News Release

A message from Liz Burns, Chair of HEACS

HEACS to complete its current work programme

Friends and colleagues will know that at the end of January the First Minister announced the Government's decision to abolish all advisory councils during the course of this Parliament, including the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS).

At a subsequent meeting with Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, the Minister asked HEACS to continue in being until the end of its current term (end of May 2009) and to complete its current work programme.

Council met on 14 March and reaffirmed its commitment to the important topics on which Scottish Ministers have requested Council's advice:

• The economic impact of the historic environment in Scotland;
• The infrastructure of the historic environment;
• The long-term conservation of Scotland's ecclesiastical heritage; and
• Strategies for engaging young adults in the historic environment.

Given the Minister's request, Council has agreed to complete its current work. We aim to submit the final four reports to the Minister by the end of December 2008. This is a challenging timetable, but it will allow the Minister to consider and respond to the reports in early 2009 while the Council continues in being.

Council has also decided to hold a final conference in Edinburgh in May 2009 to discuss the results of Council's work and to provide an opportunity for the wider sector to look forward and outline its vision for the future.

During 2008 Council will continue to hold its meetings around the country and meet people active in the historic environment (in Inverness, Edinburgh and Perth). Council will undertake a Study Tour of Caithness in June to inform work on the four core topics, and there will be a Public Meeting in Edinburgh in September. The Annual Report for 2007-2008 will be laid before Parliament prior to the Public Meeting; and a closing Report will be presented at the conference in May 2009.

On behalf of all HEACS members, I would like to thank all our friends and colleagues in the sector for the very generous and efficient support we have received throughout our work in the past. We hope that we can continue to count on your support through the next year or so while we complete the work in hand.

Liz Burns CMG OBE
Chair of HEACS