Bedford Park Society Condemns Plan To Abolish Conservation Officer

Part of Ealing Council's budget-cutting proposals

The Bedford Park Society has joined with local conservation associations and Historic England to strongly condemn Ealing Council’s decision to abolish the Conservation Officer post as part of its budget cuts.

Despite concerted efforts to dissuade the Cabinet, the proposal has moved to the next stage and internal consultation with affected staff has now begun.

The Bedford Park Society submitted its objections pointing out the Bedford Park Conservation Area is shared with the London Borough of Hounslow, which currently has two conservation officers, with varying responsibilities. Until four years ago Ealing also had two conservation officers, who, though not both full time, were always kept busy with an endless flow of planning applications.

The Society also stated that it does not believe that the partial ‘training' of case officers can replace the qualification and experience of a Conservation Officer, especially when dealing with listed buildings. It also pointed out that there is the requirement under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 that Local Planning authorities have access to expert advice on the historic environment (and the Secretary of State can demand to see evidence of this), backed up by the National Planning Policy Framework Paragraphs 126 and 129.

Historic England, the national heritage body, expressed its serious disappointment with the proposal. They said that conservation officers are qualified heritage professionals who have developed expertise in their area of work. They also said that the Council’s suggestion that applications relating to heritage issues could be delegated to generic planning officers devalued the role of the Conservation Officer and the importance of heritage within the borough.

They added that the remit of Historic England is different from that of the local authority’s Conservation Officer and explained that Historic England is often not consulted on proposals affecting Grade II listed buildings or on many developments affecting conservation areas or the setting of heritage assets as this is a proper function of the local Conservation Officer.

Many of these heritage issues require specialist local knowledge and resourcing: it is not the role of Historic England to ‘cover’ for local authorities if, contrary to national heritage advice and guidance, they do not have the relevant specialist heritage expertise.

Ealing Council’s proposal was also criticised by Sir Donald Insall CBE, the eminent conservation architect and patron of the Bedford Park Society, who said that it would be a very great shame for so distinguished a London Borough to lose the specialist awareness and abilities which an in-team qualified Conservation Officer appointment so beneficially makes available. He said that while the financial constraints, which increasingly embarrass our Local Authorities, are well appreciated, there are very real economic advantages too in maintaining and enhancing high environmental and architectural standards.

Robert Gurd, Chairman of Ealing Civic Society, said that it was very disappointing that the Council sets so little store by its heritage and that the Society’s fight to overturn the decision would continue. He added: “We were very surprised that Cabinet did not take seriously the warnings of Historic England and of other distinguished experts in their field of the consequences of their decision to abolish the Conservation Officer post. We will be mounting a campaign to encourage local and national conservation bodies to lobby the Council to see the error of its ways so that the decision can be reversed."

In addition to the campaign, local councilors have been asked to arrange to “call in” the Cabinet decision for discussion in the hope of a reversal, and are asking that the Council find an alternative saving so the conservation post can be saved.

Anyone who would like to submit an objection should send it to Julian Bell, Labour Leader of the Council: julian.bell@ealing.gov.uk

The current Conservation Officer post is filled for only 2 days a week (i.e. just 40% of a single full-time post) compared with 2 full-time posts as recently as 4 years ago. Local societies consider considers that dealing with 29 conservation areas and 460 listed buildings in the Borough would justify at least one full-time post.

Historic England do not have the resources to become involved with planning applications for Grade II listed buildings, which they regard as being the responsibility of local authority conservation officers to advise on.

Buying in heritage expertise from an external consultancy is unlikely to provide advice comparable to the local knowledge of a conservation officer who has been steeped in the history of the area and with deep knowledge of its historic

The proposal was put forward by officers at its meeting on Tuesday 10 July, and is to move forward to the next stage of consultation with the trade unions.

An Ealing Council spokesman said, “We’re currently consulting with staff on a proposed restructure across our regeneration and housing directorate. The outcome of the consultation will inform final decisions. In relation to planning, the proposed restructure focuses on creating a more efficient team by moving away from specialist functions in planning to one where all planners have the skills and knowledge to assess applications and create policies.

“Ealing’s planning staff have heritage and design training and the necessary skills needed to assess the majority of applications from conservation areas or that relate to heritage matters. Where specialist heritage advice is needed, the applicant will be required to meet the costs of procuring independent consultancy advice. As required by planning legislation and policy, we will continue to consider heritage matters in all planning applications in conservation areas and for changes to listed and locally listed buildings. Where required, we’ll continue to consult Historic England, particularly on major changes to listed buildings."

August 1, 2018