Dear HER Forum members

Further to my previous email about the forthcoming online discussion on local authority archaeology services, in response to feedback from previous discussions in advance here are the seven questions that we’d like to discuss:

 

1. To what extent are the current roles and functions of public sector (local authority and

Historic England) archaeological services appropriate for the future?

What are the pressures and the opportunities for change?

2. What examples do we have of modifications/developments in regional and local

structures that have occurred to date? How successful/unsuccessful have these been? Does

practice need to change to meet new pressures? If so how?

3. Are there other ways, tested or untested, of delivering these services? What can we learn

from new/different service models e.g. Wales; GLAAS; Worcestershire; South West Heritage

Trust?

4. We have both local authority services and HE regional teams. Is this the most-appropriate

division of labour/responsibilities? Would more-collaborative working, both regionally and

nationally, be more effective?

5. What is Historic England’s strategic role in respect of local authorities? How can Historic

England and the rest of the sector work together, post-Howell Redesdale report and the

Culture White paper, to sustain and develop local advisory services?

6. Statutory local authority services – is this a concept worth fighting for or is it a nonstarter?

Would improved definitions of services/standards/performance be beneficial?

Should these be linked to funding and in what way e.g. payment by results?

7. A plan for the future: what are our short and long term priorities for change?

o Are there lessons we can learn from recent experiences in England and

elsewhere?

o Are there changes we as a sector need to make to the way we do things? What

short-term/long-term strategies exist/need to be developed?

o Are there specific legislative and/or policy changes that we need to lobby for?

 

You can also read a detailed briefing paper giving the background to the discussion. https://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/21st-century%20Challenges%2C%20local%20advisory%20services%2C%20online%20discussion%204%20briefing%20papers.pdf

 

 

 

Dear HER Forum members

 

I’d like to make you aware of an online discussion coming up via the Historic England LinkedIn group which will be of interest to this forum.

 

New models for advisory services: potential future roles for local authority archaeology services and Historic England

 

Online discussion

20^th-21^st September 2017

 

 

The next online discussion in the 21^st-century Challenges for Archaeology series will take place on 20^th – 21^st September 2017 through the Historic England LinkedIn Group. Local authority Archaeology Services and Historic England teams between them deliver the information and advice that is essential for the protection and management of archaeological sites, structures and landscapes. At a time when all public sector budgets are reducing we will be talking about the future: what kind of services do we want, and how can we ensure their survival?

 

Further information about the online discussion, including background briefing papers, will be available through the CIfA website from the beginning of September at:

http://www.archaeologists.net/news

 

You can catch up on the three online discussions and workshops that have taken place so far at:

http://www.archaeologists.net/21st-century-challenges-archaeology

 

Comments on the recommendations from each workshop are invited (at time of posting currently the recommendations on the first topic- archaeological archives are available). Please send to them to Jan Wills ([log in to unmask]).

 

To join in the next online discussion you will need to be a member of the Historic England LinkedIn Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2545219

 

Kind regards

Robin

 

Robin Page

Digital Coordinator

Investigation and Analysis Department

Direct Dial: 01793 414617

Historic England | The Engine House | Fire Fly Avenue |Swindon |SN2 2EH

 

https://historicengland.org.uk/research/