Heritage Update 201
Friday 28 january 2011The Heritage Alliance is the largest alliance of heritage interests inthe UK, representing 88 member organisations, with the aim of promoting the central role of thenon-Government movement in the heritage sector.Heritage Update is our voice; to, and for, the sector. It is estimated that Update reaches approximately 12,000 mailboxes in the UK and internationally; with readers as far afield as Abu Dhabi, Antarctica, Istanbul and California. For more information visit
CONTENTS
HEADLINES
Eric Pickles blasts planning system
Michael Gove launches review of the National Curriculum
The Culture Forum publishes report on funding for heritage and the arts
It’s been a busy fortnight for our Chairman
HAVE YOUR SAY: CONSULTATION ROUND UP
NEWS
Taking Ownership: new guidance on asset transfer published
‘Statement of intent’ to transfer management of the Royal Parks published
HHA campaign initiates Westminster Hall Debate on support for historic houses
CBA Festival of Archaeology 2011: register your event now
World Monuments Fund: Nominations to the 2012 Watch List are due by March 15
ALSO THIS FORTNIGHT…
Amending your will? Rememberthe Alliance
Traditional craftspeople: register to exhibit at ‘1000 Years of Traditional Crafts’
Sandstone house sought for SPAB energy efficiency study
Exploring the social history of the corner shop: new web resource launched
IHBC Gus Astley Student Award 2010: winner announced
Whitby Abbey voted Britain’s Most Romantic Ruin
PEOPLE
EVENTS
COURSES AND FELLOWSHIPS
SITUATIONS VACANT
NOTES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
HEADLINES
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Eric Pickles blasts planning system
In his speech ‘A Vision for Cities’ at The Economist's Liveable Cities Conference, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG), Eric Pickles, reiterated the principles behind the Decentralisation and Localism Bill.
Referring to the great days of Birmingham under Joseph Chamberlain,he said: “Visit one of those Victorian city halls and you can feel a citadel to civic pride, civic duty and independence”. Independence was his watchword throughout:“No waiting for approval from Parliament - much less an instruction manual. They knew what they wanted to do - but they also had the powers and just got on with it.” He advocated the “Chamberlain-plus” solution - empowering communities and individuals “to solve their own problems…offering a reason to get involved and make a difference to civic life.”
All very much in line with the Decentralisation and Localism Bill, but he singles out the current planning system as the culprit: “perhaps one of the biggest blockades to growth over recent decades has been the planning system…we haven’t had proper planning in this country for decades”. The Localism Bill will, he claims, correct the balance by a powerful presumption in favour of stainable (sic) development: “Far from being a NIMBY's charter - this is a way of giving people a reason to say 'yes' to growth.”
The trick that the Bill has to pull off is to deliver a new system that maintains the keyprinciple of the UK’scurrent planning system: to reach a balance between competing,but not always equally articulate, interests to ensure that long term public benefit isachieved -whilst at the same timeempowering and supporting local communities to get involved and deliver sustainable development to improve their local environment. The danger is that the new system will simply support the interests of a vocal and articulate minority.
The Alliance’s Spatial Planning Advocacy Group and the Joint Committee of National Amenity Societies met last week (19 January) to examine the Bill. Their recommendations will centre around two key areas: how far the Bill sustains the current level of heritage protection and the capacity of local forums to take up the opportunities that the Bill offers. Back
Michael Gove launches review of the National Curriculum
Last week (20 January) Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove launched a review of the National Curriculum at both primary and secondary levels.The Department for Education’s press release states that the review will “replace the current substandard curriculum with one based on the best school systems in the world.”
The review will consider all subjectsthat are currently part of the National Curriculum: art and design, citizenship, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology (ICT), mathematics, modern foreign languages (MFL), music, physical education (PE) and science.
This first phase of the review (2011) will consider whether each of the ‘non-core’ subjects listed above should be part of the National Curriculum, with statutory programmes of study, and if so, at which key stages. The second phase of the review, starting in early 2012, will produce draft programmes of study for all subjects that the Government decides should be part of the National Curriculum in future or, where it is decided there should be a non-statutory programme of study, with a view to them being taught in maintained schools from September 2014. Click here for the consultation document for phase one and to respond online. The deadline for responses to phase one is 14 April. Enquiries to
Ensuring that the opportunities afforded by the heritage and the historicenvironment of our nation form an important part of learning through theNational Curriculum is a priority for the Heritage Alliance’s Inclusion Advocacy Group (IAG), which is working hard to influence the debate. Consideration of this review will form the main business at its next meeting in March. Back
The Culture Forum publishes report on funding for heritage and the arts
The Culture Forum -a group of 26 cultural leaders representing all regions of England - presented its final report on funding for the sector this week. The heritage representative on the Culture Forum was Ian Lush, Deputy Chair of The Heritage Alliance and Chief Executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund.
The report calls for open debate on the best way forward for the cultural sector to become more sustainable, resilient and contribute even further to economic prosperity and community cohesion.Its recommendations fall into four broad themes:
- the arts and heritage sectors, individually and together, are at the core of any vibrant local community - and hence the Big Society
- public investment in arts and heritage is a core lever for economic growth, social impact and philanthropic support
- the encouragement of public engagement with arts and heritage will harness their potential to build wellbeing, knowledge, social capital and economic success amongst our communities
- the arts and heritage sectors should build cultural capital through investment, including professional development and cross sectoral partnerships.
Culture Forum member for heritage, Ian Lush, says:“The conclusions of the Forum are intended to remind key stakeholders of the vital importance of our sectorat all times, including in a recession, and to stimulate discussion. Its recommendations arepragmaticand achievable, and we hope you will engage in the debate.”
Feedback your thoughts to Ian Lush at ick here to read the full report, here for a full list of Forum members and here for meeting notes. Back
It’s been a busy fortnight for our Chairman
On 19 January Chairman of The Heritage Alliance, Loyd Grossman, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the University of Lincoln in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the heritage and the arts. Loyd received the honorary degree at a ceremony at Lincoln Cathedral, where he joined more than 370 students as they celebrated their university achievements.
And on 23 January Loyd was among 100 signatories to endorse a letter from campaign group Save England’s Forests, which appeared on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph. The letter called on the Government to remove controversial clauses from the Public Bodies Bill (currently being debated before Parliament) that would authorisesale of the public forest estate to commercial interests on the open market - and suspend any significant sales until the public has been fully consulted.
Other signatories included President of CPRE Bill Bryson, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, broadcaster Ben Fogle, adventurer Ranulph Fiennes, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and actress Dame Judi Dench. For the full list of signatories, click here. On Wednesday (26 January) the National Trust (a member of the Alliance) published a set of principles that it believes should guide any proposed disposals. This was submitted to the Government ahead of Defra’s consultationFuture of the Public Forest Estate, launched yesterday (Thursday 27 January). Back
HAVE YOUR SAY: CONSULTATION ROUND UP
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January
DCMS: Business plan 2011-15 - Transparency consultation. This consultation seeks views on indicators and data to be published to show progress against the DCMS business plan. Deadline: 31 January.
February
Consultation on the Governance Arrangements for the National Parks and Broads. A DEFRA consultation on the review of NPAs. See News for more information on this consultation. Deadline: 1 February.
The National Heritage Protection Plan: Interim Version Consultation. An English Heritage consultation. Deadline: 14 February.
The National Planning Policy Framework. A DCLG consultation. Planning Minister Greg Clark has initiated a review of planning policy, designed to consolidate policy statements, circulars and guidance documents into a single consolidated National Planning Policy Framework. Suggestions are invited to Deadline: 28 February.
March
The Giving Green Paper.A Cabinet Office consultation.The Giving Green Paper sets out the Government’s initial ideas for building a stronger culture of giving time and money to start a national debate on our society’s attitude to giving.Deadline: 9 March.
April
National Curriculum Review: Call for Evidence. A Department for Education consultation. The Government has announced a review of the primary and secondary National Curriculum in England. It wants to hear your opinionsand evidence in order to start a debate about what is taught in our schools. This Call for Evidence is a way to input into the discussion at this early stage in the process. Deadline: 14 April.
Office for National Statistics: national wellbeing consultation.The Prime Minister has asked for the nation's wellbeing to be measured for the Government from next April. He said the findings "will open up debate about what really matters not just in government but amongst people who influence our lives" and he included people "who shape the culture we enjoy" in this group. The ONS has launched a public consultation which asks respondents to rate "personal and cultural activities" alongside other factors in determining a broad national measure of wellbeing. Deadline: 15 April.
The Future of the Public Forest Estate. A Defra consultation. This consultation is about the future ownership and management of the public forest estate in England – land currently managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of the Environment Secretary. It proposes “a mixed model approach to reforming the ownership and management of the public forest estate”. Deadline 21 April.
May
EU consultation on the future of VAT.An opportunity has arisen to express concern about the way that VAT is levied on the costof maintenance and repairs to historic buildings (but not on replacement or new builds) in response to the European Commission Green Paper: ‘Towards a simpler, more robust andefficient VAT system’. The aim of the consultation is to launch a debate on the structure ofthe current VAT system, ways to make it more coherent within a single market and toreduce the cost of compliance. Deadline: 31 May.
NEWS
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Taking Ownership: new guidance on asset transfer published
Community ownership - much promoted by the Coalition Government -can help to secure a local service or amenity (such as a community hall or a public open space), at a time when local authorities are looking to make cutbacks. Local authorities can sell an asset at less than full market value where this would support a use that brings social, economic or environmental benefits for the area. Community groups may, however, need support and advice to help them make a success of their project and to ensure that it remains viable through changing circumstances.
New guidance on this has been published by English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Development Trust Association's Asset Transfer Unit along with Alliance members the National Trust, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Prince's Regeneration Trust. Pillars of the Community: the Transfer of Local Authority Heritage Assets was informed by the experience of practitioners and illustrated by a number of case studies, outlines the process for asset transfers - both from a local authority and a community perspective. Further case studies are invited. Click here for the full document.
English Heritage is also organising two training events on the transfer of heritage assets, through the Historic Environment Local Management programme (HELM). These will take place on 6 April in the East of England and on 12 May in the Yorkshire and Humber region. For details and to book a place contact Sam Channer at or ring 01793 44 5029.Back
‘Statement of intent’ to transfer management of the Royal Parks published
The Government has published a statement of its intention to transfer responsibility for London’s eight Royal Parks, currently managed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to the Greater London Authority (GLA). At present the Royal Parks Agency - which manages BushyPark, GreenPark, GreenwichPark, Hyde Park, KensingtonGardens, The Regent’s Park, RichmondPark and St James’s Park – reports to the Secretary of State for Culture.
The Department’s statement reads: “We intend that in future this accountability should be through London’s Mayor since all the Royal Parks are in London.The Mayor is a well known figure who is elected every 4 years and is held accountable by Londoners for what he achieves for London and for visitors to London. Managing the Royal Parks would also fit well with the Mayor’s existing responsibility for tourism in London as well as his strategic responsibilities for the environment in London.” The statement also commits to implementing “strong safeguards” to ensure that “the traditional identity and character of the Parks would not be affected, with their national importance recognised.”
Read the statement in full here. The Government has said it will legislate when the opportunity arises to pass control of the Royal Parks from the DCMS to the Greater London Authority.Back
HHA campaign initiates Westminster Hall Debate on support for historic houses
On Tuesday (25 January) Tony Baldry MP (Conservative, Banbury) spoke up in support of historic houses during a Westminster Hall Debate. Mr Baldry secured the debate following a visit to BroughtonCastle (in his constituency) before Christmas, at the invitation of the Fiennes family, following the Historic Houses Association’s (HHA – a member of the Alliance) campaign to encourage MPs to visit their local historic houses.
Mr Baldry called on the Government to support privately owned houses through improvement of the Heritage Maintenance Fund (HMF) system. Heritage Maintenance Fundsenable owners of certain historic houses –those designated by the Treasury as being of national importance, and open to the public - to set upspecial trust funds ring-fenced for maintenance of the property. HMFs are exempt from Inheritance Tax, but income tax and Capital Gains Tax continue to apply.Mr Baldry called on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to work with the Treasury and HMRC to make HMFs fit for purpose, stating: “it is not sufficient to protect designated heritage property from capital taxation if the supporting assets that are essential to maintain that heritage property are themselves whittled away by successive bites of capital tax” and “in consideration of the…broader community and national benefit of historic houses, we all have an interest in trying to get the balance right.”
Mr Baldry also asked Minister for Heritage John Penrose to consider the five key proposals that the HHA outlined in its manifesto Inspirational Places, which would help support historic houses at little or no cost to the Exchequer: Mr Penrose said in response: “I want to make it clear that my Department and the Treasury are also discussing these issues.” For the full transcript of the debate, click here.Back
CBA Festival of Archaeology 2011: register your event now
The Council for British Archaeology (CBA – a member of the Alliance) has launched its call for events for 2011’s Festival of British Archaeology.
The only annual UK-wide celebration of archaeology, the Festival aims to give members of the public opportunities to find out more and get involved with archaeology by taking part in specially organised events during the Festival fortnight. Museums, heritage groups, local societies and organisations around the UK are invited to take part by organising an event in their local area. Festival events can cover any period, topic, or theme and it's free to register/