22nd December 2012, 01:09 AM
I attended the TAG session in question.....it was an interesting idea that approached the theme from a number of angles. Reaction from the audience was interesting. One suggestion regarding the proposed 'developer tax' was that it should actually be a tax on archaeological contractors rather than developers (presuming then the contractors would pass that on to the developers involved in projects with an archaeological component rather than all developers per se).
Paul also mentioned the Community Infrastructure Levy as an example of (in effect) a developer tax, but one to which, as it currently stands. archaeologists have no access. To my mind the problem with CIL or something similar is that it is based on square footage of the development and does not take into account the complexity or depth of stratigraphic deposits. This in effect could create a scenario where a deeply stratified, but relatively small footprint urban site got virtually nothing towards the cost of the archaeology, whereas a huge Tescos car-park on a relatively barren archaeological desert could be worth a fortune.
There was some consensus amongst the audience that inexperienced people had at times written ceramic reports. (Some people even owned up to the practice themselves!!)
It was also pointed out that Maureen Mellors 1994 study had been updated by the MPRG who were in consultaion with ALGAO about implementing her recommendations as policy in WSI, perhaps a more useful avenue than pursuing the IfA standards angle.
My question was on whether it was purely a matter of money and if any additional revenue raised would be better spent on recruiting additional development control officers to oversee and implement beefed up standards or on training and employing additional ceramic specialists....Paul answered that there wasn't necessarily a lack of the latter, but it was a question of the standard they were working too. To my mind that suggested it was actually an argument for 'adding value' to the current content of ceramic reports more than anything else.
Paul also mentioned the Community Infrastructure Levy as an example of (in effect) a developer tax, but one to which, as it currently stands. archaeologists have no access. To my mind the problem with CIL or something similar is that it is based on square footage of the development and does not take into account the complexity or depth of stratigraphic deposits. This in effect could create a scenario where a deeply stratified, but relatively small footprint urban site got virtually nothing towards the cost of the archaeology, whereas a huge Tescos car-park on a relatively barren archaeological desert could be worth a fortune.
There was some consensus amongst the audience that inexperienced people had at times written ceramic reports. (Some people even owned up to the practice themselves!!)
It was also pointed out that Maureen Mellors 1994 study had been updated by the MPRG who were in consultaion with ALGAO about implementing her recommendations as policy in WSI, perhaps a more useful avenue than pursuing the IfA standards angle.
My question was on whether it was purely a matter of money and if any additional revenue raised would be better spent on recruiting additional development control officers to oversee and implement beefed up standards or on training and employing additional ceramic specialists....Paul answered that there wasn't necessarily a lack of the latter, but it was a question of the standard they were working too. To my mind that suggested it was actually an argument for 'adding value' to the current content of ceramic reports more than anything else.
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...