2007 Yearbook

INSTITUTE OF HISTORIC BUILDING CONSERVATION YEARBOOK 2007 18 I N R E V I E W or planning. Creating common ground across the traditional professions is both our duty and our challenge, for this lies at the heart of conservation. In this ambition, our greatest strength is the IHBC’s multi-disciplinary character. The adjective ‘multi-disciplinary’ is generally used to convey the wide spectrum of specialist skills required to secure the best conservation. However, as our chair writes in his introduction to this Yearbook, and as our features on affiliates indicate, we must recognise, and support the full spectrum of specialisms that secure successful conservation, including those related to historical, scientific or project management operations. The institute’s developing business plan recognises the challenges we have here. It also provides the framework for how we will move forward over the coming years, in particular until 2010. At its heart the plan identifies the intrinsic charitable aspirations of the IHBC as helping people by promoting best practice in the conservation of our historic places. But its formal purpose is to define our corporate agenda until 2010 and after, guiding and framing decisions by council. Like the national office, which has bases as far a field as Edinburgh, Lincolnshire, Devon and Kent, the institute as a whole is a dispersed, devolved and diversified operation. Our business plan looks to building on the strengths that such a business model brings: low cost base; flexible infrastructure; strong democratic base; benefits from empowering volunteers, among others, all traits many large businesses can only aspire to. The plan also addresses the challenges this model brings, in communication, co-ordination and, not least, perceptions. A summary draft will be posted on the web from early in 2007 for comment and observation, and branches and members will be encouraged to contribute. Looking for links we can build with other like-minded bodies (or like-minded individuals in bodies that need to work on their ‘like- mindedness’) is a key part of our strategy in the business plan. Links and partnerships enhance capacity, build understanding, secure efficiencies and consolidate strategic thinking. The importance of this approach cannot be underestimated. As founder member, treasurer, and author of the first draft of the business plan for Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), the link body for all NGOs in the sector there, your director has specific credentials in this area. Urban Design Alliance (UDAL) is another cross-sector platform, and we’ve been working hard in 2006 to reform its base under a new secretariat generously provided by the Institution of Civil Engineers. In 2007, with our president as chair of UDAL, we’ll be leading on a new business plan and re-launch. Similarly we have had discussions on how we might build capacity and practical partnership programmes with bodies such as the Institute of Field Archaeologists, and we have explored the professional assessment procedures in the Institute of Conservation (Icon), enhanced our links with the ‘Edinburgh Group’ of professional bodies working on accreditation, and built a service agreement with the Urban Design Group. All these initiatives reflect the strategic sector-spanning view that we contribute to and, as required, lead. So for the future, how are we going to mark out the new challenges? Well, in our 10th anniversary year, we hope to end with a bang in December, with an event that will reflect our current ambitions. We’ve yet to decide what precisely this will be (a consequence of our devolved operations rather than lack of interest), but it will reflect both our debt to past contributions and our hopes for future professionals, partnerships and places. The work on our annual school in Liverpool’s St George’s Hall in June, organised by the North West branch, will recognise the anniversary in its own way, alongside providing the usual high quality education. Booking early is strongly advised. Also we’ll start a formal circuit by council to the major devolved and regional capitals, one each year, beginning with Edinburgh in September, supported by Historic Scotland and Architecture and Design Scotland. Key council members will contribute to a conference there at the same time. As ever, clearly we never miss an opportunity to get best value from our members. It will be a busy year, but one in which our members will register fully the step-change that has taken place in the IHBC since investing in its national office. Seán O’Reilly, director@ihbc.org.uk Liverpool, home to the IHBC Annual School 2007, 14–16 June. For details see page 12. (Photo: Rachel Doyle)