C O N T E X T 1 0 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 9 45 with the new unified planning policy statement on the historic environment. And there are less orthodox strategies.We should not forget one potentially fruitful position previously explored by the IHBC, the imposition on (or adoption by) local authorities of a statutory duty of care for the historic environment. This might have many appealing features in government, once the initial shock of what would appear as more regulation is set aside. In principle, a duty of care, suitably framed, could be applied through more integrated corporate recognition of the importance of conservation. It would not necessarily require any additional resources where those processes could be explained and justified. The ultimate duty would be to provide informed, reasoned and balanced outcomes for historic places, pretty much what we expect from our members. A recent conclusion by the Local Government Ombudsman for England, that failure to manage the historic environment properly can amount to injustice, is more important now than ever before. It is an acknowledgement by the non-heritage world that effective conservation processes in planning are a human right. It is all very well reciting the principle from the high end of Council of Europe charters, but here we see it applied to a perfectly ordinary piece of planning. In the end, the key reforms in the bill remain even more urgent today, some 10 years after discussions on reform commenced. These must be a priority for the sector. The signs are not good. More recent figures from the joint IHBC English Heritage survey suggest around a seven per cent drop in local authority conservation service staffing across England between 2006 and 2008. With the recession already inspiring calls to ease controls on development (ignoring the fact that it was precisely the same de-regulatory environment that caused the fiscal mess for builders as well as bankers), it seems particularly injudicious to tout the same platitudes again. But, as the banks have also proven, the capacity of the powerful to do the wrong thing is limitless.We must be prepared. And surely even phased legislation is better than none. Seán O’Reilly, director@ihbc.org.uk Membership notes It’s subscription time again The following members were voted in at the council meeting on 4 December 2008.Welcome to you all. Full members Tom Foxall (SE) Upgrades from affiliates to full members Liz Bates (EM) Joanne McAuley (LO) Emma Nafzger (NW) Affiliate members Tina Andrew (WA) Gillian Bagshawe (EM) James Barnes (SE) Alfred Bateson (NW) Nicholas Baxter (SC) Victoria Brocksopp (YO) Adrian Browning (LO) James Buxton (LO) John Campbell (SE) John Carter (NO) Jessica Cook (LO) Angela Davison (EA) Nicola Davy (SW) Nicola Dyer (SO) David English (LO) Graham Fraser (SC) Steven Handforth (LO) Iain Harvey (SO) Kathryn Hay (SW) Karen Heverin (NW) David Hills (LO) Michael Hurlow (NO) Dale Ingram (LO) Kristian Kaminski (LO) Gemma Kidd (SW) James Lafferty (SC) Justine Langstaff (NW) James Laver (SW) James Lawrie (LO) Katherine Lowe (NW) Christopher Maylan (WA) David McDonald (SC) Rebecca Merrifield (EM) Constantin Moriss (SE) Annika Nickson (YO) Jennifer Nixon (SW) Sarah Perons (WA) Saara Saloranta (WM) Victoria Simon (LO) David Stones (SE) Michael Taylor(SO) KatherineWalton (SC) KevinWilliams (EA) RoryWilson (WA) Robert Workman (SO) MariaYioutani-Iacovides (NW) Associate Member Tarnia McAlester (EM) By now all IHBC members should have received a letter reminding you that subscriptions are due on 1 April. Those of you who pay by direct debit need do nothing more. For those who still pay by cheque, please remember to do so promptly (by the end of April). Once again, please may we encourage those of you without a direct debit to set one up? Every year we remove members for non-payment of fees. If you do not intend to continue membership, please let us know in writing at the time the subscriptions become due. Thank you to the many people who responded to the request last December for updated information. Our membership services officer, Devon DeCelles, maintains the database and will process your subscription payments. If you wish to update us with a change of address or workplace, or if you have a query regarding your subscription payment, please contact Devon at membershipadmin@ ihbc.org.uk (0131 558 1854). Jo Evans, membership@ihbc.org.uk
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