Our Ref: FOI 3992

14 April 2010

Via email to [FOI #31500 email]

Dear Ms Trinder

Further to your request for information regarding:

Firstly, I'd like to know the types of conservation projects covered by the department.

Secondly, I'd like to know why the cutbacks are being made, especially in areas of significant importance such as conservation and education in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

Thirdly, I'd like to know why the conservation department faces possible closure. Is this because the work it does and the projects it deals with are considered outdated and no longer important in this day and age.

Lastly, I'd like to know what the council feels would happen to conservation projects, such as the recent work on the Jewellery Quarter, if the department were to be closed and what the council would put in it's place to ensure the future conservation of Birmingham and the surrounding areas wildlife, landscape and historic buildings if said department were gone.

Please see our response below:

Birmingham City Council does not have a single Conservation Department as such.

There are four areas of the City Council who deal with conservation work : where conservation work is carried out:

1. Historic Conservation of the Built Environment - this team are responsible for area based conservation orders, historic quarters - such as the Jewellery Quarter; and Archaeology. This sits within the Development Directorate.

2. Conservation of Social History - this team keep the documents and artefacts of past times and responsible for several historic houses; this sits with the Museums Service, within the Environment and Culture Directorate.

3. Nature Conservation, preservation, enhancement, management and promotion, is a service offered through the Parks Service, also within the Environment and Culture Directorate.

4. Nature Conservation protection through planning and legislative compliance, is a service that offers Ecological advice to planners and developers; this service sits within the Development Directorate.

In common with other local authorities, public sector organisations and the private sector, BCC faces challenging financial targets in 2010/11 budget pressures amounted to around £69m. As a consequence all parts of BCC have been reviewed to identify efficiencies.

In the case of the Museums service efficiencies will be delivered by reorganising and making better use of employees but front-line services to the public will be maintained including our historic buildings. We remain committed to preserving our heritage through this service as demonstrated by recent events relating to the Staffordshire Hoard.

The Parks Service will also deliver efficiency savings through restructuring its employees. The restructure will deliver services from 6 hub sites across the City providing more consistent services to a wider range of service users and benefiting from the use of new technology. Wildlife conservation, local biodiversity recording, monitoring and management and new responsibilities relating to climate change will be managed through this new structure.

Conservation of the Historic Environment

Types of conservation projects

The Conservation team in Planning Management is responsible for the management of the historic environment (consisting of heritage assets: archaeological remains, historic buildings and historic landscapes) in the context of development.

• It provides expert advice in pre-application discussions and in response to planning applications affecting heritage assets, listed building consent applications and conservation area consent applications.

• It also designates conservation areas, prepares conservation area character appraisals and management plans and contributes to policy formulation within the local development framework.

• It maintains the City Council's archaeological database and a local list, and puts forward structures for inclusion on the list.

• It advises other Council departments on the management of heritage assets such as Aston Hall, Weoley Castle and Sutton Park

• It attracts external funding for specific projects such as Townscape Heritage Initiative, Historic Landscape Characterisation and Lidar survey

Why cutbacks are being made

The economic recession has resulted in a fall in planning application fee income which has, in turn, resulted in a reduction in the budget of the Planning Management Division. As a consequence, a restructuring of the Division is being undertaken, to reflect the reduced budget.

Although the Council's budget report identified cost savings, including disbanding the Conservation team in Planning Management, no decisions have yet been made on cutbacks. Any decisions on restructuring would need to be subject to full consultation with staff and unions.

Why the conservation team faces possible closure

See above. The Council has a statutory duty in relation to dealing with applications for Listed Buildings, development in Conservation Areas, and protected trees. The intention would be to retain the necessary expertise to carry out these statutory duties.

What would happen to conservation projects if the conservation team were no longer in existence.

See above.

If you are not satisfied with the response you may ask for an internal review please contact the corporate team at the address below:

Corporate Information Governance Team

1st Floor, 1 Lancaster Circus

Birmingham

B4 7AB

or

[email address]

If subsequently you are not satisfied with the Council's decision you may apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at the following address:

The Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545745

Web Address: www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Corporate Information Governance Team

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Corporate Information Governance Team Telephone: 0121-303 4876

Governance Directorate Facsimile: 0121-675 1427

3^rd Floor, 1 Lancaster Circus

Birmingham B4 7DQ