RCAHMS Review Update
8 March 2012
In November 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, commissioned Historic Scotland to undertake a strategic options appraisal on the future of RCAHMS. This review is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012. Here is an update from Michael Proctor, programme manager of the options appraisal, on the progress so far.
Stakeholder workshop
On 8 February, the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) organised a workshop on the review. Over 40 key stakeholders from the heritage and built environment sector attended and participated in workshop discussions with electronic voting on a number of key issues. You can download a summary report and full report on the event from this page.
Online Questionnaire
81 of you completed an online questionnaire on the review. The responses of this and the stakeholder workshop, which posed similar questions, are invaluable in informing the review process. You can download a summary of the responses to the questionnaire from this page. The review team would like to thank everyone who has given us your contributions and thoughts. They will all help to shape the final decision.
Interviews
Over 50 individual and small group interviews have been held with RCAHMS and Historic Scotland staff, Commissioners and key external stakeholders. These, alongside written contributions and the outputs from the stakeholder workshop and online questionnaire, have been used to create a picture of how the organisation operates currently.
Current Operating Model
The Steering Group is in the process of agreeing a baseline of how things work at present, which has been shaped by a range of evidence, including the contributions received from stakeholders. This will be used as a means to assess a range of options, including the option of doing nothing, and identifying what changes might be desirable as well as what we want to leave unchanged.
Finance review
Independent financial advisors have been commissioned to undertake a financial analysis. Their report is currently at the drafting stage and is expected to be finalised soon.
Strategic workshops
The first of three strategic workshops was held on 21 February and considered the draft Current Operating Model and gave initial consideration to the benefits and risks. Further workshops are planned in March and April.
Next steps
All of the information gathered so far is now being pulled together to quantify the benefits that we would like to see delivered by the review, as well as the risks associated with any change. These will be used to assess a number of options, with a view to making a recommendation to Ministers in the spring.
Final contributions
Written contributions can still be made to the review inbox rcahmsreview@scotland.gsi.gov.uk until the end of March 2012.
