), which has been set up with the intent to create a collaborative space to plan, coordinate, and communicate high-level sector-wide strategies and guidance for rebuilding, recovery, and strengthening resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. CHERF will work towards informing the production of a route map of medium and longer-term actions to grow sector resilience, sustainability, and evidence the sector to be a beneficial participant in Scotland’s national recovery. The forum will directly address two key questions:
- What contribution can heritage make to the country’s recovery?
- What is the threat to heritage?
Over the next few weeks, CHERF will be hosting several virtual workshops which will cover a range of topics:
- Friday 12th June, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Introduction & Reopening Venues
- Tuesday 16th June, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Construction & Conservation
- Tuesday 23rd June, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Civic Scotland & Volunteering
- Tuesday 30th June, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Statutory & Policy
- Wednesday 8th July, 10.00 – 12.00 – CHERF: Education & Research
We would like to invite you to attend those workshops which you think will be of interest to you and which you feel you will be able to contribute to. Please register for the events in advance online. You can find out more information about the CHERF framework and its purpose on the BEFS website here.
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, has announced a provisional date for when the Scottish tourism industry can safely reopen. This is indicatively the 15th July 2020. He also announced the creation of a new Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce, chaired by Fergus Ewing and Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills. Furthermore, new industry guidance will be published by the Scottish Government, working with industry bodies and health officials, on 18th June 2020.
The Scottish Government has also published the first two-monthly report to the Scottish Parliament on the use of the emergency powers contained within the Coronavirus Act 2020 and Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.
Finally, we have updated our COVID-19 Funding Advice page with recent developments.
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BEFS Is Providing Weekly Updates On COVID-19 Information Relevant For The Built Environment Sector.
BEFS Historic Environment Working Group met last week and agreed there is a need to prepare for the medium and long-term consequences that will likely arise from the COVID-19 lockdown. The global economy finds itself in uncharted territory and therefore forecasting the future scenario is nigh on impossible, and you can take you pick from the plethora of opinions currently being floated, hopeful and apocalyptic. The one consistency appears to be the belief that pre-existing trends are likely to be accelerated.
The National Trust for Scotland has confirmed a dramatic loss of income, preparing for significant redundancies and considering the disposal of assets. Historic Environment Scotland anticipated raising almost 60% of its £100m 2020-21 budget through visitor activity, this would now appear to be impossible. The impact on smaller organisations without their scale nor access to government is likely to be similar, if not worse.
The immediate financial impact of lock-down on jobs is being dealt with through provisions made by the UK and Scottish Governments along with other funders. The Scottish Tourism Alliance is making an excellent case for an industry that heritage depends on. But the changed economic outlook, anticipated change in public behaviour and use of physical space have longer-term implications for the financing, use and maintenance of Scotland’s heritage.
At the request of the OPiT CEO Group, BEFS Members have agreed the need to collaboratively plan what the strategic response to the medium to long-term issues must be, while making explicit that the heritage sector can be resilient, sustainable, and beneficial participants in Scotland’s national recovery.
BEFS has therefore established the COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum (CHERF), chaired by Prof Ian Baxter, and it will be exploring the five strands initially identified in weekly sessions. Dates, times and details of how to contribute will be in the subsequent bulletin and BEFS look forward to your participation.
We have updated our COVID-19 Funding Advice page with recent developments.
BEFS will be providing these short updates weekly when relevant information for the built environment sector becomes available, in addition to the fortnightly bulletin.