Review of Delivery of Welsh Assembly Government Objectives

In our project proposals for 2009—2010 we set out how these would amongst other things address certain Welsh Assembly Government objectives and in doing so benefit the populace of Southeast Wales. Following completion of the works we now review the success of the projects in addressing these issues.

The programme has allowed skilled graduate professional Historic Environment staff to be retained in Southeast Wales. The work carried out by these staff generates other archaeological and related employment whether by the Trust or other organisations. Thus for example advice given by the archaeological planning management service (3 staff) requiring applicants to provide additional information on the archaeological resource has meant that archaeological contractors have been commissioned by the applicants. Likewise conditions attached to planning consents requiring archaeological work to be undertaken during the development also required archaeologists to be engaged. It is difficult to calculate how many full and part time jobs were created or sustained by the planning process, but it is estimated that excavations and other investigations carried out by archaeological organisations, both large and small, across the region resulted in the generation of the equivalent of 20-40 full time jobs. Graduates, sometimes with further degrees or additional professional qualifications, hold the majority of these jobs.

Recording impacts of some of our works is not and may never be easy, and there is an absence of any meaningful longitudinal study data. Indeed to assess effectively the impact of much of our work would require the use of separate mechanisms to those available within the ambit, discrete cost, and time limits of project funding.

Such would be the case for our Ironworks project which has clear and important outcomes that support the delivery of all kinds of national and local objectives but measuring these in a meaningful way would need an extensive period of carefully designed and properly funded survey. However, for this completed major study we can observe that that it has fed into many of the WAG objectives, with data issuing from the project made available to inform strategic decision-making. The project has allowed authoritative statements to be made on the distinctiveness of the Southeast Wales Region in terms of its industrial heritage and landscapes, informing the Spatial Plan. The project has been re-shaped to link specifically to the Heads of the Valleys Initiative Area; informing players of the results to date of the project, the importance of the sites, and more particularly the landscapes including the many minor elements often-overlooked, without which integrity is reduced, and, how early study and incorporation of data into strategic planning can avoid later conflict, formed a distinct element in the programme.

This project has also enabled authoritative data to be produced for use by all kinds of parties in delivering the Strategic Principles and Vision (particularly visions 1 and 2) and assisting the Strategy for Action (notably Developing a Sense of Place, Cultural Signposting, and more particularly the South Wales Industrial Heritage Experience, Interpreting the Cultural Landscape), as set out in The Cultural Tourism Strategy. As the project helps to raise awareness of the distinctiveness of particular communities also it ties in to the WAG’s ‘The Welsh Historic Environment Towards a Strategic Statement: people and communities’ statement. The dissemination of the results of the project on the Trust’s web-site, production of bi-lingual information panels and accompanying leaflets fulfils the WAG Objectives ‘One Wales A Progressive Agenda for the Government of Wales’ aims of promoting and preserving the rich and diverse culture and heritage of Wales. In terms of ‘The Welsh Historic Environment Towards a Strategic Statement’ the dissemination also helps give distinction to particular communities. The disseminated work is also commensurate with many of the WAG’s specific Commitments, such as the Spatial Plan and the Cultural Tourism Strategy by developing, or indeed re-invigorating a sense of place.

At a smaller scale the work that we carried out to understand the Urban Character of Pontypool also feeds into many of the One Wales strategies, perhaps most significantly the Spatial Plan, the Pathways initiative and the Environment Strategy for Wales. Urban characterisation, in relation to the former, allowed authoritative statements to be made on the distinctiveness of the area, and in relation to the latter provides a tool to assist the implementation of measures to maintain and enhance the quality and diversity of the historic landscape and manage impact so that unique character and cultural features, including building stock are preserved.

For some areas of work whilst connections with high-level strategies are apparent measurement of total impact is more difficult given the consultation advisory communication pathways. This is particularly true for our Heritage Management services project. Certainly, the partnerships developed with national government and local government have contributed to the protection and understanding of more local heritage and could be said to contribute to the development of a ‘Strong and Confident Nation’, and it could be said that it assists the ‘Learning for Life’ agenda by supplying information on the historic environment to communities and individual members of the public, and assisting them to develop projects to research the history and archaeology of their areas and by imparting knowledge through booklets, lectures, exhibitions and web-based applications. The partnerships that we have developed with government bodies at local and national level, third sector organisations and private sector bodies can also be seen to be assisting in the delivery of objectives for ‘a prosperous society’. The Trust continued to provide heritage management information through the Tir Gofal scheme, and front-end data for its forthcoming replacement the Glastir scheme, both of which promote the conservation of the historic environment as part of supported agri-environment management. Similarly, the initial screening of Better Woodlands for Wales applications allows for the identification of those where heritage management information is required.

As well as providing opportunities to volunteers to experience archaeological exploration our community driven projects have provided a valuable introduction to archaeological fieldwork to students complementing their academic studies at university and providing them with new skills. By integrating professional staff, volunteers, students and academics through common interest cross-social strata bonding and synergies were enhanced. We have also supported post-graduate researchers and professional training and development initiatives.

For planning works measurement is clearer, thus in 2009—2010 there were 47 cases where additional information on the archaeological resource was required by the LPA, 369 planning consents issued with conditions requiring archaeological work to be undertaken during the development and 184 reports on archaeological work undertaken in the region were registered by the Historic Environment Record. Detailed advice on the impact of proposed development on the archaeological resource was given on 1362 applications. Whilst the overall caseload was down due to the effects of recession this was only fractionally so for planning condition consent preparation work and database assimilation. Our Archaeological Planning Management Service has been assisting all the Unitary Authorities in the Region with the development of their Local Development Plans ensuring that the historic environment is fully considered in the preparation of the LDPs and that an appropriate Strategic Environmental Assessment is carried out. The results of this work will not be fully recognised until the LDPs have been adopted.

In promoting a rich and diverse culture the Trust has started to contribute to raising awareness of the wealth of historic landscapes and archaeology in our area through the preparation of new exhibitions and these were delivered to 20 venues in our area. Copies of the exhibitions can be seen on the Trust website. The production of bi-lingual leaflets and mounting of other information on the Trust website fulfils the WAG Objectives ‘One Wales A Progressive Agenda for the Government of Wales’ through the dissemination of the projects results, which enhance to promote and preserve the rich and diverse culture and heritage of Wales. The projects disseminated are also commensurate with many of the WAG’s specific commitments, such as the Spatial Plan and the Cultural Tourism Strategy by developing, or indeed re-invigorating a sense of place.

Strategic Statement for the Historic Environment for Wales

The publication of the Strategic Statement for the Historic Environment for Wales with supporting action plans linked to the delivery of cross-sector objectives for the betterment of Wales and its inhabitants has allowed us to focus particular achievement reporting against the the declared statement aims. These are summarised in the following table.

Objectives Targets (where specified) GGAT Actions
A modern clear accountable and simple system of heritage protection Consultation responses on draft guidance for local planning authorities and other key interests on Historic Environment Records.
Consultation responses on draft Conservation Principles.
Involvement in stakeholder consultation on Wales Planning Review
Identification, recording and designation of heritage assets (as lead body with Cadw and other WATs) Establish a programme for the identification and the provision of protection for further medieval and later monument types of national importance by the end of 2010. Completion of assessment of outstanding classes of pre-Roman monuments to facilitate completion of the scheduling designation for all known prehistoric and Roman monuments of national importance by the end of 2012.
Continued support for the development of programmes of study to enable the designation of second world war sites.
Agreed methodology and established programmes for implementation in 2010—2011 of studies to assist the identification and protection for further medieval and later monument types.
Effective management and provision of access to historic environment records (as supporting body) Enhance the Historic Wales portal so that all electronic records relating to the historic environment are fully accessible to the public online Continued development of a common web-based management system for the Welsh (regional) Historic Environment Records – system tested, bug-fixed and rolled out across the Trust in 2009—2010 and in full use by the end of the year. System is web-browser interrogated and designed to be delivered across WEB 2 platforms. Work commenced in 2009—2010 on developing public user front end (Archwilio). Amongst other things this will include user feedback facilities and links into other historic environment records and cultural databases.
The Trust has continued to work with Cadw/RCAHMW/NMGW to ensure compatibility of digital Historic Environment Records and access through a common portal.
People with skills and understanding to conserve and regenerate heritage assets. People with the skills and understanding to make decisions about the historic environment The Trust accessed support to provide and delivered workplace learning for both UK and European schemes.
Opportunities for the third sector to volunteer at heritage sites have been developed (see Community Engagement and Participation below).
The Trust is a partner to CBAs bid to HLFs Skills for the Future resource to improve skills in delivering Community Archaeology programmes across the UK through workplace learning. The Trust as an IfA Registered Organisation is in the process of refining and enhancing organisation wide training plans to support delivery of improved professional CPD requirements.
The Trust has provided professional development training to others; eg CPD sessions to Unitary Authority Planning Staff.
Support has been given to the development of a third sector led heritage network.
Capturing Distinctiveness Support as contracted/grant-aided has been given towards the delivery of the initial programme of urban characterisation studies in the six spatial plan areas.
Tackle Heritage at Risk (as supporting body) Complete the establishment of a list of early medieval inscribed stones at risk and raise awareness through the establishment of a website by Summer 2010 Supported the development of the Glastir scheme through provision of information and advice regarding the management of heritage features and, with assistance from Cadw, defining management areas to secure the protection of historic environment features on agricultural land through the Glastir scheme.
Through the West Coast Palaeolandscapes project developing a management tool to provide information and advice to secure the protection of marine historic environment remains.
Provided Historic Environment data to support establishment of programme to monitor un-scheduled monuments on agricultural land.
The Trust contributed to establishing a list through representation on the National committee for the Recording and Protection of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture.
Sustainable development The Trust has provided and are continuing to provide strategic historic environment input into Local Development Plans helping to identify sustainable policies and appropriate land allocations.
Public participation and volunteering The Trust has widened public participation and volunteering actions. The Trust has developed the participation of volunteers working on a regular basis on various projects to improve its Historic Environment Record.
Public access to information and online services provision The Trust has developed public access to on-line HERs (see above) and made other data available through expanding its website.
Community engagement and participation (as supporting body) Promote opportunities for voluntary and community participation in research and ‘discovery’, for example, via Heritage Open Doors programme. Opportunities for the third sector to volunteer at heritage sites have been developed: the Trsut undertook a programme of investigative works at Oystermouth Castle using students for University of Swansea and volunteers form the local community under professional supervision; and with support from HLF carried out two small-scale community driven desk-based/field survey investigation projects (with public presentation as part of the end product) in two particularly deprived Communities First Areas, this had positive results. Work including measuring GLOs and SLOs. (See also Public Participation and volunteering above)
Extending understanding of the Welsh historic environment (as supporting bodies) Review and clarify priorities for the archaeological research framework by the end of 2010 A wide range of investigations, both grant aided and commercially funded, have been undertaken. These have covered all aspects and periods of Wales’ history and archaeology.
The Trust has contributed to the on-going review of the Welsh Archaeological Research Framework lead by IfA Wales/Cymru