26 ACO BUSINESS NEWS ACO COMMITTEE MEETING The ACO National Committee and the Regional Representatives, as listed on the Contents page of Context, meet four times a year. A brief note of the main issues discussed at the meeting on 3rd October 1989 is set out below. Contact your Regional Representative if you want to know more. Comments from members are always welcome, but are particularly invited from members with particular experience of any of the issues who can help the Committee with their work. 1 Conferences Edinburgh 29th March-1 st April 1990: see advance publicity with this issue of Context. 2 Consultations Most important on changes to listed building and conservation area legislation. For ACO response see page 25. 3 Building Preservation Trusts Last minute changes to the Local Government & Housing Bill as reported on page 24 (Reprieve for Charitable Trusts). 4 Recording of Buildings There is a need for guidance and standards in recording buildings. RCHM is drawing up its own guidelines. English Heritage is to publish a lexicon and is starting training. Shortage of suitable people available to carry out recording. 5 Education ACO is increasingly becoming involved in this important issue. Michael King is to represent ACO at the COT AC meeting in October, see report on this page. The shortage of recognised conservation courses is being looked at. RICS has set up its own course, the RIBA has formally established a working party and the RTPI is also considering the issue. In the meantime, some ACO regions are making contact with local CPD organisers and assisting with short courses. EDUCATION TRAINING FOR CONSERVATION Micky King reports on COTAC. A meeting of the Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC) took place at Fortress House on the 13th October at which ACO representation was welcomed by the COTAC chairman, Dr Vivian Lipman. Members representing many of the conservation courses reported a fall in the intake of students from the United Kingdom with a consequent _increase in students from abroad. This could have serious implications in future staffing levels and might help to explain the current lack of applicants for conservation posts. COTAC's aims and objectives were debated at some length and may be summarised as follows: 1) To encourage a general appreciation of the benefits of skilled conservation by ensuring that initial training courses for entry to the industry at all levels include a foundation course in history of architecture and town planning, an appreciation of the development of buildings and their related crafts and use of traditional materials. 2) To encourage the establishment of training courses for the further development of specialist skills at professional, technical, and craft levels. 3) To foster links between training centres involved in both formal training and practical conservation work in the UK and elsewhere. 4) To review the most appropriate means of monitoring training standards and specialist qualifications. 5) To encourage funding for the development of training courses and for the support of students in the study of architectural conservation and the associated craft skills. COTAC is also producing an upto-date list of UK training courses in building conservation and craft skills, and the Secretary would welcome details of any new courses. The Secretary, Richard Davies, cl o English Heritage, should also be contacted by any ACO members wishing to enquire about available courses. Two new courses are: The National Historical Building Crafts Institute Titanic Business Centre, Waterside South, Lincoln LN5 5JL This course has been formed to develop a parallel training to that which the ECTARC representative, Dr Schullmann, talked about to ACO members at the Welsh conference last year. At present the only training in conservation craft skills to European standards takes place at Fulda m Germany, at Avignon in France and at The European Architectural Heritage Centre in Venice. The NHBCI offers a craft scholarship to "those of practical ability, who can develop skills to become craftsmen and women". Details from Albert Roberts, Director, on Lincoln 534750. Rf CS Diploma in Building Conservation The RICS has a new course for the RICS Diploma in Building Conservation, at the College of Estate Management at Reading, tel: 0734 861101. This is a part-time course over two years. Being directly sponsored by the RI CS, one major disadvantage is that it is open only to Professional Associates or Fellows of the RICS. Since the COTAC meeting Micky King has made contact with The Council for Occupational Standards and Qualifications in Environmental Conservation, COSQUEC (see John Fidler's article in Context 23). ACO has been invited to send a representative to the next meeting. Any ACO member interested in training for conservation or wishing to raise issues connected with conservation education should contact John Fidler on 01-734 6010 or Micky King on 0695 424297. Useful addresses Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation: 25 Savile Row, London WlX 2BT. Secretary: Richard Davies RIBA. Council for Occupational Standards and Qualifications in Conservation: 43 Canning Street, Liverpool LS 7NN. Chairman Bob Pointing, UK 2000. CONTEXT24
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=