BEFS Bulletin – Have Your Say in HES Survey

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BEFS News

Have you had your say on the impact of Coronavirus on your organisation? Historic Environment Scotland are looking for views from the heritage sector and we encourage you to respond. Survey closes 30 April.

Scottish Government has confirmed that the £100m fund to support the self-employed and SMEs, announced last week, will be broken into three separate funds: £34m to the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund; £20m to the Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Hardship Fund, managed by enterprise agencies in partnership with Creative Scotland and VisitScotland; and £45m to the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, managed by the enterprise agencies for vulnerable SME firms. The Government will also provide £1m to top up Creative Scotland’s Bridging Bursaries in the not-for-profit sector. Applications expect to open end of April with funds being released in early May. More details here.

We have once again updated our COVID-19 advice tables with the latest links to guidance from funders, heritage and built environment organisations and stakeholders.

There’s still time to let Historic Environment Scotland know if you are interested in applying for the Coasts and Waters Heritage Fund! Deadline for expressions of interest is 30 April.

Daydreaming about projects you worked on last year? Why not take the opportunity to submit your favourite projects and initiatives as best practice case studies to illustrate the breadth of activity in Scotland’s historic environment? More details here.

Save the date for the online event ‘Creating Space for Social Distancing: Reallocating road space for walking and cycling during COVID19’ on Thursday, 30 April at 4pm! New Zealand, France and Germany are exemplifying implementation of temporary lanes to enable more secure cycling and walking. As Edinburgh and Glasgow are reported to be considering what actions they can take, the session will explore how Scotland could pursue temporary space for safer social distancing. This event may be of particular interest to Council officers, elected members, community groups and all interested in pursuing the role of place as an enabler of healthier lives.

Due to the COVID-19 social distancing measures, the SPAB is bringing their learning resources to you! They are hosting regular short CPD webinars, specially designed to help you meet your continuing professional development requirements. Check out the full programme.

Consultations

Impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors – call for evidence
Opened on 7th April and closes 1st May 2020.

The role of evaluation and research in arts, cultural and heritage organisations

Scotland Business Survey – Impact of COVID-19

European Territorial Cooperation programmes 2021-2027: consultation
Closes 24 April 2020.

Historic Environment Scotland Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey
Closes 30 April 2020.

RTPI Measuring Planning Outcomes Research – Survey
Closes 30 April 2020.

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 30 April 2020.

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Closes 13 May 2020.

Just Transition Commission – call for evidence
Closes 28 May 2020.

Publications

Survey of COVID-19 Effects on the Heritage Sector (Historic England)

Watch this Space Scotland Guide (Green Spaces for Good 04/20)

UNESCO “Culture & COVID-19: Impact and Response Tracker” (UNESCO 04/20)

State of Scotland’s economy (SG 21/04/20)

Owning the future (DTC & CLES 20/04/20)

Rescue, recover, reform – A framework for new local economic practice in the era of Covid-19 (CLES 20/04/20)

Help to Buy: information for builders (SG 20/04/20)

Planning and environmental appeals: guidance for reporters – COVID 19 DPEA Guidance note (SG 17/04/20)

Crown Estate Scotland: marine framework guidance (SG 17/04/20)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): European Structural and Investment Funds (SG 17/04/20)

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund 2020 call: Stage 1 – application form and guidance (SG 16/04/20)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): development management – frequently asked questions (SG 16/04/20)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Investing in Communities Fund (SG 14/04/20)

Guidance on applying for money through the Heritage Emergency Fund (NLHF 14/04/20)

Impact of COVID-19 on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (SG 09/04/20)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact on construction contracts: CPN 1/2020 (SG 09/04/20)

Re-thinking our Global Economic Future (Fraser of Allander Institute 04/20)

Scottish Government News Releases

Lifeline support for business confirmed (SG 01/04/20)
Support for the newly self-employed and firms suffering hardship to be paid in early May.

COVID-19 impact on Scotland’s economy (SG 21/04/20)
The economic impact of the efforts to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic could see Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fall by around a third, according to a report by the Chief Economist.

Wellbeing Fund open for bids (SG 13/04/20)
Third sector organisations across Scotland are being encouraged to apply for emergency funding to help cope with the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Support for coastal businesses (SG 11/04/20)
Coastal businesses and third sector organisations affected by COVID-19 can now benefit from a £7.2 million Scottish Crown Estate fund which is devolved to councils.

News Releases

Helping to protect the things we love about Scotland (National Trust for Scotland)
By joining our new SCOTTISH HERITAGE LOTTERY you’ll be helping us to care for the things we all love about Scotland. It costs just £1 per entry and each week your entry will go towards ensuring that our history always has a home and that our countryside remains unspoilt.

HES Launch Learn at Home Initiative (HES 21/04/20)
Free online learning resources to help home educators and learners during the Coronavirus lockdown.

IHBC seeks volunteers to shape ‘Virtual MATE’ sessions (IHBC 17/04/20)
The IHBC is developing new models to deliver online MATE (Membership Application Training Event) sessions, and seeks prospective applicants for 2-3 hour support sessions to test our plans for ‘Virtual MATEs’.

RTPI calls on government to issue planning guidance to prevent development delays (RTPI 16/04/20)
It follows a survey which revealed that nearly 70% of respondents said delays to the system were their main concern about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the efficient functioning of the planning system.

Make a Difference: Volunteer in your Town or City Neighbourhood (STP 17/04/20)
Volunteer Scotland and Scotland’s Towns Partnership are pleased to join together to help direct volunteers to the opportunities where they can make a contribution to their local community.

Government urged to rip up planning rules to help covid recovery (Building Design 15/04/20)
A consortium of central London developers and landlords has called for government to rip up planning rules in order to support the recovery of residential development in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Announcing more details about the Heritage Emergency Fund (NLHF 14/04/20)
Eilish McGuinness, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Executive Director, gives more detail on how to apply for the £50million Heritage Emergency Fund. We publish our guidance today.

Digital Skills for Heritage – meeting the coronavirus (COVID-19) challenge (NLHF 14/04/20)
Josie Fraser explains how we will help organisations face the current crisis and beyond through our digital skills initiative.

How your holiday snaps could help historic sites (HES 14/04/20)
Did you know your old holiday snaps could help us look after heritage sites? Dust off that photo album and plug in that external hard drive as we tell you about Monument Monitor!

Opinion & Comment

Are We “All in this Together”? (UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence 17/04/20)

The Phoenix Project: Human Habitat (Urban Realm 15/04/20)

How Covid-19 could physically reshape our towns and cities (Cliff Hague, Scotsman 09/04/20)

Creating sustainable communities – the future of Edinburgh’s student housing policy (Lichfields 09/04/20)

The Time to Act is Now: A Framework for Post-COVID 19 Recovery for our Towns and Cities (IPM 02/04/20)

Zining in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park (PAS 02/04/20)

Widespread benefits of rapid UK building retrofit (CREDS 23/03/20)

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”.

Question S5W-28429: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16/04/2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to Creative Scotland in relation to COVID-19 financial support.

Question S5W-28430: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16/04/2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much Creative Scotland has allocated to the (a) Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund and (b) Screen Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund to support practitioners impacted by COVID-19.

Question S5W-28434: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16/04/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with creative sector leaders regarding COVID-19 funding for Creative Scotland, and whether it plans to allocate further funding to the creative sector beyond what it has already announced.

Question S5W-28557: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20/04/2020
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will resume the work of the Sustainable Housing for Everyone (SHORE) standards, and for what reason it paused this workstream.

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-28037: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to third sector organisations that experience a substantial decline in fundraising income due to the cancellation of large-scale income-generating events as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answered by Aileen Campbell (14/04/2020)

Question S5W-28178: Gordon Lindhurst, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 31/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what its response is to reports that Airbnb and other similar businesses are continuing to list properties for rent, and what measures it has put in place to ensure that such businesses comply with its guidance.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (09/04/2020)

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Creating Space for Social Distancing: Reallocating road space for walking and cycling during COVID19
Date & time: Thursday 30 April at 4pm.
Save the date for this online session examining how Scotland could pursue temporary space for safer social distancing. UK Government has indicated social distancing is likely to continue to the end of the year. New Zealand, France and Germany are exemplifying implementation of temporary lanes to enable more secure cycling and walking. As Edinburgh and Glasgow are reported to be considering what actions they can take, we will consider how it assists COVID19 safe distancing and what is needed to make it happen. This online event is open to all those with an interest in facilitating active travel during the COVID19 lockdown and in enabling safer conditions for walking and cycling. Facilitated by Irene Beautyman, Place Lead at the Improvement Service, it will be of particular value to Council officers, elected members, community groups and all interested in pursuing the role of place as an enabler of healthier lives. Let’s rethink space.

STP Webinar: Smarter, Digitally Connected Towns
Date & time: Tuesday May 12th 10.00 – 11.30 hrs
Especially now, people and businesses are turning to digital to navigate and survive the pandemic. Join us on 12 May when we’ll bring you smart place solutions to support people and business in the here and now; and ensure keeping it local is the new norm as we move into recovery.

IHBC Virtual School – Old Towns | New Futures: Heritage Reflections and Speculations from a Pandemic
Date & time: 19 June 2020, morning & afternoon sessions.
The IHBC’s 2020 Virtual School follows the same celebrated model of all of our annual conferences, as it brings together leading authorities and representatives from across and beyond the world of heritage, conservation, government and development to address the most current of issues.  For 2020 our only sensible choice is to explore, as best we can from the inside, issues around the COVID-19 pandemic.

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