LEGISLATION There has been a flurry of activity over the last few months wtih regard to legislation for conservation. The Environment Committee produced its report in February; the draft revision of Circular 23/77 appeared in January, and the final form has just been published. There has also been a Green Paper, The Future of Development Plans, which had implications for conservation policy. The Association of Conservation Officers has responded to all these with comments, criticisms or encouragement as appropriate- in 1 some cases despite very short consultation periods. Regional representatives were particularly efficient in responding to a call for comments on the draft circular. This is a brief summary of our involvement with the above matters. HOUSEOF COMMONCSOMMITTEEON THE ENVIRONMENT The Environment Committee published its report on Historic Buildings & Ancient Monuments, in three volumes, on February 18th (HMSO: HC 146 I-II-III: First Report from the Environment Committee 1986-87). There was broad agreement amongst those giving evidence, and the Committee's recommendations followed very ~losely many of the suggestions made by the ACO and other bodies. One of the main themes of the report was to acknowledge the value of tourism, and to say that English Heritage and others should give more attention to promotion. Another was the desirability of transferring nearly all the residual powers and duties of the DoE for the heritage to the HBMC(including listing, repairs notices, and LBC appeals procedures). With regard to financial matters, HBMC's resource,s should be increased; local authorities should be responsible for all grants in conservation areas other than for Grade 1 buildings; and the 'outstanding' criterion for grant should be dropped. Owners should be able to recoup 15% of repair and maintainance bills, either through the tax system or by grant, on all listed buildings. It is unfortunate that the HBMCunderspent by £9m in the year that it asked for £10m more .. the justification is that there were difficulties with a new office Page 13 structure & new computerised accounting ; there was no forward commitment to be taken on from the former GLC, and there were delays in spending money in Liverpool. The Environment Committee report is a worthwhile read -the oral evidence in particular being rich in quotable quotes. Well done, Environment Committee. We now await a government response. THE FUTUREOF DEVELOPMENPTLANS ACOresponded to the Green Paper, to say we still need statutory plans even if, understandably, they are simplified, clarified and expedited. However, both District Development Plans and Statements of County Policy (replacing Structure Plans) should include conservation policies. Conservation is good planning if it is conserving existing public investment - as well as historic buildings, some 2% of the building stock. For example, by 1988 there are likely to be 30 million rateable properties in the UK, but· current rate of increase (new development) is less than 1% per annum. The output of the construction industry in 1985 was 54% new development, but 46% repair and maintainance work, worth £12.9 billion a year to the economy. ACOwelcomed in principle the irlea of Rural Conservation Areas, but reserved its position in the absence of definitions and clarification of their role. CIRCULAR8/87 - HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATIONAREAS- POLICY & PROCEDURES STATUTORYINSTRUMENTS1987 No.349 The Town & Country Planning (Listed Buildings & Buildings in Conservation Areas) Regulations 1987 DoE TOWN & COUNTRYPLANNINGACT 1971 Current Wording of the Provisions Relating to Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas (HMSO£5.50) The Association of Conservation Officers responded at short notice to the Draft of what is now Circular 8/87, replacing Circulars 56/71, 23/77, 12/81. 8/84,
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