contradictory decisions being made. It was argued that a good case could be made for delegation of the s4 and slO grant functions to regional offices. Too few guidelines were available, particularly in specification for repair (could not the new Commission now provide a manual?) The non-eligibility of new owners was also question-_ ed, since this tended to rule out many of the most deserving buildings. Possibly the offer of grant to a new owner should only be ruled out where excessive profit was being made. Considerable concern was expressed that there are areas in the country where there is no county team (Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire for example). Perhaps SAVE (and the HBMG?!) could help us lobby to get this remedied. As a corollary to this, the point was made that it is extremely difficult to establish in some areas whether even the statutory functions are being carried out. Most districts in Devon, for example, have never served a BPN. Consequently, there is little evaluation of.the effect of historic builq_ings law. ;l1he importance of perceiving conservation as an integral part of the planning function was stressed. Some districts had successfully established interdisciplinary working parties wi'thin departments so that, for example, the Building Control section was as closely involved as possible. Inevitably there were forebodings of the increased workloads like-ly with the publication of new and expanded lists following the accelerated re-survey. Surprisingly though, Chris Smith reported that in Avon there were comparatively few Grade III' s being upgraded because of the poor quality of alterations and extensions carried out in the past.~uch of the blame for this, it was generally agreed, was attributable to the high level of Housing Act grant available (with little apparent control ever sympathetic design or materials), compared to the level of conservation grant. :It was suggested that conservat ion staff could improve matters by providing specifications for the use of EHO's where existing materials were to be replaced; and that a useful job for AGOwould be to research some cost/life comparison figures, so that costs of maintenance and the likely life-span were taken into account as well as ini t:ial outlay. Figures published by the Historic Houses Association in this context had been rather misleading. Jenny Birkett HISTORIC GAID)ENSURVEY When it became clear that one of the first jobs the Commission was going to do was to compile a Register of Hist- -oric Parks and Gardens,there was general pleasure. That pleasure may be tainted by the discovery thatthe provisional registers are being produced so quickly that- they will depend,in the Commission's words, " .. on documentary research and reports or surveys (already) carried out in the counties." Ten provisional county registers are already in existence-they average less than twenty items per county.The next dozen or so are under preparation. So,if you have got a comprehensive, w~ll described list for your area, send it quickly to-Patience Trevor, HBMC,Room204,Fortress House,23,Savile Row,London. If not,you may find that the extent of your local register may depend on the number of Garden History Society members or the list,if any,already produced by the. Centre for the Con- -servation of Hfiitoric Parks. and Gardens at York. Meanwhile,p0nder the fact that the Register is to be graded.Presumably, Stourhead and Stoodley Royal (for example)will be Grade I-but will oniy Grades I and II* (or equivalent) get grants?What system of protection,if any,applies to gardens on the Register? This one will run and run-or grow and grow. Not everyone in the region has yet joined or even acknowledged the association.It is hoped that meet- -ings like the one in Bath,which -11-
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