BEFS Bulletin – Funding & Consultations
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications, Consultations And More.
BEFS News
With the close closing date, we’re putting this up-front in the Bulletin this week. UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy BEIS) have a survey out, following the UK government’s Energy Relief Bill Scheme announcement, when the government committed to finding out more about the needs of specific sectors. It is technical and demands standard industry classification codes for completion. But we appreciate that information gathered here could have genuine impact in relation to Energy Relief for the future.
We’re also delighted that BEFS Members, GCHT have launched a new and refreshed grants programme. GCHT Historic Environment Grants are available to property owners, commercial businesses and community groups in Glasgow who want to look after or celebrate Glasgow’s unique historic environment. You can find all new guidance materials and instructions here.
Staying with funding, but with a very different focus – the Centre for Cultural Value’s second round of the Collaborate fund is now open to the cultural sector. The fund supports innovative new research partnerships between cultural sector practitioners and academics that ask new questions about the difference culture makes to people’s lives.
We’re always interested in the topic of maintenance and wanted to draw attention to a couple of news items in this regard. Firstly, that built environment professional bodies (including BEFS Members, RICS) have joined forces to align the data standards that are used to manage costing, carbon and building and facilities maintenance, in a bid to clear up confusion and shift the digital focus from new build to whole life building performance. And, that RICS has collaborated with Historic England and the PCA to produce a Joint Position Statement – Investigation of moisture and its effects on traditional buildings: Principles and competencies. The document has been additionally supported by Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw, Historic Environment Division Northern Ireland, SPAB and IHBC.
Culture and Heritage are interlinked and BEFS wants to draw attention to discussions had at the Scottish Parliament Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on both 29th September and 6th October. In the first instance the cultural-heritage sector made representations to the committee, including evidence from Lucy Casot (Museums Galleries Scotland), Sir John Leighton (National Galleries of Scotland), and Alex Paterson (Historic Environment Scotland). At the second, pre-budget scrutiny in relation to culture took place.
Whilst all representatives across the sector are at pains to demonstrate the benefits and positive outcomes of our cultural heritage, the mood music remains deeply concerning as cost of living and energy crises impact the sector deeply. The recent news about both the Film Festival, and the Modern 2 – National Gallery, illustrate this all too keenly.
Thinking globally, and looking at the bigger picture, BEFS draws attention to the Global culture declaration from MONDIACULT, held in Mexico in September 2022. Reminding us all, at global scale, of the protections necessary, and cultural importance of all our places.
Late addition to BEFS news, Museums Galleries Scotland have just released their draft strategy and accompanying consultation – survey closes 1st November!
And finally – The New Library, Magdalene College, at Cambridge University has been crowned as the 26th Stirling Prize winner by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). We congratulate all those shortlisted.
BEFS does not have a Communications Manager in post at this time. BEFS will continue to get readers all the information that matters, particularly ensuring parliamentary activity is covered. And we’ll endeavour to include Events, Training and related Vacancies. These will be presented in the Bulletin as links (we will not be updating the website Events diary or Vacancy pages) until the team is back at full complement. Next Bulletin dates are 3 & 17 November – BEFS Members should submit information for inclusion by the Monday prior to publication.
Consultations
Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation
Scottish Government
Closes 30 October 2022
Battlefields: Planning Best Practice
Historic Environment Scotland
Closes 3 November 2022
Delivering our Vision for Scottish Agriculture. Proposals for a new Agriculture Bill
Scottish Government
Closes 21 November 2022
The Future of National Parks in Scotland
Scottish Government
** NEW Closes 30 November 2022**
HES Responsible Tourism Framework
Historic Environment Scotland
Closes 30 November 2022
Developing a Scottish Tax to replace the UK Aggregates Levy
Scottish Government
Closes 4 December 2022
Consultation Responses
None at this time.
Publications
Testing our Resilience: Report examining the impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering and volunteers (Volunteer Scotland 27/09/2022)
Arts Professional: Pulse Report on an Arts Pay Survey to gauge the realities of earnings in the sector (Arts Professional 13/10/2022)
Scottish & UK Government Publications
Tenant Protection Bill (SG 06/10/2022)
Just Transition Fund Awards (SG 10/10/2022)
Regional Land Use Partnerships: phase 1 process evaluation – final report (SG 12/10/2022)
Climate change – loss and damage: First Minister’s speech (SG 11/10/2022)
Chief Planner Letter: stakeholder update (SG 11/10/2022)
Legislative consent memorandum on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill (ScotParl 11/10/2022)
Scoping Culture and Heritage Capital Report (UK Gov 17/10/2022)
Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (SG 17/10/2022)
Chancellor brings forward further Medium-Term Fiscal Plan measures (UK Gov 17/10/2022)
News Releases
The UK National Commission for UNESCO has been awarded £250,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (UNESCO 05/10/2022)
You can now download and connect to GIS spatial data on Historic England’s open data hub (Historic England 13/10/2022)
The BBC and Historic Environment Scotland have jointly selected the buildings, landscapes, and places that have defined the broadcaster’s 100-year history. They have produced an interactive map to showcase the buildings and places they believe have shaped the BBC (HES 13/10/2022)
Modern Two Gallery will close this winter amid rising energy costs (STV 18/10/2022)
Opinion & Comment
Donelan: DCMS will prioritise economic growth (Arts Professional 04/10/2022)
What does Community Wealth Building mean at a community level? (Jocelyn Cunliffe; SURF bulletin 06/10/2022)
We are mere custodians of Scotland’s beauty. We should not decry the ‘outsiders’ who enjoy it (The Herald 06/10/2022)
How to Recycle a 14-Story Office Tower (The New York Times 06/10/2022)
‘Perfect storm’ warning for Scottish arts sector amid fears of ‘significant’ funding cuts (The Scotsman 06/10/2022)
Galleries are fighting ‘just to keep the doors open’ (The Times 08/10/2022)
National Trust urges Liz Truss not to ‘rip up critical nature protections’ (The National 09/10/2022)
Glacier grief: how funerals and rituals can help us mourn the loss of nature (The Guardian 10/10/2022)
Need to build affordable homes could be relaxed in planning reforms (The Times 11/10/2022)
‘Drastic’: Warning over budget cut threat to Scotland’s threatened wildlife and iconic landscape (The Herald 14/10/2022)
Conserving cultural heritage is vital for climate adaptation (The Hill 15/10/2022)
Parliamentary Questions and Answers
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament. Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.
S6W-11181 Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/09/2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any reskilling or training initiatives to train workers to install net zero heating mechanisms such as heat pumps.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 October 2022
S6W-11182 Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/09/2022
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to housebuilding organisations in order to build net zero housing.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 October 2022
S6W-11494 Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 11/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much funding it has invested in the sustainable development of Scotland’s historic estate in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23, in line with the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto commitment.
Current status: Answer expected on 8 November 2022
S6W-11502 Emma Roddick, Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 11/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether environmental protections would be reduced in any Scottish investment zones.
Current status: Answer expected on 8 November 2022
S6W-11485 Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 11/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to introduce the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto commitment for a Percentage for the Arts scheme.
Current status: Answer expected on 8 November 2022
S6W-11537 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 13/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of each (a) single building assessment and (b) single building assessment application it has received under the grant-based approach.
Current status: Answer expected on 10 November 2022
Debate on the Energy Prices Bill (UK Parl 17/10/2022) question from Rosie Winterton MP, Doncaster Central, Labour concerning tenement buildings and new clause 1—Impact assessment on VAT zero rating insulation works for tenement buildings in Scotland—Within six months of the date of Royal Assent to this Act, the Secretary of State must carry out an assessment of the impact of zero rating value added tax on work.
S6W-11584 Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/10/022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the flexibility to use its reserves, and whether it has plans to extend any such flexibility to other organisations.
Current status: Answer expected on 15 November 2022
Events
ICON ECRN: Building a Salvage Network for Scotland
Date & Time: Thursday 27 October 2022; 9:30am–4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Stirling
Edinburgh Collections Response Network is hosting a day of knowledge and skills sharing open to anyone involved in disaster recovery work from the GLAM sector in Scotland. ECRN is a voluntary group of conservators, curators, archivists and others based in and around Edinburgh who form a disaster recovery coalition that spans many organisations from national to local. The group is keen to foster closer connections with the wider Scottish heritage sector, and share the knowledge and lessons they have learned from collaborating. Event run in partnership with Icon Scotland, SCA and HES.
AHSS & SGLH Judy Riley – Ornaments and Obelisks: Changes at Tyninghame in the Early 19th Century
Date & Time: Monday 14 November 2022, 6:30pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
With the help of previously unpublished archival material, Judy Riley explores the development of Tyninghame House and gardens, in East Lothian, around the first half of the nineteenth century, including William Burn’s work for the 9th Earl of Haddington.
Scotland’s Towns Conference
Date & Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022; 9am-5pm
Location: Kilmarnock
Scotland’s Towns Conference is our annual, flagship gathering of stakeholders from across sectors involved in supporting Scotland’s towns and improvement districts.
Please follow link to book tickets for Members and Non-Members
AHSS Geoff Bailey – The Architecture of Matthew Steele
Date & Time: Thursday 17 November 2022; 7:30pm
Location: Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Geoff Bailey of the Falkirk Local History Society [Heritage Engagement Officer Falkirk Community Trust] will talk about the unique style of the provincial architect Matthew Steele who gave the town of Bo’ness near Falkirk much of its present character. Working in the period 1910-1940 he adopted and adapted the latest designs and materials adding a Nordic twist to provide his own flavour.
Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders Archaeology Conference
Date & Time: Saturday 19 November 2022; 9am-4:45pm
Location: Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh
This annual conference is organised by the City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council. For the 20th anniversary there will be an exciting programme of talks about recent discoveries and archaeological research in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.
Conference tickets are £30, with an optional buffet lunch priced at £10 (NB lunch must be pre-booked by 16 November). Conference tickets only will be available on the day. Book tickets here
Richard Rodger – Happy Homes: Cooperation, Community and the Edinburgh Colonies
Date & Time: Monday 12 December 2022; 6:30pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Edinburgh and Leith colony housing represents a very distinctive, immediately recognisable built form. Or so you might think. In fact there is considerable divergence in design, in prices (rents) and in the occupants. In this talk, Richard Rodger dissects the background to the housing, their owners, occupants, and other characteristics to reveal a new perspective on this housing type.
Training
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust – Architectural Conservation CPD 2022 Programme
Date & Time: Saturday 26 October & Wednesday 30 November 2022
Location: Online
The Perth and Kinross annual series of Architectural Conservation CPDs is underway. The programme continues with sessions on conservation techniques for historical sculptures and retrofit of traditional buildings.
RIAS Conservation Committee: Helping you care for buildings – Conservation CPD
Date & Time: Thursday 27 October 2022; 1pm onwards
Location: Online
The RIAS Conservation Committee are hosting a virtual CPD session, for any parties interested in saving and re-using historic buildings, including those considering conservation accreditation, architects, planners, and people working in the heritage sector.
The price of this CPD is £80 (+ VAT)
CIfA – Practising Ethical Competence in Archaeology
Date & Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022; 2-5pm
Location: Online
This CPD workshop is for accredited professionals and those that need to demonstrate ethical abilities as part of their application for accreditation.
Vacancies
SURF – Facilitator, Alliance for Action Programme
Salary: £33,000 pro rata
Status: Part-time, 17.5h per week
Location: Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
SURF is seeking a part-time Facilitator to support its new Alliance for Action programme site in Peterhead. The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to build on local progress towards the regeneration of Peterhead town centre, supporting collaboration and project delivery in response to community demand.
Closing date: Monday 14 November 2022
Cupar Development Trust – Projects & Administration Officer
Salary: £30,000 pro rata
Status: Part-time, 12.5h per week
Cupar Development Trust is seeking a highly motivated individual for the post of Projects & Administration Officer. You will provide professional support to CDT’s Board, Sub-Committees, Staff, and Volunteers, and work with other organisations with which CDT is collaborating in pursuit of key activities across Cupar & District. The successful applicant will have excellent communication and organisational skills and the ability to work with wider community groups. In addition, they will be able to set and achieve realistic targets and manage own workload, along with sound computer skills.
Closing date: Friday 4 November 2022