Chelsea Charles, Communications Manager Scotland’s Themed Years, VisitScotland Events Directorate, shares some top tips on how to get involved in Scotland’s 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
From World Heritage Sites to ancient monuments, museums to historic battlefields, cultural traditions to our myths, stories, artefacts and legends, Scotland’s 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeologywill celebrate both our tangible and intangible heritage – our buildings, visitor attractions, archaeological sites as well as our diverse traditions and cultures.
Scotland’s Themed Years celebrate the very best of Scotland including its landscapes, people and personality. During each year, both locals and visitors to Scotland can enjoy a programme of events taking place throughout the year in celebration of the themes, as well as lots of opportunities to discover sides of Scotland they might never knew existed. They also deliver impact for Scotland too – encouraging the tourism industry and beyond to collaborate, attract new customers and generate benefits for the economy.
We already know that history and heritage are key motivators for visits to Scotland – it’s what defines the country for many visitors. For example, 32% of visitors cited ‘history and culture’ as a key motivator for their trip, second only to ‘The Scenery and Landscape’ (49%) Visitor Survey 2015. For some particular markets, the attraction itself if particularly strong – 76% of Europeans visited castles / stately homes and 49% of long haul visitors are motivated to come and learn more about Scotland’s history / culture.
The overarching aim of the 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is to spotlight, celebrate and promote Scotland’s rich and vibrant product and place, linked with the themes, but it’s also about engagement and participation.
Are you 2017 ready?
5 top tips for getting involved with the year:
From the Scottish Borders to Orkney, and from Fife to the Isle of Skye, we want locals and visitors to relive Scotland’s fascinating past through a range of exciting events, attractions and activities during 2017
- To help organisations, communities and businesses think about how they can get involved, we’ve recently launched our VisitScotland Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology toolkit. Packed with promotional wording, free to use imagery and the option the download the 2017 logo to use across channels – the toolkit is an ideal one-stop-shop to help businesses promote the year ahead – www.visitscotland.org/HHA2017.aspx
- Why not help us spread the word across your digital channels? You can join the conversation using the dedicated hashtag #HHA2017
- Do you have a public-facing event planned for 2017 that could benefit from being part of the 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in-kind partner programme? For more information visit www.eventscotland.org/funding/partner-programmes
- Ancestral tourism is an important market in Scotland, with an estimated 50 million people worldwide claiming Scottish ancestry including the key long-haul markets of North America, Australia and New Zealand. The VisitScotland Ancestral Welcome Scheme is relevant for a wide range of businesses from visitor attractions to accommodation providers. The scheme is also open to professionals in the industry who provide family history or genealogy services. To find out more visit http://www.visitscotland.org/business_support/quality_assurance/welcome_schemes.asp
- Use VisitScotland’s marketing resources – why not add a link from your website or other online marketing material to our dedicated section on the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology – www.visitscotland.com/HHA2017
2017 provides a great opportunity to invite people to come and explore our attractions, our people, our traditions and our distinct cultures but we can’t do it alone – we’d love to hear how BEFS members are getting involved and helping make history with us!
Chelsea Charles
Communications Manager: Scotland’s Themed Years
VisitScotland Events Directorate
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BEFS NEWS
Stakeholders provided feedback on the draft 2016 Scottish Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) headline statistics at a workshop organised by BEFS and HES. Stakeholders valued the impartial reporting of the SHEA as a factual description of the amount and state of the historic environment, which complements current efforts to measure its benefits in terms of people’s wellbeing. Stakeholders were keen to see greater consistency in data sources, additional contextual information supporting the data and use of digital opportunities. Read the full SHEA workshop report.
The name and remit of the Scottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee has changed to include culture and tourism matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Relations. The committee’s new name is Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee.
The Scottish Household Survey 2015 statistics have been released and report that visits to historical or archaeological places are up 5 percentage points (28% to 33%) on 2012.
The Scottish Government held a two-day workshop in mid-September as part of the planning reform agenda and a list of participants in the 6 working groups is now available. A summary of the outcomes is yet to be published.
Ross Martin, Chief Executive of Scottish Council for Development and Industry, reflects on the connection between place and productivity in BEFS latest thought-provoking blog.
Good to see the launch of Under One Roof, the new free website designed to help the half million plus private flat owners in Scotland with the complex and important task of carrying out repairs to their shared properties.
CONSULTATIONS
Consultation on proposals for regulations and policy supporting the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. (SG 03/10/16)
The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 creates the new private residential tenancy which will replace current assured and short assured tenancies. The purpose of the new tenancy is to improve security of tenure for tenants balanced with appropriate safeguards for landlords, lenders and investors.
Runs from 3 Oct 2016 to 25 Dec 2016
Brexit impact on creative industries, tourism and digital market examined (BP 09/16)
The Culture Media and Sport Parliamentary (CMS) Committee is calling for written submissions on creative industries, tourism and the digital markets, with a deadline of Friday 28 October 2016.
PUBLICATIONS
The Economic Implications of Brexit (SP 06/10/16)
The Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) were commissioned by the Scottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee to undertake economic modelling work to explore the long-term implications of Brexit for Scotland. This briefing summarises the results of this economic modelling.
Planning Performance Statistics, 2016/17, Q1 (SG 05/10/16)
This report presents the latest summary statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for April to June 2016 (Quarter 1), as well as historic data going back to quarter one of 2012/13. It is based on data collected by the Scottish Government from Local and Planning Authorities as part of the Planning Performance Framework (introduced in 2012).
DCMS Statistical Handbook (DCMS 28/09/16)
This release summarises Official Statistics relevant to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Scotland’s People Annual Report: Results from the 2015 Scottish Household Survey (SG 27/09/16)
Heritage Counts 2016: Heritage and the Economy
This fact sheet provides a summary of the key figures available from existing research which show the economic benefits of the historic environment. The document describes how heritage drives growth by attracting international tourism, boosting local economies and providing thousands of jobs. It also introduces new research: the Heritage Economic Impact Indicator Workbook 2016.
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES
Planning decision times published (SG 05/10/16)
Latest quarterly statistics show faster average decision times for local developments but slower average decision times for major developments compared to the previous quarter and previous year. Statistics on quarterly planning performance in Scotland have been released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.
Green Space Funding (SG 03/10/16)
£8.25 million EU green infrastructure fund announced. A multi-million-pound fund to develop green spaces in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas has been announced by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown. The money – which comes from EU funding – will support projects like new nature reserves and parks and green spaces in urban areas, benefiting communities across Scotland.
Reassurance for registered social landlords (SG 29/09/16)
Housing Bill to be introduced. Legislation which will help support the delivery of 50,000 new affordable homes is to be introduced by the Scottish Government. By ensuring Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) can be classified as private bodies, the bill will ensure that RSLs can borrow money privately in addition to the Scottish Government’s committed investment of £3 billion in affordable housing.
Life for people in Scotland in 2015 (SG 27/09/16)
The majority of people in Scotland rate their neighbourhood as a good place to live and have a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhood. Most people also participated in sport and exercise and engaged in some type of cultural activity in 2015, whilst around a quarter volunteered. Around a half of households were positive about their finances. These are just some of the findings from the wide-ranging 2015 Scottish Household Survey.
Loans to help make warmer homes (SG 21/09/16)
More people will be able to make their homes warm and water-tight through a new £10 million fund. The pilot scheme in Glasgow, Argyll and Bute and Perthshire will provide equity loans of up to £40,000 to home owners on low incomes to help them make essential repairs to leaking roofs and building structures. This work is often necessary before energy efficiency measures like solid-wall insulation can be installed.
NEWS RELEASES
Scotland’s Towns Week 2016 (STP 06/10/16)
Scotland’s Towns Week officially launched in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (5th October 2016) during an evening reception which celebrated the diversity of Scotland’s small and rural towns, ahead of Towns Week which runs 7th – 13th November, Scotland-wide.
‘Queer histories’ recognised by Historic England (IHBC 01/10/16)
The Pride of Place project being conducted by Historic England has led to new listings and a greater recognition of the importance of LGBTQ heritage.
Scotland’s thatched buildings recorded for the first time (HES 29/09/16)
All 305 of Scotland’s historic, traditional thatched buildings have been recorded for the very first time as part of a unique field work project, which lasted 18 months.
SNH pledges commitment to empowering communities (SNH 29/09/16)
A set of good practice principles designed to improve the way organisations and groups engage with local communities has been firmly backed by Scottish Natural Heritage. SNH has added its support to the National Standards for Community Engagement, launched today (Thursday) by Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing.
Progress on the creation of Historic Wales (WG 29/09/16)
Ken Skates, the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for Culture, has reiterated his commitment to the creation of new body, Historic Wales and announced he has asked the Director of the National Trust Wales to chair a steering group to progress the next phase of this work.
New Site Could Save Owners “Hundreds of Millions!” (RIAS 21/09/16)
Under One Roof, a major new free website designed to help the half million plus private flat owners in Scotland with the complex and important task of carrying out repairs to their shared properties, has been launched by Scottish Government Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart MSP at an event in Glasgow. Written by Annie Flint and John Gilbert, the authors of the acclaimed Tenement Handbook originally published by the RIAS over 20 years ago, the site contains over 100 articles on flat owners’ legal responsibilities towards their co-owners and over 70 technical information articles that enable owners to identify repair problems and understand quotations from builders. The site has over 100, specially commissioned, drawings, 200 photographs and a Repair Symptoms Checker to help owners pin down what is affecting their building’s health. Downloadable model letters will make the whole process easier for owners. Advice on dealing with owners who refuse to participate in critical repairs is also provided.
WG introduce Land Transaction Tax: 1st Wales’ own in 800 years (IHBC 21/09/16)
The Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Bill is to be introduced in the latest legislative programme of the Welsh Government (WG), and its first Welsh tax in almost 800 years.
European Year of Cultural Heritage proposed for 2018 (EC 20/09/16)
The European Commission has published its long-awaited proposal for the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018, which includes a ‘Call for ideas’.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government 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”.
S5W-03377 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to
encourage the private sector to build more homes to alleviate housing shortages. (SP 03/10/16)
S5W-03378 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the Scottish Housing Quality Standard to (a) the private rented sector and (b) tied housing. (SP03/10/16)
S5W-03171 Mark Ruskell: To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to overcome barriers in (a) getting agreement and (b) securing finances for communal work on multi-tenanted properties (SP 27/09/16)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Question S5W-02272: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 01/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming programme for government to set an objective for a national infrastructure programme that supports every home to reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2025.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/09/2016)
Question S5W-02271: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 01/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming budget to significantly increase public investment in home energy efficiency measures.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (15/09/2016)
Question S5W-02270: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the provision of maintenance and repairs for social housing.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/09/2016)
Question S5W-02267: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the condition of the current housing stock.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/09/2016)
Question S5W-02263: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have received support from the Rural Poverty Task Force.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (15/09/2016)
Question S5W-02262: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 01/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government how it is using its powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to improve the standard of private sector housing.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/09/2016)
Question S5W-02438: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/09/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost per unit was for new social housing built by local authorities for (a) one-, (b) two- and (c) three-bedroom properties in each year since 2007.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/09/2016)
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY
S5M-01693 Joe FitzPatrick on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Names and Remits of Mandatory Committees—That the Parliament agrees, under Rule 6.1, that the names and remits of the following mandatory committees be amended—
Name of Committee: European and External Relations Committee
New name: Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee
Remit: To the remit set out in Rule 6.8 shall be added—
Culture and tourism matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Relations. (SP 29/09/16)
EVENTS
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
When: 27 October 2016 from 9am – 4.30pm.
Where: Haddo House, Methlick, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Through a combination of inspiring case studies and expert testimony, this conference celebrates how opportunities have been identified in the creative re-use of Aberdeenshire’s built heritage; sharing knowledge and ideas on how projects can be funded, solutions found and challenges overcome. Conference Chairman: Andrew P K Wright OBE. Speakers: Richard Murphy OBE, Tom Duff, Paul Higson, David Narro, David Chouman, Ian Davidson, David W Walker and Alan Marshall.
There is also an evening event on Thursday 27th October, and site visits planned for Friday 28th October. Tickets can be purchased for the various elements of the conference, and a student discount is offered.
Contact: info@nespt.org Twitter: @NESPTconference #CastlestoClockTowers.
For more information and to book tickets visit the .
Scotland’s Towns Conference
When: 9th November.
Where: Kirkcaldy.
Bookings are open for the Annual Scotland’s Towns Conference. The Conference will centre around how we can further unlock the potential of Scotland’s towns. Book before 14th October to be in with a chance to attend for free! All bookings made before 14th October, 5pm will be entered into the draw. Scotland’s Towns Conference 2016 comes at a key moment for Scotland’s towns. The hosting of the first ever World Towns Leadership Summit in Edinburgh this summer highlighted that Scotland is leading the way in town transformation and partnership working across sectors – and even borders. Join leading practitioners, policy-makers, and other key stakeholders to discuss how our towns can flourish through local strategies with partnership and innovation at their core.
Celebrating Civic Pride – Booking Open!
When: Tuesday 15th November 2016, 10am – 4pm.
Where: Linlithgow Burgh Halls.
The next Scottish Civic Trust annual conference will showcase and celebrate the work of local civic trusts, amenity societies and heritage volunteers. The people that make up these groups work tirelessly to promote and protect local heritage, places and spaces. The conference will provide them with a platform to show what they have achieved, explain why they do it and set out the challenges and difficulties they face.
19th Annual Plenderleith Lecture: “Antiquities trafficking – 21st century developments”
When: 24th November 2016. Lecture: 6-7pm/Icon Scotland Group AGM: 5.15-5.45pm/Drinks reception: 7-8.30pm.
Where: St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0RH.
The Scottish Conservation sector’s keynote annual Plenderleith lecture for 2016 will address a controversial and highly topical subject – the global trafficking of antiquities and other cultural objects. Icon Scotland Group is pleased to welcome this year’s speaker – Doctor Neil Brodie, Senior Research Fellow, Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa Project at the University of Oxford. A separate free CPD event is being planned for the afternoon of the day, from 2-4pm based around the GSA Mackintosh fire recovery project.
TRAINING
Measuring Performance: Evidence to inform strategy in your place
Date: 12 October 2016. Time: 2pm – 4.30pm.
Location: Architecture and Design Scotland, Edinburgh.
Learn more about Understanding Scottish Places Toolkit, the Place Standard Tool and the Town Centre Toolkit in this very practical half day workshop. Experts will guide you to use, connect and develop these tools for your own place and to build an evidence base to inform strategy.
Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage: training
There are places available on upcoming fundraising training, including a brand new ‘in focus’ event ‘Storytelling using media’ which will help you articulate your case for support using film. Also a dedicated seminar for Trustees – ‘the Role of the Board in Fundraising’, and an in focus session on applying to Trusts and Foundations, with a one-to-one fundraising surgeries as part of the event as well. All events cost just £25 + VAT for small organisations (or £50 + VAT for larger organisations). There are also travel bursaries available.
VACANCIES
Call for new SRCT Board Members
A charity caring for nationally important churches is looking for dynamic new trustees to join the board at an exciting time of change for the organisation. Many of Scotland’s historic places of worship face an uncertain future and the SRCT is gearing up to respond to the challenge. We are seeking additional board members to play a vital role in the transition of the SRCT to a more entrepreneurial and financially resilient organisation: achieving our objective of safeguarding Scotland’s religious heritage by working with local people to conserve, regenerate, and put historic churches back at the heart of communities.
The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust (SRCT) is a charitable trust (SC024407) founded in 1996. Having acquired 7 former churches of national significance and won awards for our conservation work, we are breaking new ground with an innovative £2.4 million project at the A-listed ‘at-risk’ St Margaret’s Church, Braemar.
New Trustees will assist in driving forward the transition process and the shaping and resourcing of the organisation to meet the changing needs of the religious heritage sector. They will also support the raising of the profile of the sector and its cultural and social value. We’re looking for people who support the objectives of the Trust and can offer skills or experience in some of the following areas:
finance or business; property management; tourism or arts; marketing, PR or media; fundraising; law; And who think strategically, enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues and are interested in the heritage sector.
Applications should be by CV and a covering letter explaining why you are interested in the role and how you think your skills and experience relate to our work. If you would like to know more please contact our Director, Victoria Collison-Owen on victoria@srct.org.uk or 0131 563 5135. Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, 15 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP. www.srct.org.uk. Scottish Charity SC024407. A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee SC162884
Scottish Civic Trust are recruiting National Casework Volunteers
National Casework Volunteers assist with SCT planning casework across Scotland. Specific tasks would include:
1. Planning applications monitoring: This would involve reviewing lists of planning applications across Scotland to identify appropriate cases for SCT to comment on. This would also include inputting the details of applications into the SCT casework database.
2. Case review: This would involve reviewing case details/drawings, and drafting responses to planning applications from SCT in consultation with the Director.
Further details can be found here.
MEMBERS’ NEWS
IHBC welcomes its first Vice President: Mike Brown IHBC (IHBC 23/09/16)
Following formal agreement by IHBC trustees in April to extend capacity at the highest levels of the organization, the Board is delighted to announce the election of its first Vice President, Mike Brown, who takes up this annual, renewable, portfolio-led post linked first to ongoing sector discussions with England’s Historic Environment Forum, HEF.
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 Environment Scotland (HES); Scottish Natural Heritage(SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Design Council (DC); 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 Government Building Standards (SGBS); Europa Nostra (EN); Historic England (HE).
If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Saskia Smellie or tel: BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.
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Ross Martin, Chief Executive of Scottish Council for Development and Industry, reflects on the connection between place and productivity in this thought-provoking piece.
The economic competitiveness of our Cities and their Regions has never been more important, and in that description I include our ‘disaggregated cities’ of Ayrshire, the South of Scotland and our Islands, each of which display many of the economic characteristics of our urban centres, e.g. economic diversity, innovative vibrancy and an internationalism which puts the activities of many of our provincial towns in the shade.
Collectively, these diverse socio-economic geographies – the places in which we all live, work and play – are the bedrock of Scotland’s economy, providing the infrastructure, both hard and soft, for businesses to flourish and in which quality public services can be designed and delivered. The connections between people and their places are what gives our country its distinctive, definitive and increasingly diverse character, providing the basis for building economic growth and spreading prosperity.
Across Scotland, place is not just where we are, but also who we are.
Our surroundings shape us and tell the world about us, they provide a window into our relationships with each other and reflect how we treat one another too. The state of our places, both public and private, are an indication of the state and resilience of our socio-economic system. For example, whilst we have some spectacular natural scenery, and very creatively designed elements of our built environment, if we linger awhile and look around, we have an awful lot of unproductive place – both a symptom of, and a contributor to our Productivity Puzzle.
Whether it’s the decay and dereliction of our post-industrial landscape, which scars so many of Scotland’s provincial towns, or the forgotten neighbourhoods and sink peripheral housing estates of our cities these places are sad reflections of who we’ve become and an indicator of a dangerous lack of economic engagement for far too many of our population. As we consider a future with no, or limited, access to the EU labour market, we must use the coming together of economic and social policy levers at Holyrood, which have been the split responsibility of Her Majesty’s Government in London and the Scottish Government in Edinburgh throughout the post devolution period, to address this part of our Productivity Puzzle.
If, for example, we devolve responsibility for decision making to the City Region level, within a stronger, more integrated framework of economic and social policy, acting coherently and not diverging into the deep trough of despair of the ‘devolution divide’, (that vacuum for ideas and initiatives falling between the responsibilities of Holyrood and Westminster) can we finally start to tackle the dereliction and decay of our industrial past? Is it now possible, at the City Region level to reconnect people and place by driving local economic activity and therefore boosting national productivity?
SCDI is working to bring both governments together to share a common economic platform for growth and prosperity and ensure that by doing so, we don’t let communities fall between the constitutional cracks as power for economic growth transfers from Westminster to Holyrood. In so doing, we want to open up a debate on the productive use of place, both public and private, in our cities, towns and villages. As we embrace the emerging economy, and it’s likely characteristics of being both more mobile and agile, we’d welcome your thoughts, advice, support and above all engagement in this economic effort.
This blog was originally posted on LinkedIn here.
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Get historic environment events, jobs, news and publications in the latest BEFS Bulletin.
BEFS NEWS
BEFS welcomes a grant from Historic Environment Scotland to fund the running and coordination of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF). STBF is made up of a network of local traditional building forums with local representation who work together to highlight specific issues relating to traditional buildings and building practices. Read more about STBF and BEFS here.
BEFS aims to raise the profile of STBF and provide guidance and support for the regional forums. This will be achieved with the help of John McKinney, who has been appointed STBF’s Coordinator. John introduces us to the invaluable work of STBF in BEFS latest blog.
BEFS has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Europe and External Relations Committee on Scotland’s relationship with the EU. Evidence gave a flavour of members’ involvement with the EU in terms of the relevant EU Directives, funding relationships, networks and projects, training and movement of people with specialist skills. You can read the submission here.
CONSULTATIONS
Have Your Say: Your Invitation to Contribute to A&DS Corporate Strategy 2017-2020 (A&DS 15/09/16)
A&DS is currently preparing its new corporate plan for 2017-2020, and we are opening up our ideas to our wider stakeholders. As part of this we would like to hear from you.
The closing deadline for contributions is 31st October 2016.
Improving transparency in land ownership in Scotland: a consultation on controlling interests in land (SG 11/09/16)
A consultation on proposals for regulations to require the disclosure of persons with controlling interest in landowners and tenants in a register to be held by the Registers of Scotland.
Consultation runs from 11 Sep 2016 to 5 Dec 2016.
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Consultation on secondary legislation proposals relating to Part 3A of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 – the community right to buy abandoned, neglected or detrimental land as introduced by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (SG 15/19/16)
Analysis of the recent consultation on the Community Right to Buy Abandoned, Neglected or Detrimental Land (also known as Part 3A).
Implementation of planning changes: technical consultation (DCLG 02/09/16)
Summary of responses and the government response to the neighbourhood planning chapter of the technical consultation on planning.
PUBLICATIONS
Housing Statistics for Scotland 2016 – Key Trends Summary (SG 13/09/16)
This annual publication presents statistics on housing supply and public sector housing in Scotland up to 31st March 2016, based on information collected from local authorities, housing associations and the Scottish Government affordable housing supply programme.
A Plan For Scotland: The Scottish Government’s Programme For Scotland 2016-17 (SG 06/09/16)
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2016-17 sets out the actions the Government will take in the forthcoming year and beyond.
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES
Scotland’s future in Europe (SG 14/09/16)
Scotland must remain in the EU single market. The importance of Scotland remaining part of the European Union’s single market was a key theme during the first in a series of parliamentary debates on the implications of Brexit.
Council ward boundaries agreed (SG 14/09/16)
Ministers decide on council ward boundaries. Council ward boundaries across Scotland have been agreed, following Ministers’ decisions on recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Commission published recommendations for changes to councillor numbers and ward boundaries in May, following completion of its fifth periodic review of local government electoral arrangements.
More affordable housing approved (SG 13/09/16)
Continued commitment to delivering more homes. The number of affordable homes approved over the year to the end of June 2016 has increased by 26% on the previous year, bringing the total number of approvals over the year to 8,067.
Stability in new housing supply (SG 13/19/16)
Two sets of housing statistics have been released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. The Annual Housing Statistics update includes information on total housing supply, local authority house sales, lettings and evictions, stock and vacancy rates, supported housing, housing lists, scheme of assistance and houses in multiple occupation. The Quarterly Housing Statistics update includes information on new house building, affordable housing supply and right to buy applications and sales.
Community right to buy (SG 08/09/16)
More communities across Scotland are benefitting from the ownership of land. Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham has announced that more than 500,000 acres in Scotland are now in community ownership – breaking the half way mark on the million acres target set in 2013.
eBuildingStandards service launches (SG 01/09/16)
eBuildingStandards follows the launch of the improved ePlanning service in January, and signals the latest development in streamlining public services in the digital age. This new service makes it quicker and easier to apply for building work both on individual home improvement projects and for larger commercial developments.
NEWS RELEASES
Views Sought on Local Government and Housing Budgets (SP 19/09/16)
The impact of budget reductions on council services is to be scrutinised by the Local Government and Communities Committee as it starts its annual budget examination.
‘Future of LG Archaeology Services’ report out: HER funding, training support; archives development, and much more (IHBC 16/09/16)
The long-awaited 2014 report on ‘The Future of Local Government ((LG) Archaeology Services Report’, to which IHBC contributed, has been published by the All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG), and includes recommendations to ‘develop a voluntary developer contribution which would establish a ring-fenced national fund which will help financially secure local authority HER services’.
Scotland’s heritage volunteers named in nationwide shortlist (HES 15/09/16)
Shortlist for second annual Scottish Heritage Angel Awards announced. ‘Angels’ behind the restoration of a memorial tower on Orkney, the safeguarding of a Victorian-built community hall in Glasgow and a Borders-based project that has recorded Scotland’s industrial brick makers are amongst those to have been chosen to go through to the finals of the 2016 Scottish Heritage Angel Awards.
Parliament says: Health should be a ‘material consideration’ in planning (IHBC 14/09/16)
MPs have urged ministers to stipulate that health should be a material consideration in both planning and licensing law, as the Commons Health Committee has recommended in its report on public health, warning of widening health inequalities now councils have taken over more responsibility in this area at a time of cuts to budgets and front-line services.
The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage – Call for Entries (EN 13/09/16)
Europa Nostra Awards is Europe’s highest honour in the heritage field. It recognises the best restoration projects; the most impressive research; the most dedicated heritage professionals and volunteers; and the finest awareness raising, training and educational programmes. Architects, craftsmen, cultural heritage experts, professionals and volunteers, public and private institutions, and local communities: this is your chance to win the top heritage award in Europe!
Historic Environment Scotland welcomes new CEO (HES 12/09/16)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is pleased to announce that Alex Paterson has taken up his new role of Chief Executive Officer as of Monday 12 September 2016.
Landscape Research Group 50th Anniversary Research Fund (LRG 08/19/16)
In 2017, the LRG celebrates its 50th Anniversary and we have created a 50th Anniversary Research Fund. This fund will be used to support a small number of high-quality projects which align strongly with our Research Strategy. More specifically, the LRG 50th Anniversary Research Fund will be targeted to support projects dealing with the theme of landscape justice.
New Bill will boost growth and housebuilding (DCLG 07/09/16)
The Bill will speed up and strengthen the popular neighbourhood planning process. Measures in the new Neighbourhood Planning Bill will support more housebuilding and provide more local say over developments the Housing and Planning Minister announced today.
Making Space 2016: Design spaces where children can be spontaneous and independent (A&DS 01/09/16)
Architects and planners must do more to ensure public and private spaces are designed in a way that respect children’s rights to play, according to award-winning Japanese architect Professor Takaharu Tezuka. Professor Tezuka will visit Glasgow in November as keynote speaker at Making Space 2016 – an international award and conference focusing on architecture and design for children.
Call for papers – Heritage and Well-being Conference 2017 (CCT 09/16)
We are seeking papers and proposals for practical workshops for our biennial international heritage conference from 22-24 March 2017. The conference will explore the powerful relationship between conserving the built environment and healthy productive communities and mental well-bring. The deadline for proposals is 3rd October.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government 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”.
S5W-02438 Oliver Mundell: To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost per unit was for new social housing built by local authorities for (a) one-, (b) two- and (c) three-bedroom properties in each year since 2007. (SP 09/09/16)
S5W-02262 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government how it is using its powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to improve the standard of private sector housing. (SP 05/09/16)
S5W-02263 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have received support from the Rural Poverty Task Force. (SP 05/09/16)
S5W-02267 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the condition of the current housing stock. (SP 05/09/16)
S5W-02268 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the suggestion in the Scottish Housing Condition Survey 2014 that the main cause of failing to meet the standard in all tenures relates to poor energy efficiency, what measures it plans or has introduced to improve energy efficiency in (a) social housing and (b) the private sector. (SP 05/09/16)
S5W-02270 Pauline McNeill: To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the provision of maintenance and repairs for social housing. (SP 05/09/16)
S5W-02271 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming budget to significantly increase public investment in home energy efficiency measures. (SP 05/09/16)
S5W-02272 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming programme for government to set an objective for a national infrastructure programme that supports every home to reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2025. (SP 05/09/16)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Question S5W-01891: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11/08/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage businesses to adapt older properties to make them fully accessible for disabled people.
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse (06/09/2016)
Question S5W-02066: Adam Tomkins, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19/08/2016
To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, which were submitted in May 2016.
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick (08/09/2016)
Question S5W-02130: David Stewart, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/08/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it (a) has had and (b) plans with local authorities regarding the Land Scotland organisation that was referred to on page 18 of the 2016 SNP manifesto.
Answered by Fergus Ewing (09/09/2016)
Question S5W-02129: David Stewart, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/08/2016
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will introduce the mandatory public register of land and how the register will be implemented.
Answered by Keith Brown (08/09/2016)
Question S5W-02090: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22/08/2016
To ask the Scottish Government when the descriptors for each of the 42 wild land areas identified in Scottish Natural Heritage’s map of wild land areas from June 2014 will be published and for what reason they have not been published.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (09/09/2016)
Question S5W-02048: Claudia Beamish, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23/08/2016
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions it has had with the UK Government and (b) action it can take to match the funding provide by the EU for rural and environmental initiatives through the (i) LEADER, (ii) LIFE and (iii) other programmes if the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Derek Mackay (08/09/2016)
MOTIONS
Motion S5M-01297: Alison Johnstone, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 06/09/2016
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival
That the Parliament welcomes the fifth Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival events, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, hosted by Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Architecture & Design Scotland, Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and Historic Environment Scotland, and sponsored by the Construction Industry Training Board and Stone Federation GB; notes that the festival featured demonstrations of traditional building skills, including masonry, slate roofing, lead roofing, lime mortars, plastering and painting and decorating, sash and case windows and architectural cast iron, as well as a series of talks and tours; recognises that the event was a collaboration organised through the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum; further notes that the event was open to members of the public to offer advice, with the aim of highlighting the importance of the appropriate building skills in the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings, and believes that practical demonstrations of traditional building skills provide a platform to promote these key skills.
Supported by: Colin Beattie, Liam McArthur, Ross Greer, Alexander Burnett, Richard Lyle, Miles Briggs, Monica Lennon, David Torrance, Andy Wightman, Clare Adamson, Stuart McMillan, Jackie Baillie, John Finnie
Motion S5M-01298: Alison Johnstone, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 06/09/2016
Edinburgh Traditional Building Mini-golf Course
That the Parliament welcomes the traditional building mini-golf course, which was part of a wide range of events coordinated by Essential Edinburgh throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; understands that the mini-golf, which was on George Street, showcased a range of traditional building skills and materials in an innovative and interactive way; notes that it was a collaboration that was organised through the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum and was open to the public for enjoyment and advice; understands that it aimed to highlight the importance of having skills in the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings, and believes that the course encouraged interaction with such skills that promoted them to a younger audience.
Supported by: Tavish Scott, Alexander Burnett, Neil Findlay, Richard Lyle, Miles Briggs, Ben Macpherson, Ivan McKee, David Torrance, Finlay Carson, Bill Kidd, Clare Adamson, Stuart McMillan, Jackie Baillie, Ross Greer, John Finnie
EVENTS
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
PR and Communications: Connecting with your local audience
When: September 28, 2016 at 2pm – 4:30pm.
Where: WG13, Kilmarnock.
Looking for some practical advice and inspiration for your PR and Communications strategy? An exciting new event, running for the second time, from STP in partnership with East Ayrshire Council that will leave you feeling inspired to find your towns’ USP, grab the headlines and to make a cutting edge film to deliver your messages.
Scotland’s Thatched Buildings – Current Condition and Future Protection
When: Thursday 29th September, 10.00am – 4.00pm.
Where: Culloden Baptist Church.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (Scotland) and Historic Environment Scotland, in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland, and the Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group welcomes you to join us for a day of celebrating Thatched Buildings in Scotland.
The 7th Annual Place-Making Symposium: Streets Beyond: Beyond Streets – The Changing Role and Purpose of Public Space
When: 11th November 2016.
Where: Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee.
A landmark collaborative event that marks the 10th birthdays of The Academy of Urbanism and Architecture & Design Scotland, set within the Scottish Government’s Year of Innovation. Streets and other urban spaces need to respond to the demands of modern life, including vehicle access and human walkability, safety and well-being, local business needs and shifts in arts and culture. There has been a progressive shift from utilitarian corridors to ‘positive’ streets where people want to be where they feel comfortable, safe and even inspired by their surroundings.
SCT Conference 2016: Celebrating Civic Pride
When: 15 November 2016
Where: Linlithgow Burgh Halls
The next Scottish Civic Trust annual conference will showcase and celebrate the work of local civic trusts, amenity societies and heritage volunteers. The people that make up these groups work tirelessly to promote and protect local heritage, places and spaces. The conference will provide them with a platform to show what they have achieved, explain why they do it and set out the challenges and difficulties they face.
Scottish Empty Homes Conference 2016
When: 15th November 2016
Where: Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh
Join us for the sixth annual Scottish Empty Homes Conference, chaired by Tony Cain, Policy Manger, ALACHO. With featured speakers including; Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government and Housing, and John Maher, Photographer & Brian Whitington, Project Manager, Tighean Innse Gall. This conference is invaluable for Empty Home Practicioners, Elected Members, Housing Development Staff, Community Groups and others with an interest in private sector empty homes work.
TRAINING
Expand your skills, gain CPD and try something new?
The Volunteer Welcome is a chance to hear about PAS as an organisation, the volunteering opportunities we offer and how we operate – as well as meeting other volunteers. One of our existing volunteers will attend at each event as well and will speak about their involvement in PAS.
• 6pm – 8pm, Wednesday 5 October, Edinburgh
• 6pm – 8pm, Thursday 6 October, Glasgow
Contact Robert Pickles (robert@pas.org.uk) for more details. Book your place at events@pas.org.uk.
Conservation Challenges – RIAS Autumn Seminar
This seminar will constitute excellent CPD and we anticipate that places will sell out fast. Members are advised that a Conservation Autumn seminar has been organised for the afternoon of Tuesday 11th October 2016. It is aimed at all RIAS accredited architects as well as members who wish to apply for accreditation. The topics covered will include funding and fund-raising (including for small projects), project business plans and listing. The technical component will examine stonework and will range from selecting the quarry and Supplier, specification writing for architects and advice on key points for site inspections.
VACANCIES
Call for nominations for CIfA Advisory Council and the Board of Directors (CIfA 02/09/16)
The formal call for nominations for CIfA Advisory Council and the Board of Directors has now been issued. Candidate forms must arrive at the CIfA office by Friday 9 September 2016. Accredited members will be invited to vote for candidates in a postal ballot if the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies. Ballot papers, accompanied by information and an election statement of the candidates, will be distributed to members and the ballot will run from 19 September to 4 October 2016 inclusive.
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 Environment Scotland (HES); Scottish Natural Heritage(SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Design Council (DC); 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 Government Building Standards (SGBS); Europa Nostra (EN); Historic England (HE).
If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Saskia Smellie or tel: BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.
BACK
John McKinney, Coordinator of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF), introduces us to the invaluable work of the forum.
STBF is a group of forums across Scotland which aims to organise and deliver events which will raise the profile of traditional building skills and materials across all sections of population.
The activities can be broken down as follows:
- Skills/Education
- Repair and Maintenance/Energy Efficiency
- Sharing Information
- Celebrating the positive contribution of traditional buildings
Skills/Education
STBF has organised a number of skills demonstrations aimed at giving local school children a hands on event to try some of the key traditional building skills.
These have been delivered in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Callander, Falkirk, Thornhill and with others planned for Perth and Kirkcaldy.
We have even engaged with a younger potential traditional building skills workforce with a mini-golf course featuring traditional building skills and materials which was situated on George Street, Edinburgh during the whole of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016.
It was an exceptionally busy attraction with the aim to bring traditional roofs, windows, stonework and other elements of traditional buildings down to ground level for people to interact with.
STBF will continue to look for innovative ways of promoting the traditional building sector and the need to repair and maintain traditional buildings.
Repair & Maintenance/Energy Efficiency
Many STBF skills events are held in high profile locations in the towns and cities and are used to demonstrate the traditional building skills to key influencers in young people’s career choices but also raise the profile for the need to repair and maintain traditional buildings.
The Scottish Government estimates that £600 million is spent on pre- 1919 buildings each year but the Scottish Housing Condition Survey highlights that 72% are not wind and watertight and this has shown little improvement over the years despite the considerable investment by owners.
STBF looks to raise the profile of the need to get the building envelope wind and watertight as a primary measure to making a home energy efficient while providing guidance on how to do this. This is mainly done by directing members of the public to existing publications including the Historic Environment Scotland Inform Guides.
Low Carbon Impact
Residential sector accounts for 33% of carbon emissions in Scotland. Of the existing domestic structures we have today, 85% will still be in use by 2050 Climate Change (Scotland) Act has specified an 80% reduction in carbon emissions.
Sharing Information
STBF has run a number of IHBC Accredited CPDs to architects, surveyors, local authorities and city heritage trusts. STBF sees this as a very positive development by enabling interaction across the supply chain.
Those to architects and surveyors have been organised in conjunction with Architecture and Design Scotland and Royal Incorporation of Chartered Surveyors respectively.
This has led to numerous requests to deliver CPDs to individual practices which the forum has been delighted to organise.
We are always looking to add to our portfolio of CPDs and are thankful to Stone Federation GB, National Federation of Roofing Contractors and Historic Environment Scotland for delivering these on behalf of the forum.
Celebrating the Positive Contribution of Traditional Buildings
STBF has also actively raised the profile of the traditional building skills and materials issues within the Scottish Parliament.
Several MSPs, including the Culture Secretary, have attended the skills events run by the forum and have taken very little encouragement to have a go at the trades themselves. This has proved very popular and memorable for the MSPs.
The Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum has just run its 5th Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival (part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe) and was once again sold out with over 700 attending the events.
We aim to raise the profile of traditional building skills and materials and the skills and materials required to ensure they are able to be maintained and enjoyed by future generations.
Emily Tracey (Vice Convenor of the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum) organised a presentation to the Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Construction which then formed the topic for a debate in the Scottish Parliament and the day was completed with a Garden Lobby Reception in the Scottish Parliament which was very well received and attended by numerous MSPs which included an address from the Culture Secretary.
Last year, STBF started involvement in Doors Open Day events and this is something we are looking to build on in the future. We ran an event in The Lighthouse, Glasgow and supported the event at The Engine Shed, Stirling. We will be returning to both of these venues this year and learning the lessons so we can deliver even more successful events.
John McKinney, Coordinator of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum.
BEFS is delighted to have been awarded funding to coordinate the Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).
BEFS is delighted to have been awarded funding to coordinate the Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).
Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) welcomes a grant from Historic Environment Scotland to fund the running and coordination of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).
STBF is made up of a network of local traditional building forums with local representation who work together to highlight specific issues relating to traditional buildings and building practices. It is concerned with the lack of awareness of property owners regarding the condition of their building and the wide ranging guidance offered to property owners in undertaking these repairs.
BEFS aims to raise the profile of the forum and provide guidance and support for the STBF and regional forums on widening partnerships and accessing the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. This will be achieved with the help of John McKinney, known in the sector for championing traditional building maintenance, who has been appointed the STBF’s Coordinator. Among other responsibilities, John will organise, promote and run national STBF events and support existing forums with advice.
“We are grateful to Historic Environment Scotland for funding this initiative. It creates an invaluable opportunity to support and strengthen the traditional building forums and promote the exceptional work that they are doing” said BEFS Director, Euan Leitch.
Colin Tennant, Head of Technical Education and Training at Historic Environment Scotland, added: “Scotland has around 450,000 traditionally constructed buildings, many of which are used today as private homes and office buildings. This forum and network offers a real opportunity for knowledge sharing as well as access to guidance and expertise at a local level throughout the country. BEFS will build upon and further develop the great work that is already being carried out across the industry, which will help shape the future of building conservation in Scotland.”
BEFS has been involved in a number of STBF’s events, including their traditional building skills event in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square Garden earlier this summer, which attracted more than half a dozen MSPs and inspired Gordon MacDonald MSP to lodge a parliamentary motion urging greater awareness of traditional skills and materials and the return on investment that this generates. BEFS has also supported STBF’s mini-golf course at the Edinburgh Festivals, which uses traditional building skills and materials for the obstacles. STBF is using the event to promote traditional building skills and materials to a range of people who would not normally attend or visit the vast array of events already organised to promote the industry.
Read more about the work of the STBF in John McKinney’s blog for BEFS.
Seán O’Reilly, Director of IHBC and founding member of BEFS, reflects on the role of BEFS and ‘place-care’.
The origins of BEFS, or Built Environment Forum Scotland, represent an interesting and important moment in the evolution of what might be called ‘place-care’. That is a clumsy phrase, I know, that not many might really want to use, but it carries few of the associations that have only too frequently handcuffed our sector. Terms like ‘historic’, ‘built’ and ‘environment’, or the portmanteau-like combinations that we construct to echo our own more personal predilections, such as ‘historic environment’ and ‘built environment’, too easily may be more about defining the territory we want to occupy than resolving the issues we want to address.
Similarly, awareness of any prospective disjunction between formal title – built environment – and actual locus (everywhere, and when) was hugely important at the founding of an organisation like BEFS precisely because inclusion had to lie at its heart: many of the people helping to shape our places would not even recognise the BEFS agenda, never mind realise their relevance to its objects. The remit of the new link body of BEFS would have to encompass everyone’s place of work, play and rest, as well as the places they had yet to inhabit, or even experience. So, in naming BEFS, it was crucial not to alienate those players that its own members already found so difficult to engage with, crucial because BEFS was to be the most important mechanism its members could access to secure that wider engagement and, for many, the only one.
In summary, the naming of ‘Built Environment Forum Scotland’ was a challenge for all those involved, especially for those officers, such as myself, who were trying to capture the wide scope that the new organisation would need to encompass to deliver on its ambitions. We faced then the same critical question we recognise today: might the titular reference to the ‘Built Environment’ lead to the exclusion of those that did not necessarily see themselves as sitting within its broad tent, and so lead more to exclusion than inclusion.
Significantly, perhaps, at the time of the naming of BEFS, the decision to identify first with that which had been ‘built’ – rather than, for example, that which might be ‘historic’ – was made in part at least with our own historic circumstances in mind. A potential host organisation for our interests – Scottish Environment & Amenity Link or SEAL – existed before BEFS was formally established, though it focused largely on the natural environment. SEAL also then served as a network for some key historic environment interests, though its agenda inevitably was shaped by management strategies that reflected natural environment priorities.
After SEAL re-named itself as LINK, the organisation published a report in 2002 on the historic environment which centred on archaeological issues. That work galvanised an already burgeoning awareness of the need for a more holistic, cross-sector approach to place-related issues centred around cultural, amenity, urban and related considerations, including not least those of enhancement and improvement. It soon became clear that the member interests of the ‘body to be known as BEFS’ could not be effectively served if operated simply as a kind of cultural thread within an equivalent body for the natural environment, like LINK. So the explicit reference to ‘built’ environment in the new body of BEFS might have indicated – consciously or otherwise – an easy but formal distinction from the ‘natural’ environment link body.
The other thread in this background to the titling of BEFS arose when BEFS’ earliest promoters made the case to secure core-funding from the then national heritage agency, Historic Scotland. We focussed on a simple but challenging approach: that having a title framing the ‘built’ environment would help ensure the most inclusive relevance to ‘place-care’ interests – including development and construction sectors. These interests could then be more easily encompassed within Historic Scotland’s heritage agenda ‘without prejudice’ to wider objectives, and the heritage agenda discreetly subsumed with the kind of all-embracing remit needed to maximise both value for money, by funders, and success, for the sector.
Fortunately, Historic Scotland soon recognised that its own aims could be best achieved by supporting BEFS as a third party interest that explicitly focussed its operations far beyond any core departmental heritage remit. In adopting this strategy, Historic Scotland also undertook what some have seen as its most innovative conservation strategy to date. It acted on a core truth that many parts of our sector still struggle with: the historic environment was not a ‘thing’ as such, any more than the built environment was a ‘thing’. Rather ‘historic’ and ‘built’, in these terms and titles, only indicated single, reduced perspectives on the infinitely more complex phenomenon of ‘place’, a phenomenon to which anyone can, and should, bring their own perspectives and visions.
Historic Scotland saw BEFS as a body that could respond to places that exist within a collective experience, not alternatively as cultural or natural, built or historic, perspectives that those who name them naturally take as their default. Those terms captured nothing more than more individual approaches, and any thought that the adoption of such terms conferred superior rights or authority on the ‘namer’ would miss the point: a body like BEFS had to engage directly with everyone involved in places, doing all it could to operate in support of others getting the right outcome for all.
So, through funding BEFS, Historic Scotland demonstrated its understanding that the best way to look after its own sectoral ‘historic environment’ perspective on an entity as complex as ‘place’ was to make sure that all of the perspectives on that place – social, residential, environmental, commercial, financial – would be encompassed, informed, shaped and even on occasion led within a wide, ‘place-care’ agenda. This strategy was shrewd, targeted and cost-effective all in one!
Historic Scotland could see that BEFS would engage most by valuing and understanding the breadth of interests and perspectives involved. It would achieve most by making sure that those same interests and perspectives were fully informed and engaged with all the matters relevant to their roles, including of course any heritage values. And it would deliver most, for all of its members, by ensuring that those heritage values were properly embedded and proportionately represented across all the processes involved in shaping places.
BEFS’ earliest founders also reflected the full diversity of lead interests required to respond to this broad agenda, across heritage (such as AHSS and SCT); planning (RTPI) and development (RIAS), and the same breadth of interests that shape best practice in ‘place-care’ generally. That cross-disciplinary spectrum of ‘place-care’ interests also came to be represented in the IHBC’s model for conservation skills and processes, our Conservation Cycle (Chart 3), as both BEFS’ members and IHBC conservation embed heritage values as a constructive consideration (evaluation) within process of managing changing places through planning (management) and development (intervention). This model characterises conservation as an iterative process that can be applied as good practice in any ‘place-care’ operation – conservation-driven or otherwise, though most memorably it aligns with World Bank environmental management processes – while capturing also the headline specialist practice areas represented by the originators of BEFS.
For BEFS today, as members continue to grow and learn from the lessons BEFS offers and the experiences it generates, the object must be to maintain the widest purview relevant to the core interests of BEFS’ members in ‘place-care’: challenging received ideas; batting back the urge to tick the proffered box, and leaping into the many spaces between BEFS’ own members so that it can bridge and span their work most effectively, and for all our benefit.
In those early meetings with Historic Scotland a key message was that investing in heritage care and advocacy through a conduit structured like BEFS would be not only uniquely appropriate but, to Scotland’s great and global credit, nothing less than visionary. BEFS today is no less unique, appropriate or visionary as, with a universality of membership underpinned by its holistic understanding of how, why and when places change, BEFS’ combination of embedded heritage awareness and structurally inclusive representation continues to capture the essence of what is needed for effective ‘place-care’.
I look forward to seeing more of that vision in action, in BEFS, in Scotland and, hopefully, beyond.
No pressure then Euan!
Archaeologists, the UK, Europe and the world: a statement from the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
Responding to archaeologists’ strong feelings about the referendum on UK membership of the European Union, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) wishes to emphasise its status vis-à-vis nations, states and unions.
CIfA is the leading professional body for archaeologists. Its accredited members have agreed to subscribe to the Code of conduct and to follow its Standards and guidance. This obligation applies wherever they live and work, as does their requirement to comply with all relevant legislation and regulations. CIfA therefore operates without national borders: it is not and never has been a UK institute. While the majority of its members practise in the UK, and the attentions of the Chartered Institute are hence focused there, a growing cadre is based elsewhere (we are distributed across 32 countries).
CIfA does not have formal position on the UK’s membership of the European Union: that is a matter for the constituent parts of the UK and the EU to resolve through appropriate democratic processes. CIfA commends the thoughtful analyses of The Archaeology Forum and the Heritage Alliance of the potential impacts of a separation.
CIfA’s Board of Directors has reaffirmed its commitment to working with archaeologists from around the globe to promote professional standards and ethical behaviour, to maximise the benefits that archaeologists bring to society. One of the great benefits that archaeologists offer is the power to help different people understand the great variety of cultures and traditions of humanity, to recognise how civilisations can thrive on cooperation and how conflicts can arise where cooperation is absent, and to realise how socio-economic problems are generated within societies as often as by outsiders.
Above all, archaeology shows the mobility of our species. We are all of migrant stock: some have travelled from choice and in hope, others from danger and in distress. All have left their mark on the environment; and researching that mark through archaeology shows how these new peoples flourished or faded, whether their cultures stayed separate, integrated and retained their heritage or were absorbed almost without trace. The knowledge of how societies have adapted to and benefited from interactions between peoples helps us understand why the world is as it is today and gives us privileged insights into how to handle some of the challenges and chances it faces. Those challenges are very noticeable in today’s Europe, just as there have been magnificent examples of generosity and hospitality.
The job of work for archaeologists to do will be discussed in depth at CIfA’s next annual conference: CIfA2017 Archaeology: a global profession, to be held 19 to 21 April 2017, at the University of Newcastle. CIfA will also take an active role at the annual meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists later this year.
CIfA website www.archaeologists.net
BACK
John Pelan, Director of Scottish Civic Trust, reflects on the state of civic pride in the 21st century, challenges and opportunities.
Currently there are just under 130 groups in Scotland affiliated to the Scottish Civic Trust. Some are called civic trusts, others amenity societies or ‘friends of’ or heritage groups. Their aims vary but most share a common purpose which is to care for, celebrate and champion their local village, town or city. Some have websites. Some don’t. A few even have Twitter and Facebook accounts. Many spend a lot of time commenting on planning applications and are battle-scarred from years of fighting inappropriate developments or loss and neglect of heritage assets. A lot of the groups run programmes of talks and some of them publish heritage leaflets and magazines.
Most members of these societies tend to be older and, indeed, many are retired. They offer lifetimes of experience and come from a wide range of backgrounds, some professional, some not. They are, perhaps, not as representative of their larger communities as they would like to be. Almost all struggle with the same issues – ageing membership, lack of voice, recruitment of new, younger members and a feeling of swimming against the tide. With limited success and much frustration they make a stand against waves of inappropriate and ill-conceived development and gradual piecemeal erosion of what makes certain places special.
What drives them on is civic pride – pride in their area, responsibility for its upkeep and future and a determination to stand up for it when it is under threat. Some might call them curmudgeonly while others will respect them for the voluntary work they do in promoting local heritage and encouraging better placemaking. Their sense of civic duty harks back to an earlier time – the 1960s and ‘70s when civic society in the UK was at its most active. Then, in response to the widespread destruction of much of the country’s historic fabric, delivered with fervour by modernist zealots from the architectural and planning professions, the Scottish Civic Trust was founded, followed by scores of civic and amenity societies across the country. In a time when people lived in neighourhoods for much longer than today’s transient populations, sometimes a lifetime, there was a greater connectivity to one’s environment. This cohesion, along with a campaigning spirit, imbued groups to challenge decisions made by planning authorities and city and town leaders and helped to grow the conservation movement as we know it today.
The challenge for these groups now is how to be relevant and effective in today’s fast moving world of multiple distractions, 24 hours news coverage, and the shifting sands of modern society. They can sometimes appear analogue in a digital age but it is encouraging to see some of our groups engage with social media, recognising that having ‘followers’ might be as important as more members.
It would be easy to claim that the biggest threat to the future of civic society in the 21st century is apathy but I don’t buy this. People are interested in their built environment, local history and heritage. If not, why else would over 70,000 people visit Doors Open Days buildings every September or how can Facebook sites such as ‘Lost Edinburgh’ have almost 136,000 followers? Of course, it is far easier to click a ‘Like’ icon on a Facebook page than join a group, become a volunteer or comment on a planning application. Perhaps the mind-set within local authorities needs to change to better reflect the concerns and aspirations of the public. In the Scottish Civic Trust’s recent six-point action plan, produced in the run up to last May’s Scottish Parliament elections, we argued for a strengthening of the role of communities in major planning applications, particularly at the pre-application stage as well as endorsement of the new Place Standard tool, applicable to new housing developments and existing neighbourhoods. This resource, along with the Community Empowerment bill and the recent Review of the Scottish Planning System must lead to more people getting proactively involved in decisions affecting their local places and spaces. If they don’t they will have failed.
So what is the future of civic pride in 21st century Scotland? I don’t believe there is a crisis yet but as Cliff Hague pointed out in the recent Scottish Civic Trust Annual Lecture, Civic Pride, Civic Identity, Civic Trust, “civic pride is most likely to be constructed when there is a strong sense of shared civic identity, enriched by stories that are told be governments that are civic champions”. In other words, it is not good enough for our local heroes, civic champions and heritage angels to be drawn just from communities; our elected representatives, council leaders and officers need to demonstrate they too are committed to enhancing and celebrating Scotland cities, towns and villages and to putting civic responsibility before politics and profit.
John Pelan, Director, Scottish Civic Trust
21 June 2016
William Morton, Administrative Assistant at Beith Trust, reflects on the Beith Trust and the role that the former Geilsland School is playing in redefining Beith and North Ayrshire for the 21st century.
“Could you write a blog for us William?” “Yes”, I said. Then the realisation hit me, I’ve written blogs which have been kindly published on the Beith Trust website/social media. However, this is different, the Built Environment Forum Scotland, that’s scary knowing that a wider audience will be reading and commenting on not only this blog but on the Beith Trust, so here goes.
Beith has a population of just under 7,000 and is situated on the border between North Ayrshire and Renfrew. A town once famous for high quality cabinet makers, from 1745-1757 the Parish Minister was one John Witerspoon. Witerspoon was the only clergyman to sign the American Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July 1776. And being the birthplace of Dr Henry Faulds, the first person to publish a detailed report on ‘the conception of fingerprints in criminal investigation’, in the scientific journal Nature in 1880, as well as founding the Tsukiji hospital in Tokyo in 1875.
Today, let’s be honest, you might see Beith or other towns in North Ayrshire on the TV weather map and wonder who or what they are. These hamlets, villages and towns in North Ayrshire and other areas are often overlooked, seen simply as a feeder or commuter towns; you live in these places but work and spend your money outside, never connecting/engaging or being an active participant in the community.
How, dear reader, do I know so much? Well, I grew up in North Ayrshire, went to school here, so have and continue to see the affects the aforementioned has/is having across the region.
Established in 2010, the Beith Community Development Trust (BCDT) has evolved into a community/social hub. In the beginning it was a combination of parents, young people and children who wished to take over the running of the local Astroturf pitch from the local council, which was achieved in 2012. The evolution from simply a sports group to community hub at the Beith Astro has taken a mixture of time, money, resources, good will and continued dedication. At the Astro today you have a soup group, a community garden, play scheme, street meet, employability sessions and opportunities for those eligible to undertake Duke of Edinburgh, to name but a few groups/classes.
From 2012 until November last year the Astro was the one and only base/Headquarter. However, in November of 2015 after 18 months the Trust was given the keys to the old Geilsland School. Geilsland, the former school given approval by the Scottish Education Department for building in 1963, for years lay empty, worse the longer the campus was left the more it became disconnected physically and in the minds of the community.
Sounds very negative doesn’t it; not exactly filling you with confidence about the future. Well, fear not, as our journey continues. Showing essentially a new campus for the 21st century with connections to the past, the campus is currently undergoing its largest major refit, including remodelling and re-positioning. It’s the belief of the Beith Trust that that campus can/should become the ‘gateway to North Ayrshire’, an asset along with others in the region to entice residents and visitors to stop, reflect, linger, spending time and money locally on local produce, goods, recreation and amenities, reversing the Garnock Valley’s decline over the past thirty years.
Furthermore, the campus will continue to support the delivery of a range of opportunities, activities and initiatives, giving individuals the tools to enable themselves to learn, and develop as active, informed contributors within the community. This creates a circle in which wealth is created and retained locally in monetary, social, environmental and cultural measurements.
I end this blog with this: for any regeneration to work and be sustainable you need community engagement. You can’t just assume it will happen, you need to tell the community what you are, what services you provide and for them to take a positive outlook/view on what you are trying to do. Yes, you can show them with an all singing all dancing website or brochure but the real test is when they or their kids come and won’t stop talking about how much of a great time they had; that’s how you measure success. This also involves engaging with the community when the town has something positive to shout/whoop about, such as Beith Juniors reaching and winning their first Scottish Junior cup final. Or working with local businesses to improve the appearance and condition of your main street as is the case with Beith Main Street, embracing the towns past while not being defined by it.
It also involves highlighting the positive assets of an area. For too long only the negatives have been highlighted. True, everywhere has its issues, but that’s never been the full story.
William Morton, Administrative Assistant at Beith Trust.
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