A good piece on the broader as well as the specific management problems at Historic Scotland by Tim Cornwell in the Scotsman yesterday. He articulates clearly the concerns that the mission of guarding Scotland's archaeological and architectural heritage is being diluted along with dangerously swingeing budgetary cuts. As he writes:
Complaints over the shift in direction of the agency centre on a proposed new corporate plan, with a draft unveiled last year. Critics say it is a platitudinous document that doesn’t mention its mission to “protect” the built environment. The new watchwords are “sustainable economic growth”, and balanced development. Interesting to see how the final version ends up when its rolled out at the end of this month.
Certainly the draft plan makes for depressing reading. Anyone familiar with political doublespeak will break out into a cold sweat at this in the introduction:
We embark on this journey in a challenging economic climate, with a need to reduce public spending. This is a time therefore when we need to be at our most focused and creative.
In other words, 'kiss dreams you had of cash or any support goodbye'. You can read all the documents here.
What Cornwall also highlights are the clear management failings at Historic Scotland. As I mentioned last week, the losses of international heavyweights like Malcolm Cooper, former chief inspector; Deborah Mays, head of policy and research; Pat Connor, head of communications; Doreen Grove, head of understanding and access; and Peter Bromley, director of properties in care, should raise serious questions about the performance of Historic Scotland chief executive Ruth Parsons. In the private sector, the loss of such talent over 18 months would have shareholders baying for blood.
The public can at least expect some clarity on the rather unpleasant and much-covered charges of bullying at Historic Scotland. Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, lodged a question in parliament on February 2: "To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with trade unions representing Historic Scotland staff concerning allegations of bullying". An answer is expected from culture minister Fiona Hyslop in a couple of weeks. Watch this space.