Concordat between Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland HISTORIC SCOTLAND HISTORIC SCOTLAND (HS) is an Executive Agency within the Scottish Executive Education Department, Charged by Scottish Ministers with responsibility for safeguarding the historic environment and promoting its understanding and enjoyment. Historic Scotland is the executive arm of Scottish Ministers in relation to their statutory duties, powers and policies for the protection, management, interpretation and research into the historic environment. The Agency manages over 300 properties in the direct care of the Scottish Ministers. THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND (RCAHMS) is an executive non-departmental public body. It is the national body of survey and record of the historic environment (including all underwater structures and wrecks, within Scottish Territorial Waters) established by Royal Warrant in 1908 and last renewed in 1992. RCAHMS is sponsored by the Architecture Policy Unit, part of the Tourism, Culture and Sport Group of the Scottish Executive Education Department. RCAHMS is responsible for the survey of all aspects of the historic environment, archaeology and architecture from the earliest times to the present day. It curates and maintains its publicly available archive (the National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS), which is the product of its own activity as well as the collection of all relevant material relating to the development and investigation of the historic environment in Scotland. It supports this archive of photographs, drawings and documents by the maintenance of a specialist library. AIMS HS and RCAHMS are committed to working together where it is appropriate to do so to further mutual objectives and for public benefit. This document provides a partnership framework between the two organisations and commits them to work together to: • preserve, survey, record and assist the public understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the historic environment; • promote public access to the sites, the information and the collections and archive that they control; • increase the use of these resources through formal and informal education and life-long learning; • ensure that the skills and experience of Historic Scotland and RCAHMS are mutually recognised and used in partnership wherever possible. Both organisations have considerable expertise, skill and experience in identifying, and interpreting the historic environment. RCAHMS’ special expertise primarily in surveying, analysing and recording the historic environment and in the maintenance and in the maintenance and development of the national archive and database, the National Monuments Record. Historic Scotland’s special expertise lies in evaluating, protecting, managing, conserving, interpreting and presenting the historic environment. • identify and pursue projects and policies that are of joint interest and where joint involvement would produce greater benefits for the public, and • develop approaches to the historic environment that respect each other’s needs and allow for all aspects of each other’s work to be pursued to maximum effect. LIAISON TO ACHIEVE THESE AIMS HS and RCAHMS will cooperate to ensure that all approaches to the historic environment are fully considered and, to reconcile any conflicts of interest. The two organisations will: • meet annually at Chief Executive level to discuss key issues of mutual interest; • seek opportunities to work in partnership whenever it is in the public interest to do so; • discuss consultation documents where there is a direct and mutual interest before completing their responses; and • keep each other informed of meetings, seminars and other events likely to be of mutual interest. SURVEY MATTERS HS and RCAHMS will operate in matters of survey of the built environment in a spirit of mutual support. They will: • inform each other at the planning stage of significant survey projects for all archaeological and architectural surveys (field, aerial and desk-based), • ensure that, as far as possible, the survey specifications for work undertaken are compatible with each other’s requirements; and • work together on the development of standards and procedures for the survey and recording of archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscapes. ADVICE HS and RCAHMS will continue to offer advice to the public according to their own expertise and will encourage the public to use the resources of both bodies. • HS will work to ensure the protection and preservation of the historic environment through the use of legislation, advice and grants. • RCAHMS will provide information to the general public and commercial concerns on sites of archaeological, historical and architectural interest. It will not give advice on the evaluation, preservation, conservation or management of such sites but will refer requests for such information to HS or other bodies such as local authority archaeologists, the National Trust for Scotland etc. • HS will encourage the public to make use of RCAHMS’ resources. INTERPRETATION, EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT HS and RCAHMS will seek to support each other’s educational and outreach initiatives. They will: • exchange copies of each other’s publications when they are produced and co-operate on joint publications where suitable opportunities arise; • seek opportunities to integrate and enhance their respective aims and objectives in developing education and outreach policies; and • seek to promote each other’s outreach products and services where it is feasible and logical to do so. RESEARCH HS and RCAHMS will cooperate in research initiatives of mutual interest. They will: • work together on research into key issues of mutual interest; • seek to ensure that each is aware of research that is of mutual interest; • alert each other to proposals of mutual interest which have the potential to be coordinated, managed or researched jointly; and • ensure that suitable arrangements for access to each other’s photographic (and other categories of) records are in place. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY HS and RCAHMS will cooperate on ICT development where it is in the public interest and of cost benefit to do so. They will: • continue to cooperate and coordinate activity in their information and communication systems to obtain additional public and cost benefits, economies of scale and mutual support; and • continue to work to improve public access to information of all kinds – e.g. textual, cartographic and in the form of images – in a manner that is mutually consistent and supportive. PERSONNEL AND TRAINING Both organisations will seek to keep each other informed of training opportunities that may be of interest to the other organisation and undertake to make joint arrangements where these would be of benefit.