First Meeting of Heritage Council

On 3 May 2018, a new cross-government, cross-sector Heritage Council met for the first time.

The Council aims to facilitate the cooperative implementation of heritage policy in England by linking the heritage sector with all government departments, which impact on heritage.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism Michael Ellis chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives from nine government departments, including DCMS, BEIS, DEFRA and MHCLG.

The sector was represented by Historic England, Historic Houses, National Trust, Natural England, HLF and The Heritage Alliance. A close relationship with the Historic Environment Forum (HEF) will ensure that the Council has access to an even wider range of sector expertise.

Actions to emerge from the first meeting included a mapping exercise to be undertaken by DCMS to identify upcoming policy developments. The following topics have been proposed for discussion at future meetings:

• Fiscal measures for heritage
• Heritage and soft power
• Brexit
• Update on NPPF and housing
• Disposal of assets

Icon Chief Executive Alison Richmond welcomed the Council: “It is fantastic to see this Council come into being. We welcomed the idea back when it was first announced in the Heritage Statement and I am pleased to be reading the minutes of the first meeting just months later. We look forward to having Icon’s voice heard at the table through our continued membership of The Heritage Alliance and recent inclusion in the HEF.” 

Read Icon’s response to the Heritage Statement here.

----

Image: Creative Commons