Scotland's Historic Environment Audit

Where are we now and what are the next steps?

Up to 2007, Historic Scotland focused on delivering the Minister's requirement to take the audit forward in phases. It:

• established a Historic Environment Audit Stakeholder Advisory Group (HEASAG) to provide advice on the audit;
• liaised with English Heritage, Scottish Museums Council, Sport Scotland and the National Services for Archaeology in the Netherlands to learn from their experiences of auditing and to share methodologies;
• took forward a report to establish a better understanding of our historic environment, based on an analysis of existing information; and
• developed this dedicated audit website to present information about the audit.
  

In early 2008, Historic Scotland considered the results of this early audit work and, in consultation with HEASAG, drew together an  Audit Action Plan [256kb] for the period 2008-11. This Action Plan articulates to stakeholders how Historic Scotland intends to deliver statistical indicators and research for the historic environment, which have been identified as priorities through the audit process.

The audit process has identified a number of gaps in our knowledge about the historic environment. It has been agreed that the audit is well-placed to address those questions that can be answered by reporting fairly straightforward counts of information, while complex questions which require a more sophisticated assessment will instead be delivered by a separate programme of research.

The Audit Action Plan sets out in detail what we intend to achieve during the next 3 years. Please download a copy here or alternatively you can contact us to request a copy or further information.

How does the Scottish audit compare with audits in England and Wales?

English Heritage produce Heritage Counts in consultation with the Historic Environment Review Steering Group, which comprises a range of heritage organisations. Heritage Counts 2007 is the sixth annual survey of the state of England's historic environment. The reports (both national and regional) assess the extent and condition of all kinds of heritage, from buildings and monuments to wider landscapes and areas of historic character. The reports highlight key themes and present a series of indicators of change in the historic environment. Heritage Counts is the culmination of a number of years work by English Heritage involving gathering and analysing baseline data, establishing indicators and commissioning new research to fill evidence gaps. Further information about Heritage Counts can be found at www.english-heritage.org.uk/heritagecounts

The Welsh Assembly Government published its first state of the historic environment report in March 2007, The Welsh Historic Environment: Position Statement 2006. The focus of this first report was on historic environment activities undertaken by the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment bodies, however the aim is to widen the scope of future reports to cover the historic environment managed and owned by the private and voluntary sectors. The report can be found at www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

In Scotland, the audit is led by Historic Scotland and advised by a Historic Environment Audit Stakeholder Advisory Group (HEASAG). Historic Scotland is at an early stage in the process, identifying data availability and gaps and establishing indicators to assess trends over time. Details of what we intend to achieve, and how, over the next three years (2008-11) are set out in the Audit Action Plan [256kb]. We will continue to draw on the experience of the audits in England and Wales and, where appropriate, we will seek to develop and report comparable headline indicators.

How do we identify priorities?

Historic Scotland will continue to work with HEASAG to choose priorities according to where new evidence will be of most practical benefit to government and the historic environment sector as a whole. We will prioritise the gathering, analysis and dissemination of useable knowledge.

What reports are available and what do they cover?

The report A Review of Existing Information for Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (December 2007) can be downloaded from the Findings page.

This report is intended to fulfil the Ministerial instructions to gather available information and to identify gaps in the evidence base. It provides a useful early articulation of the baseline data we have gathered to date and the information gaps we have identified. It also presents a series of potential indicators for regular auditing and provides a useful basis for consultation with the sector. It does not, however, provide a comprehensive assessment of the state of Scotland’s historic environment.

We have now, in consultation with HEASAG, agreed a set of provisional indicators for the audit to focus on during the 2008-11 period. During 2008/9 we will gather baseline data for these indicators and publish on the website in 2009. We will then gather repeat data for the indicators every three years. The next report, comprising commentary and trend analysis, will therefore be published in 2011.

If you would like us to contact you when new data and reports are available please send us an email with 'Findings' as the subject.