44 C O N T E X T 1 0 9 : M A Y 2 0 0 9 Even so, one of the major challenges for the institute remains the aspiration to represent the complex inter-disciplinary activities that our membership encompasses, and that underpin successful historic environment conservation. To some, our constituency is too diverse to allow us to represent it effectively, and our integration of development and cultural interests too ambitious. Even when it is recognised that historic places need just such integration for their sustainable Membership notes Patrick Booth (LO) Andrew Bradley (LO) Alison Brooks-Baker (SC) Helen Cal-Fernandez (EA) Clive Dawson (SE) Sue Degnan (NO) Claire Edson (EM) David Evans (SO) Jane Fare (YO) Kristof Fatsar (OV) Carolina Filippini (LO) Jonathan Gotelee (SC) Jenepher Guard (WA) Anthony Hoyte (SE) Victoria Hubbard (SO) Paul Kerrigan (NI) Edward Kitchen (LO) Ellen Leslie (LO) Andrea Levin (SW) Tina Lloyd (WA) Catriona MacDonald (SC) Richard Majewicz (NO) Charles McCafferty (NI) Anthony McKay (SO) John Monaghan (NI) The following members were voted in at the council meeting on 12 March 2009.Welcome to you all. Full members John Bargh (NW) Helen Bower (EM) Upgrades from affiliates to full members Laura Davis (SW) Edward Freeman (YO) Lindsay Ann Lennie (SC) Sarah Oborn (SO) Andrew Ramshall (NW) Marc Timlin (LO) Georgia Tsakiri (NW) Katherine Bailey (WM) KristinaWilliamson (WM) John Van Laun (WM) Affiliate members Simon Algar (LO) Gordon Anderson (SC) Akua Attobrah (LO) Jennifer Austin (SC) care, some consider that our scale means that we can offer neither the stature of the architects and engineers, the reach of the surveyors, the generosity of the planners, the realism of the builders, the internationalism of the conservators, nor the focus of the archaeologists. Such interpretations reveal a limited understanding of the nature of our operations. In fact, our cultural ties to our members can bring us to the heart of policy issues in the same professional bodies, and government departments, that can provide most effective support for historic environment conservation. Yet the failure to perceive our strengths is serious. If policy makers cannot understand our processes or our aspirations, they can not take on board our advocacy. That has dangerous implications for conservation. For example, the investment by the national heritage agencies in local government archaeology does not have a correspondence in support for conservation officers, despite the ever-increasing reliance by central government on conservation in local planning authorities. Comparable support for conservation may be discouraged by perceptions of the extent to which such investment might add value, given the sheer scale of the planning services. It may be a problem arising in the IHBC’s own holistic structure, and its integration of private and public sector interests. Regardless of the reason, failure to invest in conservation planning is a disservice to the sector that is, ultimately, based on a perceived lack of value in such investment. In a world where professional and amenity bodies, as well as customer bodies such the Country Land and Business Association, all bemoan the lack of investment in the service, this is a fatal gap of investment by central government. The IHBC does not need a business plan to address this disparity.We will continue to respond to it, but we do need to make sure that our future planning is sufficiently robust to ensure that our charitable focus on historic places, and our members’ professional concerns for their conservation, are not so easily side-lined again. That is where our new business plan, and our members’ guidance, are so important. We are fortunate that, at a time of great change in the sector, we have the opportunity to plan ahead.We are asking members to pass on their thoughts about the institute’s future development to help us to shape our own business planning. Details are available on our website, www.ihbc.org.uk. Seán O’Reilly, [email protected] David Morgan (NW) Howard Morris (OV) Jonathan Mosse (WM) Andrew Mottram (WM) Alexander Munro (SC) James Nairn (NO) Lucy O’Reilly (LO) Robert Orr (SC) Alfred Plant (NW) Byrony Robinson (SC) Lucy Rodd (SO) Laura Stevens (SW) Michael Stokes (EM) Ann Vanner (NW) RosemarieWakelin (SE) TimothyWalder (LO) AlexandraWalters (WA) AlexWheldon (NW) AdamWilkinson (SC) BenWilliscroft (WM) Associate Members Thomas Griffin (SE)
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