IfA news

The 2013 Annual Report in now available on the website on the About IfA page. 2012/13 has been a busy year for the Institute in terms of driving forward our Strategic plan objectives, as well as responding to more immediate matters such as proposed changes to legislation and continued cuts to archaeological services. This Annual Report highlights some of the key activities we have been involved in over the past year, and also includes reports from all our Area and Special Interest Groups.

IfA welcomes and strongly supports the publication of an ‘overarching strategy for the protection and promotion of the historic environment’ in Scotland (Ministerial Statement, page 4). The Institute endorses the aim to provide ‘ambition and direction for Scotland’s historic environment’ (Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland, Ministerial Statement, page 4) and recognises the importance of obtaining the sector’s ‘buy in’. Nevertheless, it is important that the strategy is a Government strategy and one of its strengths should be that it operates across Government.

IfA has recently updated our Policy statements to include the use of training posts on archaeological projects. Other statements have also been amended in line with new Standards and guidance and amendments to the Code of conduct.

We recommend all IfA members and Registered Organisations have a look through the updated document and make it available to colleagues.

The document, which can be found here, includes the following Policy Statements

IfA has provided a selective response to this consultation, emphasising the contribution of the historic environment to public life and the role archaeology can play.

Read the full response here

IfA has expressed grave concerns to Scottish Government about the new draft SPP, which shifts the emphasis firmly towards economic growth, potentially at the expense of sustainability - including archaeology and the historic environment. In addition to answering the consultation questions, Tim Howard has provided detailed recommendations to redress the balance.

Read the full response here

IfA has written to Defra expressing its concerns about priorities in the New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS), which could lead to the downgrading or abandonment of historic environment objectives in future agri-environment provision. Read the full letter here

IfA has responded to the consultation on the draft Scottish Historic Environment Data strategy, calling for a clear commitment to IfA Standards and accreditation and recognition to the desirability of placing local authority HER services on a statutory footing. Read the full response here

IfA has written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about its concerns following news of DCMS settlement with Treasury in the 2015-16 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Read IfA's letter to Maria Miller

We are pleased to inform members that IfA has been invited to proceed to the next stage in the process of applying for a Royal Charter of Incorporation by submitting a formal Petition to the Privy Council.

In order for us to submit this application, Council will be taking a formal resolution to the 2013 AGM in October asking members to vote on the proposed Petition and revised proposed charter and by-laws. These will be prepared by our legal advisors and released on the website following the August Council meeting for members to read and consider.

It’s not the first time IfA have been mentioned in the Private Eye, but the latest edition (Issue 1337, 18 April) has given about 3 inches of copy to the recent decisions regarding IfA salary minima and the absolute requirement of IfA Registered Organisations to meet them. The article is a supportive one, and though some of the points on policy are misleading, it is interesting to see some joining up of the dots with regards to the current challenges facing heritage professionals.