Mewmorandum submitted by the Association
of Local Government Archaeological Officers for Wales (ALGAO:Cymru)
THE ROLE
OF ALGAO:CYMRU
The Association of Local Government Archaeological
Officers for Wales (ALGAO:Cymru) is the national body representing
local government archaeology in Wales ALGAO:Cymru co-ordinates
the views of its members and presents them to Welsh Assembly Government,
Cadw and to other national organisations.
The range of interests of our members embraces
all aspects of the historic environment including archaeology,
buildings and the historic landscape. Of particular relevance
to the Draft Heritage Bill, ALGAO:Cymru members are responsible
for the management of all Historic Environment Records (HERs)
in Wales and for the management of the 95% of the archaeological
heritage that is not designated.
GENERAL COMMENT
ALGAO:Cymru welcomes and supports the Draft
Heritage Bill and its proposals to unify the system of heritage
designations and consents in Wales and to make the system more
open and accountable. The evidence presented here relates to key
issues of principle and policy that we wish to draw to the Committee's
attention in order to strengthen the implementation and benefits
of the reforms. In particular ALGAO:Cymru commends the submissions
made by The Archaeology Forum (TAF) with respect to Wales.
Given ALGAO:Cymru's member's existing responsibilities
for the delivery of Local Authority Historic Environment services
and in particular for the provision of Historic Environment Records
in Wales, we would be keen to work closely with the Welsh Assembly
Government and Cadw on the production of the items of specific
policy and guidance noted below.
THE NEED
FOR A
CLEAR VISION
FOR INTEGRATED
HERITAGE PROTECTION
IN WALES
The provisional nature of the Draft Heritage
Bill means that uncertainty remains over delivery of the reforms
and what these will mean to members on the ground in Wales. An
integrated vision for the future delivery of heritage protection
in Wales has yet to be articulated and we are concerned that,
given the legislative timetable, there will be few opportunities
to contribute its development before the Bill is put to parliament.
We await further advice concerning specific
arrangements envisaged for Wales, whether through secondary legislation
or guidance. ALGAO:Cymru are keen to work with Cadw and the Welsh
Assembly Government (WAG) in developing guidance documents building
on the current strengths of the historic environment sector in
Wales and developing practical and economically viable solutions
to the delivery of integrated Local Authority Historic Environment
Services.
ALGAO:Cymru would ask the that Committee requests
that the WAG and Cadw addresses the need for a new integrated
vision for heritage protection in Wales, and that appropriate
guidance be issued at the earliest opportunity.
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
RECORDS
ALGAO:Cymru welcome the proposals to make the
maintenance of Historic Environment Records a new statutory responsibility,
a measure we feel will be of benefit to the new heritage protection
system in Wales and also of benefit to the wider public who are
interested in their local heritage. We also support the draft
Guidance on Historic Environment Records, published by DCMS on
2 May. It is clear from this guidance that Historic Environment
Records will be fundamental to the delivery of the new measures.
However, in order that these measures are successfully implemented
in Wales, it is essential that clear guidance relating to the
position of Historic Environment Records in Wales within the framework
of the Draft Bill's proposals, be produced by WAG and/or Cadw
as soon as possible.
ALGAO:Cymru would request that the Committee
supports the provision to make the creation and maintenance of
Historic Environment Records in Wales, statutory, and asks that
the particular provisions for Wales be published as soon as possible.
FUNDING THE
ADDITIONAL COSTS
OF IMPLEMENTING
THE DRAFT
BILL
Whilst in England it has been recognised that
there will be an additional cost in delivering the proposed reforms
and there is a commitment from DCMS to address the funding gap,
the fact that there is no similar recognition in Wales is a cause
for concern. ALGAO:Cymru would urge that the Committee seek a
policy statement from WAG, on the resource implications of the
delivery of the new measures in Wales.
June 2008
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