The Heritage Council Annual Report 2002

4. Local Authorities and Heritage
Management
The Heritage Officer Programme
County Heritage Officers are employed by Local Authorities in partnership with the
Heritage Council through the Heritage Officer Programme. The Programme has
developed from an initial intake of three County Heritage Officers in 1999 to
seventeen officers at the end of 2002 with further appointments pending.
The success of the programme is illustrated through its continuing expansion and by
the posts being filled on a permanent basis in several authorities. Under the provisions
of the Government’s National Heritage Plan each local authority should employ a
heritage officer. The Heritage Council and Local Authorities acknowledge the
propriety of employing Heritage Officers and consider the only obstacle to be
financial.
Heritage Officers manage the heritage function within a county in a strategic and coordinated
manner. They adopt an integrated approach to heritage, which envelopes all
aspects of heritage within the overall heritage service. They aim to promote enhanced
levels of understanding, conservation and preservation by improving the status and
perception of heritage in their local area. Heritage objectives are identified and
prioritised in Local Heritage Plans that are formally adopted by Local Authorities.
The Heritage Officer Function is determined in co-operation and consultation with
individual local authority preferences. Some of the principal areas addressed by
Heritage Officers include:
• Local Heritage Plans
• Advice and Information for Local Authority Staff
• Heritage Appraisal of Development Plans
• Data Collection
• Liaison
• Public Relations
• Public Consultations
• Strategies, Policies and Projects
• Promoting pride and raising awareness in heritage
The Heritage Council provides comprehensive training and networking opportunities
for Heritage Officers through the Heritage Training and Development Programme.
The HTDP is an essential support for Heritage Officers considering that Heritage
Officers have to date been stand-alone operators within their local authority. It is also
a major element in the incentive package for local authorities.
Local Authority Heritage Officers 2002