WEST of SCOTLAND
ARCHAEOLOGYSERVICE
Annual Report of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service
2012/13
SummaryThis annual report covers the period from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.
During the report period the West of Scotland Archaeology Service dealt with 1963 new
casework items, 161 more than in the previous year. This 9% increase builds on more modest
growth in each of the last two years, but once again exhibits variation in the type of casework.
Monitoring of the weekly lists of planning applications received from the eleven Councils andfrom the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority constituted 605 of the newwork items. The lists were monitored to identify applications raising potential archaeologicalissues where these had neither been flagged up nor fully dealt with at the pre-application
stage. From the weekly lists, and through direct referrals from our planning officer colleagues,
833 new planning applications were identified as potentially raising archaeological issues, anda further 525 other items of new casework were also dealt with or initiated.
New Casework 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013
Council Area
Total New Casework
Items
Argyll & Bute
523
East Ayrshire
153
East Renfrewshire
92
Glasgow
119
Inverclyde
77
North Ayrshire
127
Renfrewshire
83
South Ayrshire
168
South Lanarkshire
234
West Dunbartonshire
74
West Lothian151
National Park Authority
158
General/Multi-Council
4
Total
1963

Weekly lists

Planning Applications

Other

51
50
49
50
54
51
49
49
52
52
48
50

244
51
32
39
15
45
28
94
134
14
83
54

605

833

228
52
11
30
8
31
6
25
48
8
20
54
4
525

The number of new planning applications identified as potentially raising archaeologicalissues was 833, a decrease of 6.5% compared with the previous year, but within the range ofvariation shown in recent years. Despite this small drop in overall numbers of applications
identified for assessment by the Service, the proportion which proved to raise archaeologicalissues (40%) was higher than in previous years, meaning that the overall numbers requiringarchaeological intervention (332) remained fairly static.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

1Summary Table of Planning Applications 2008-2013
Nos. Identified for Comment
08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12
248
301
327
316
Argyll & Bute
78
82
60
65
East Ayrshire
28
29
15
29
East Renfrewshire
73
51
35
40
Glasgow
98818Inverclyde
58
53
46
44
North Ayrshire
52---North Lanarkshire
34
50
23
30
Renfrewshire
83
69
54
56
South Ayrshire
165
114
102
136
South Lanarkshire
40
34
31
6
West Dunbartonshire
67
76
98
96
West Lothian
21
14
19
55
National Park
Total
956
881
818
891

12/13
244
51
32
39
15
45
-28
94
134
14
83
54
833

Nos. Raising Archaeological Issues
08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13
76
97
82
81
80
26
32
28
32
25
12
12
6
14
8
23
13
14
10
10
3
4
2
4
9
28
19
23
24
22
15
----10
20
12
17
9
25
35
20
31
36
46
50
56
63
65
10
11
7
3
8
28
29
42
34
33
4
4
6
24
27
306
326
296
337
332

In addition to casework items generated from weekly lists and planning applications, a further
525 items of other new work were initiated in the report period, an increase of 62% (see tablebelow, figures for previous year in brackets).
Pre-planning application enquiries
Development Plan consultations
Permitted development enquiries
SRDP audits and other agri-environment matters
Other Archaeological Consultations
Historic Environment Record information management matters
General or SMR enquiries
Policy liaison matters
Other (includes items sent in error)
Total

215 (137)
5 (10)
30 (28)120 (71)
15 (13)119 (58)
19
(5)
1
(1)
1
(1)
525 (324)

This is the third successive year that this category of work has increased in numbers, withsharp upward trends in pre-application enquiries, agri-environment audits, and Historic
Environment Record data management matters. Of these, the most significant is the rise in
pre-application enquiries, which appears to show an increasingly positive response to recentchanges to the planning system, where developers are encouraged to identify potential issues,and to deal with them where possible, before making an application for planning consent.
Such pre-application engagement with the Service allows potential issues to be raised at an
earlier stage, meaning that the developer can identify possible time delays and costs well inadvance, and can address them before submitting an application. This in turn speeds up theapplication processing timetable, and can simplify the requirement for archaeologicalconditions.
In addition to these items of new casework, work was also carried out during the report period
on a further 289 casework items which had been initiated in previous years. These caseworkitems largely involve advising on the appropriate scale of fieldwork and reporting required tosatisfy conditions on consents which have been granted in previous years, and monitoringsuch work when it is carried out by commercial archaeological organisations. This category ofwork for the Service had increased by 20% compared to the last reporting period, and some of
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

2

this increase may reflect greater commercial activity on “stalled” sites which had previously
been granted conditional planning consent.
Work to digitise older paper-based casework file documents and incorporate these records
into the Service’s computerised Consultations database was able to re-start with the assistanceof a part-time volunteer. This backlog data entry work had halted in 2010 at the end of thecontract of the Service’s former part-time administrative assistant. The file backlog for the1998 calendar year, and approximately half of 1999 was scanned and cross-referenced within
the Consultations database, and corrected and enhanced entries were made on a further 183
backlog planning application casework files which had previously been entered only as basic“skeleton records”.
In the report period 409 new site records were added to the Sites and Monuments Record
database. Amendments or additions were made to 781 existing site records, and 204
archaeological events records were added. A total of 265 archive records (index to reports
received by the Service in paper and digital formats) were created. There were 159 recorded
archaeological events (excavations, surveys, watching briefs, desk based assessments etc)
during the report period.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

3

1

Running the Service

1.1

The Service's Steering Group met twice during the year to consider various matters inconnection with the running of the Service. The Service’s Joint Committee met on 12
April 2012 and on 24 January 2013.

1.2

A surplus balance in the Service's reserve account of £121,840 was achieved at year
end (see Appendix 2). The accumulated surplus was slightly greater than had been
projected, due to a slight increase in external income and the cumulative effects ofmodest savings in expenditure on travel and subsistence, printing and stationery, andIT equipment purchase and maintenance.

1.3

The level of external income to the Service over the report period was broadly as
predicted. Officer time spent representing ALGAO:Scotland (Association of Local
Government Archaeology Officers) at meetings discussing the review of national
historic environment policy resulted in a reimbursement of £1,198 to the Service.
There was a modest increase in income from grant-aid administered by Historic
Scotland for advice provided to the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
The Service received £5,204 in 2012-13 for the provision of archaeological advice toagricultural and forestry agents. Income from fees and charges made for the provisionof mediated archaeological information and advice to commercial organizations fellslightly from the previous year’s high level during the reporting period. The Service’s
hourly fee charge for the report period remained at £70 plus VAT.

1.4

The slight fall in the total number of planning applications which were flagged up
from our monitoring of the weekly lists and through direct referrals from our planning
officer colleagues when compared to the previous year’s increased figures is notthought to be significant. Such variation has been seen in the past and tends to averageout over a period. In addition, the number of applications which were assessed asraising archaeological issues in the current reporting period was very similar to the lastyear’s figure. Of greater significance is the rise in pre-application planning enquiries,
particularly those from developers of middle-to-large scale projects, who appear tohave acted upon the recent changes to the planning system, where developers areencouraged to identify potential issues, and to deal with them where possible, before
making an application for planning consent. Such pre-application engagement with theArchaeology Service allows potential issues to be raised at an earlier stage, meaningthat the developer can identify possible time delays and costs well in advance, and canaddress them before submitting an application. This in turn speeds up the application
processing timetable, and can simplify or negate the requirement for archaeologicalconditions. While this is advantageous to the developer, it also benefits the planning
authority by reducing the time spent rehearsing arguments after an application islodged. However, the scale of workload generated by this early engagement in preapplication enquiries is greater than that experienced in the past, and the contributionof the Archaeology Service staff to resolving the issues before an application is lodged
may not always be apparent to our clients.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

4

1.5

While the Service has continued to make extensive use of the Councils’ e-planningsystems for checking and responding to planning applications in a more cost–effective
and time-efficient fashion, the increased workload experienced in the reporting period,
and the lower staff levels since restructuring has meant that it is more challenging tomeet current performance indicators. While baseline performance figures have
dropped, some of this is a result of the Service staff trying to manage requested
response times more effectively. Where the planning authority wishes a response on acomplex case, such as a windfarm, a self-imposed 21-day response deadline is likely
to be unrealistically and unnecessarily short. Staff have been attempting to agree more
appropriate response deadlines which still match the clients’ time requirements, but
may not conform to the existing Service performance indicators.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

5

2Historic Environment Record Maintenance and Development

2.1

Following discussions within the Association of Local Authority Archaeological
Officers and with other agencies regarding consistency in the terminology used in theheritage sector, and with the agreement of the Joint Committee, it was decided torename the Service’s Sites and Monuments Record the West of Scotland Archaeology
Service Historic Environment Record (HER). The term “Historic Environment Record“ and the acronym “HER” have gained currency recently, particularly in England andWales, and serve to differentiate records with a primary purpose as Local Authority
cultural heritage management tools from other records. In addition, with the advent ofmarine planning, the acronym “SMR” is likely to become more used by central
government and other agencies to describe the newly established Scottish Marine
Regions. Alterations to the current print and online templates for the various West of
Scotland Archaeology Service information sources are being implemented inaccordance with the decision to rename the Record.

2.2

During the report period 409 new site records were added to the Historic Environment
Record database, 781 existing site records were amended, 204 archaeological events
records were added, and 265 archive records were created (index to reports received
by the Service in paper and digital formats). This was a further substantial increase in
Historic Environment Record enhancement work. In addition to these core activities
undertaken by the Historic Environment Record Officer, additional work has been
carried out on an unpaid basis by a volunteer with archaeological knowledge. During
the reporting period the Service benefitted from 30 man-days assistance for Historic
Environment Record tasks.

2.3

The Service’s web site (http://www.wosas.net) was updated over the report periodwith a further 29 news items from throughout the WoSAS area, and with monthly
updates of Historic Environment Record data. During the same period, there weremore than 570,000 “hits” to the Service website.

2.4

The Service’s Historic Environment Record map search has been made available
online through the assistance of South Ayrshire Council’s ICT team. Further
development of these online resources have been made available to the public, andthrough the continuing assistance of South Ayrshire Council, the map search facility
continues to develop incrementally to maintain its efficiency and user-friendliness in a
rapidly changing online environment. Feedback from users of all levels continues to bepositive. The map search allows members of the public and agents working fordevelopers to obtain their own desk based information free of charge. While it wasrecognized that the introduction of the map search facility might have an adverse
effect on the number of chargeable requests for extracts of digital data fromarchaeological consultants, this seems not to have occurred. The efficient provision ofvery large amounts of Historic Environment Record data in an easily manipulated
format would appear to be worth a premium to consultants preparing large scale
Environmental Assessments. Previous Service reports reported a decrease in requests
for digital extracts during the period before 2008 to 2010, but the number of such
requests has broadly stabilised over a three-year period. It now seems most likely thatthe decrease in requests for digital data was the result of the economic downturn and
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

6the recession rather than because of the free availability of unstructured online Historic
Environment Record data.
2.5

During the report period, two research students and three amateur archaeology groups
requested Historic Environment Record data for academic research or survey project
purposes. The Service provided data and assistance in kind and free of charge, inreturn for a commitment from the enquirers to provide a copy of any resultant
information to the Historic Environment Record.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

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3

Advice to Argyll and Bute Council

3.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.

3.2

3.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 244 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
Despite a moderate fall in the number of applications potentially raisingarchaeological issues when compared to the previous year, Argyll and Bute Council
remained the largest Council user of the development management advice service over
the report period.
The 244 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Avoidance/protection within or to side of development
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

3
6
19
42
5
1
1
167

Altogether 77 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
3.4

Refusal of the planning application was recommended in respect of three proposals –one for the erection of a dwelling house with a garage and septic tank at Lochandhu,
Taynuilt, where the proposals were partly located within a Scheduled Ancient
Monument, which was contrary to planning policy for archaeological remains. The
two other proposals were for single wind turbines at North Beachmore, Muasdale,
Kintyre, and at Sgiob Ruadh Farm, Mull, where in each case the proposed turbine wasjudged to have an unacceptable impact on the landscape setting of one or more
important archaeological sites.

3.5

Archaeological evaluation of a site for housing at Dunbeg near Oban was carried out
by Argyll Archaeology Ltd in response to a planning condition. Prehistoric remains
were found in the trial trenches. Full excavation of the area revealed evidence of fiveprehistoric round-houses and a scatter of pits and post-holes. It is likely that thesettlement is of Bronze Age date.
Dr Clare Ellis of Argyll Archaeology Ltd, assisted by volunteers from the local
community and the Mull Museum, also excavated at the early medieval chapel site at

3.6

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

8Baliscate, on Mull, a site that previously featured on an episode of Channel 4's Time
Team. The community excavation identified a large number of high quality worked
lithics, including a finely-worked flint javelin head. These flints have been recoveredfrom within a decayed turf wall, suggesting that the original building material for the
early church may have been obtained by stripping a prehistoric site
3.7

3.8

In the autumn of 2012, staff from Guard Archaeology Ltd undertook an archaeologicalassessment of the Glebe Field, Iona, in advance of a proposed community housingdevelopment. The project was designed to involve volunteers both from the local areaand from further afield, and recovered a large number of artefacts, including sherds ofhand-made pottery, metal-working slag and a large number of flint and quartz tools.
Of particular note, however, was the recovery of a medieval bronze pin, a small
whetstone and the rim of a steatite bowl, all likely to date from the 9th to 12th
centuries, and to be associated with Norse activity. These Norse period artefacts are ofparticular importance and have already generated a great deal of interest amongst
researchers, as they represent the first time these type of artefacts have been recorded
on Iona. All of these finds have could be interpreted together as indicating contact
with the wider Viking World, with material perhaps derived from as far afield as
Norway, the Northern Earldom region of Caithness and either the Irish Sea region or
the northern Danelaw area of England.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 228 other items of casework, including 39 pre-application enquiries,
89 SRDP consultations, and 12 statutory undertaker enquiries.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

9

4

Advice to East Ayrshire Council

4.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.

4.2

4.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 51 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 60 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

5
8
11
1
26

Altogether 25 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
4.4

Refusal of the planning application was advised in one case. Proposals were brought
forward for the development of three houses within the former Dunaskin Heritage
Centre, an important industrial archaeological site, and a scheduled ancientmonument. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, development within ascheduled monument is contrary to planning policies at local and central government
level, and so refusal was recommended.

4.5

An extensive programme of desk-based study, archaeological walkover survey,
historic building recording, field evaluation by trial trenching, and further mitigation
fieldwork by CFA Archaeology Ltd continued in advance of open-cast coal extractionin the upper reaches of the valley of the River Nith west of New Cumnock. Three oldfarms were recorded before their destruction, and at one, several late medieval lintel
stones were retrieved from the wall of a later barn, along with a commemorative stone.
Trial trenching at all three farms revealed no evidence of earlier occupation outside themedieval farm steadings, implying a great continuity of settlement location in thevalley.

4.6

Emergency repairs to the weir on the complex water management system known as
the Catrine Weir and Voes works were undertaken by the Catrine Community Trust.
The origins of this hydraulic system lie in the late eighteenth century, when water was
first drawn off the River Ayr in order to power the Ballochmyle Cotton Works. The
system was subject to modification in the mid-nineteenth century, when it was adapted
to provide power for a set of Fairbairn suspension waterwheels later installed at themill. These works have been conducted under Scheduled Monument Consent issued
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

10

by Historic Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The Catrine Community Trustbrought Ayrshire-based Rathmell Archaeology Ltd into their project team to monitor
these emergency works to ensure a sound record of this historic structure wasmaintained. Liaison was maintained with the West of Scotland Archaeology Service
throughout to ensure our Historic Environment Record kept a record of new
discoveries
4.6

4.7

4.8

A trial excavation was undertaken on the linear earthwork known as Pickan's Dyke,
near Dalmellington in East Ayrshire. This enigmatic monument has in the past beeninterpreted as a possible early medieval boundary, similar to Offa's Dyke on theboundary between Mercia and Wales, though it has also been suggested that it could
represent a park pale or banked fence defining the margins of a hunting park
associated with Dalmellington Motte, or marked a division between land held by theoccupant of the motte and another medieval landholder, possibly based at the siteknown as Dame Helen's Castle. The work, which was commissioned by the Forestry
Commission Scotland, was undertaken by staff from Rathmell Archaeology Ltd,supported by volunteers. Sadly, the date and function of this monument remain amystery, but the work helped establish the scope of further work required when theForestry Commission wished to lodge a planning application for the creation of a new
car park next to the monument.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 52 other items of casework, including 40 pre-application enquiries,
89 SRDP consultations, and 1 statutory undertaker enquiry.
A detailed consultation response was provided after a request from Historic Scotland
for comments on their proposed inclusion of the historic battlefield site near Loudoun
Hill in their Inventory of Scottish Battlefields.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

11

5

Advice to East Renfrewshire Council

5.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.

5.2

5.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 3 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 32 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

2
1
5
24

Altogether 8 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
5.4

5.5

During the report period a further stage of archaeological assessment and evaluation
took place at Barrance Farm, Newton Mearns. Previous evaluation work there had
identified small amounts of medieval pottery and possible structural features in thearea of the modern farm buildings. This seemed to confirm the existence of a medieval
steading of some importance that was referred to in documents from the medieval
period. Unfortunately, demolition of the modern buildings so damaged the site as tomake the recovery of any further medieval material impossible.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 11 other items of casework, including 7 pre-application enquiries
and 1 SRDP consultation.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

126

Advice to Glasgow City Council

6.1

Development Plan Advice
Advice was provided to the Council in assessing known archaeological sites and areasof archaeological potential before for consideration in the Local Development Plan.

6.2

6.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 39 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 39 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
3
1
1
2
2
29

Altogether 10 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
6.4

6.5

The Archaeology Service continued to provide advice to the Council and its project
partners in connection with managing the completion of the archaeological work on
the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village site, including during the developer’s site
preparation work for the construction of the Athletes’ Village. Excavations on the sitewere successfully concluded, revealing important early industrial remains of the first
Glasgow Water Works of 1809, the first industrial period municipal water supply.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 30 other items of casework, including 14 pre-application enquiries,
1 SRDP consultation, 3 statutory undertaker enquiries, and 2 complex consultations
from Glasgow Life (Museums) Staff regarding the archaeology of the city.

6.6

During the report period the manager of the Service represented the Council on theAntonine Wall Research Group and contributed to two consultations on the current
and future management of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site.

6.7

A detailed consultation response was provided after a request from Historic Scotland
for comments on their proposed inclusion of the historic battlefield site of Langside in
their Inventory of Scottish Battlefields.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

13

7

Advice to Inverclyde Council

7.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.

7.2

7.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 54 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 15 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues by the Archaeology Service.
The 15 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

5
4
6

Altogether 9 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
7.4

7.5

7.6

A hut circle of probable prehistoric date has been identified on the hills above
Greenock and reported to WoSAS by an amateur archaeologist. The circle, whichmeasures around 7.5m in diameter, still has the entry visible in the south-eastern
quadrant. This is one of a number of potential features identified in this area by thesurveyor, including two further circular features. A number of other sites relating to
pre-Roman activity have been identified from Lurg Moor, in addition to the wellknown scheduled Roman fortlet, indicating that what now appears to be open andinhospitable moorland was reasonably heavily occupied during the prehistoric period.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 8 other items of casework, including 3 pre-application enquiries and
1 SRDP consultation, and 2 from statutory undertakers.
During the report period the Historic Scotland Scheduling Team completed their workin Inverclyde on amending, and adding to the Schedule of Ancient Monuments. The
Archaeology Service integrated the new information into the Historic Environment
Record.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

148

Advice to North Ayrshire Council

8.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.

8.2

8.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 45 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 45 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning
Advice Note 2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
2
9
9
1
23

Altogether 22 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
8.4

Refusal of one proposal was recommended in the case of an application to site a single
wind turbine close to a scheduled ancient monument at Craigdhu Farm, Shannachie,
Arran. Despite lengthy discussions and reiterations of the design, it was not possible toresolve the difficulties the turbine posed for the landscape setting of the nationally
important prehistoric defended site.

8.5

Detailed discussions regarding the scope of mitigation fieldwork were held between
the Archaeology Service on behalf of the Council and Rathmell Archaeology Ltd on
behalf of the prospective developer of Old Knock Castle, a ruinous late medieval andearly modern tower-house. Although the tower-house element of the ruins had
previously been restored and had fallen into ruin again, there was scope forarchaeological discoveries. Remains of features such as the kitchen associated with theearlier history of the building were uncovered, along with details of the building’s
original floor levels, wall-lines and foundations.

8.6

Planning consent was granted to the Council’s project for a new leisure centre near tothe site of the medieval market cross in Irvine. The site sits at the core of the historic
settlement area associated with the medieval burgh, and the development requires
careful programming to take account of the archaeological potential of the area. The
Archaeology Service provided pre-determination advice to the developers’ agents andengaged in detailed discussions with the appointed archaeological contractor to reach

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

15

an archaeological project design which fits within the development programme
without compromising the recording of surviving sensitive archaeological remains.

8.6

8.7

Other Advice within the Council’s Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 31 other items of casework, including 15 pre-application enquiries,
1 SRDP consultation, and 1 statutory undertaker enquiry. Particularly detailed
discussions were held with a design team regarding the possible consolidation or
restoration of the Brisbane House Observatory, an important site in relation to thehistory of astronomy near Largs.
A detailed consultation response was provided after a request from Historic Scotland
for comments on their proposed inclusion of the historic battlefield site of Largs intheir Inventory of Scottish Battlefields.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

16

9Advice to Renfrewshire Council

9.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for advice from the Council in respect of the development planover the report period.

9.2

9.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 28 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 28 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
1
2
4
1
19

Altogether 9 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
9.4

Refusal was recommended in response to a proposal for the creation of a garden, apavilion and landscaping at the Ingliston Equestrian Centre, Bishopton. The proposeddevelopment site lay adjacent to, and possibly within the confines of Whitemoss
Roman Fort, a scheduled ancient monument. Despite a presence of other modern
development in the area, refusal was recommended because of the additional effect on
the setting of the Roman fort site and the possible direct impact of the development on
features associated with the fort.

9.5

As the Council determined in favour of the proposal for the garden, pavilion andlandscaping at the Ingliston Equestrian Centre, a negative suspensive condition was
attached to the consent to mitigate any direct impacts. The excavation site found aditch exhibiting the classic Roman V-shaped profile and containing Roman pottery. It
seemed to form the west and south sides of an enclosure. No features were found tosuggest buildings inside the enclosure. The most exciting find was the base of aSamian ware platter which was made in Gaul (France) and is not a common find in
Scotland.

9.6

The major scheme of archaeological mitigation involving historic building recordingand evaluation by trial trenching at the former Royal Ordnance Factory in Bishopton
continued throughout the reporting period. Complex discussions between the
Archaeology Service on behalf of the Council, and Rathmell Archaeology Ltd on
behalf of the developers, established an agreed working method and monitoring

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

17

process for the implementation of the approved Archaeological Mitigation Strategy forthe site.

9.7

9.8

Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 6 other items of casework, which included 1 pre-applicationenquiry, 1 SRDP consultation, and 2 statutory undertaker enquiries.
During the report period the Historic Scotland Scheduling Team completed their workin Renfrewshire on amending, and adding to the Schedule of Ancient Monuments. The
Archaeology Service integrated the new information into the Historic Environment
Record.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

18

10

Advice to South Ayrshire Council

10.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for advice from the Council in respect of the development planover the report period.

10.2

10.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 94 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 94 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
4
6
22
1
2
58

Altogether 36 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
10.4

Refusal of one proposal was recommended in the case of an application to site a single
wind turbine close to a scheduled ancient monument at Little Pinmore Farm, Pinmore
Bridge, Pinwherry. The degree of change to the baseline landscape setting of thenationally important archaeological sites in sight of the proposed turbine was felt to be
too great, and incapable of being mitigated.

10.5

The archaeological excavation at Corton Farm, south-east of Ayr by Headland
Archaeology Ltd, revealed what was thought to be the remains of a prehistoric farm or
small settlement. Radiocarbon dates from two of the house structures have returned
dates in the Roman Iron Age and the Early Medieval periods. As the site is in an areawith quite heavy soils, previously thought to have been unsuitable for prehistoric
settlement, it may be that the house-type excavated remained in use in this part of
Scotland longer than in other areas.

10.6

Large area excavations in advance of housing development at Barassie and industrial
development at Girvan have both revealed multi-period occupation with extensive
evidence of round-houses, enclosures and other features. It is hoped that in each casepost-excavation analyses will determine the date of the different phases of occupation.

10.7

Monitoring work conducted by HS Archaeology during construction of two newhouses at Straiton, South Ayrshire, has identified the remains of a building that could

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

19

represent evidence for an early settlement associated with the nearby church. The plot
under development is located immediately to the north of Straiton Parish Church,though separated by the line of the modern road. Although the majority of the present
structure was erected in 1758, its fabric contains a medieval aisle of 13th or 14th
century date, and a church is mentioned in relation to this site as far back as the early
13th century. Churches in the medieval period often acted as nuclei for thedevelopment of related settlements, and this appears to have been the case at Straiton.

10.6

Other Advice in the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 25 other items of casework, including 21 pre-application enquiries,and 3 enquiries from statutory undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

20

11

Advice to South Lanarkshire Council

11.1

Development Plan Advice
During the report period advice was provided to the Council in connection with two
requests relating to the Local Development Plan

11.2

11.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 52 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 134 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service
or by Council staff.
The 134 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning
Advice Note 2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Avoidance/protection within or to side of development
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

3
10
24
26
1
1
69

Altogether 65 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
11.4

Refusal of planning consent was recommended in respect of an application for theextension to Hyndford Quarry, Lanark, due to its potential adverse impacts on
significant archaeological remains, an important garden or designed landscape, and thebuffer zone of the New Lanark World Heritage Site. Refusal of planning consent wasalso recommended in respect of an application for a 6-turbine windfarm at Calla Moss,
Carnwath because of its potential significant adverse impact on the landcape setting of
a number of scheduled ancient monuments. An application for a house extension andgarage at Corbielea Cottage, Ravenstruther, near Lanark sat within the boundary of ascheduled ancient monument, a Roman fort. Such development within a scheduledarea is contrary to historic environment policy at local and central government level,and so refusal of the application was recommended.

11.5

A watching brief was carried out by CFA Archaeology Ltd during construction of two
wind turbines at Parkhouse Farm, Quothquan, near Biggar. This work was requested
because the modern farm lies on top of what appears to be a prehistoric settlement,
identified on aerial photographs taken by the Royal Commission on the Ancient andHistorical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in 1983. This showed the presence of
three concentric ditches in the area to the south-west of the current farm complex.
While the turbines would be located to the north-east, the cable trench running fromthem to the farm appeared likely to cross the projected line of these features, so

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

21

monitoring was requested to determine whether any trace of these ditches survived.
Monitoring during the excavation of the cable trench confirmed that these ditches
continued in the area to the north-east of the farm, and that they survived to depth of atleast 1m below ground level despite later surface disturbance. The inner ditch wasrecorded in a yard adjacent to one of the farm buildings, and measured over 3.6m in
width and was 1.3m deep. The middle ditch measured 4.2m in width and was 1.1m
deep, and again contained three fills. In contrast to the two inner ditches, which were
dug into boulder clay, the outer ditch had been cut into shattered bedrock andmeasured 3.2m wide and 1m deep, and again contained three fills. Any further work in
the future on a larger sample of the ditch fills might reveal a date for this settlement.
11.6

11.7

11.8

A watching brief was undertaken by NG Archaeology Services during construction ofa single wind turbine at Easton Farm, Dunsyre, in South Lanarkshire. During thecourse of monitoring of the excavation of the cable trench running from the turbine
back to the farm, a number of medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds wererecovered. These were found in the same area as a 'worked' block of red sandstone,
identified around 1.2m below the current ground level. The width of the cable trench
limited detailed examination of this feature, as it ran under the sections, thoughevidence of a foundation cut was noted. The location of this material and its
association with a possible in situ wall foundation suggests earlier phases ofoccupation on the farm site, perhaps extending back to the medieval period. Easton
was depicted on Roy's Military Survey of Scotland (1747-55), on which it appeared as'Easttown', indicating that a settlement existed in the area prior to the period of
agricultural improvement in the later 18th and 19th centuries. As patterns ofsettlement in pre-improvement Scotland could be fairly stable and long-lived, it ispossible that the material identified during monitoring work could provide evidence
for continuity of occupation on the site over a considerable period.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 48 other items of casework, including 25 pre-application enquiries,
10 SRDP consultations, and 4 enquiries from statutory undertakers.
The successful survey of surviving burgh boundary stones for the royal burgh of
Rutherglen by a local heritage group continued into a second season of work. Further
advice and map extracts were provided to the group, who submitted their updated
survey information to the Historic Environment Record to be available for future
resource management purposes.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

22

12

Advice to West Dunbartonshire Council

12.1

Development Plan Advice
There were no requests for advice from the Council in respect of the development planover the report period.

12.2

12.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 52 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 14 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service
or by Council staff.
The 14 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
7
6

Altogether 8 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
12.4

12.5

12.6

The mitigation fieldwork by CFA Archaeology Ltd in advance of construction of a newhealth and care centre at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria, continued into thepresent reporting period, and confirmed the importance of the site throughout its
excavation. A series of unusual, if not unique features were uncovered across theprehistoric site. One of these was what the excavator described as an enigmatic circularfeature comprising a penannular circuit of stones, between 0.75m to 2m in width. In
the centre of the feature was a roughly triangular pit containing two fills, one half ofthe fill composed entirely of burnt and heat-fractured stone, while the other section
had not been affected in this way. The whole site had been sealed below a layer of silt,
and does not appear to have undergone significant damage from ploughing. No featurequite like this has been reported before. Work on the site continued to recoverwidespread evidence of Neolithic domestic occupation and ritual activity. The site has
already been recognized as one of the most important Neolithic period sites in the Clyde
Valley.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 8 other items of casework, including 1 pre-application enquiry, and1 enquiry from a statutory undertaker.
During the report period the manager of the Service represented the Council on theAntonine Wall Research Group and contributed to two consultations on the current
and future management of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

23

13

Advice to West Lothian Council

13.1

Development Plan Advice
Advice was provided to the Council in connection with the Main Issues Report of
SESplan, the Strategic Development Plan for Edinburgh and South East Scotland.

13.2

13.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 48 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 83 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service
or by Council staff. In addition further work was done in respect of 9 planningapplications submitted in previous years.
The 83 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning
Advice Note 2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

2
8
8
11
3
1
50

Altogether 40 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
13.4

Refusal of planning consent was recommended in respect of an application for an
outdoor leisure centre at Duntarvie Castle, Winchburgh, a scheduled ancientmonument. The proposals were judged to be out of keeping with the character of themonument, and would have a deleterious effect on its landscape setting and a directadverse impact on any associated archaeological deposits within the footprint ofdevelopment. Refusal of planning consent was also recommended in respect of an
application for a windfarm at Camilty, Harburn, because of its potential significant
adverse impact on the landcape setting of a number of scheduled ancient monuments..

13.5

Archaeological building recording, test pitting and monitoring was carried out by CFA
Archaeology Ltd. during the restoration and conversion of Howden House,
Livingston. The multi-disciplinary work has identified traces of what may be an
earlier structure on the site. Howden House was completed in about 1770, possibly forThomas Farquharson of Howden. In 1834 the house was purchased by Henry
Raeburn, son of artist Sir Henry Raeburn. The historic building survey identified thatthe existing ground and first floors both had a wall in excess of 2.5m thick, which was
unusually large for an 18th century building, and it was considered possible that these
could represent the original re-used remains of an earlier 15th or 16th century tower as
has been previously postulated by the RCAHMS. In order to identify whether any

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

24remains of an earlier structure survived within the footprint of the current house thearchaeology service recommended a programme of test pitting. In two of the test pits,
a wall was identified. This wall survived to a height of 0.3m and sat on limestonemortar foundations, which had been built directly onto the bedrock, with nofoundation trench visible. It was aligned approximately NNE-SSW, and underlay thenorth-south aligned wall of the eastern wing of the house. It was not possible todetermine categorically whether this was an earlier wall or part of the foundations of
the current wall of the house, though its divergence in alignment from the current wall
suggests that it represents a surviving element of an earlier structure.
13.6

13.7

The archaeology service continues to advise the project team dealing with proposals todevelop additional leisure facilities at the Leisure Centre at Kettilstoun Mains,
Linlithgow with regard to the outstanding issues arising from prehistoric features andfinds made during evaluation of the area by trial trenching in 2011.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 20 other items of casework, including 14 pre-application enquiries.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

25

14

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority

14.1

Archaeological advice is provided to the National Park Authority under the terms of achargeable Service Level Agreement. In the year 2012-13 the National Park Authority
paid £16,550 to the Service for archaeological advice.

14.2

14.3

14.4

Development Plan Advice
There was one request for advice and assistance from the Park Authority in respect of
the local development plan over the report period.
Development Management Advice
Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 54 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues by the Archaeology Service or
National Park Authority staff.
The 54 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Watching brief condition
Standings buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
8
10
6
2
27

Altogether 27 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
14.5

Historic Building Recording work took place as the first stage of a multi-phaseprogramme of mitigation on the former Royal Navy Torpedo Factory and testing site
at Arrochar on Loch Long. The factory was a vitally important naval installation for
most of the twentieth century, but had decayed badly since its closure. A new lochsideholiday resort is planned, and the first stage of work was to record and interpret theremaining torpedo factory buildings before their demolition. Future work will include
trial trenching to test the archaeological survival of a pre-modern settlement which
once occupied the site.

14.6

During a site visit to the Balquhidder area, staff from the Service noticed a circle ofstanding stones on a ridge above the modern road. Desk-based research establishedthat this was to be a modern erection, one of a very small class of monuments of aprehistoric type set up in the last decade. Nevertheless, despite or because of its shorthistory, the stone circle has been entered in the Historic Environment Record, but isrecorded as a modern feature, so that future observers are not confused.

14.7

Following the successful implementation of the National Park Authority’s decision to
ask the Archaeology Service to extend the geographical scope of our service to them
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

26

to include the area of the park within the Stirling Council area from April 2011, wewere invited to tender for a contract to supply advice for the whole of the National
Park area. The contract was awarded in June 2012 to run from the start of July. We
extended our existing Historic Environment Record for the National Park Authority toreflect this extension in our geographical remit.

14.7

Other Advice within the National Park Authority’s Area
During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including
National Park Authority staff, in respect of 54 other items of casework including 35
pre-application enquiries, 8 SRDP consultations, and 2 enquiries from statutory
undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

27

15

Information and Advice to Developers/Agents and to Statutory Undertakers

15.1

There were 215 requests for information and advice from developers or their agents,
including 52 requests for Sites and Monuments Record digital extracts. There were 30
requests for assistance in connection with Scottish Water, Scottish Water Solutions,
ScottishPower, Scottish and Southern Electricity, and Transerve proposals. The
requests for assistance from developers and their agents raised income of £3,640, a
decrease on the previous year’s sum of £4,911, but broadly in keeping with the levelsof the previous two years.

16

Agri-Environment Advice

16.1

The Service received a grant from Historic Scotland of £5,204 in support of theprovision of advice to the fund-holders of the Scottish Rural Development Programme(SRDP) on request. The grant is distributed proportionally across Scotland inaccordance with the total number of SRDP applications for which archaeologicaladvice is sought and provided. The Service was consulted for advice on 120 eligible
applications to the SRDP, a 70% increase in uptake compared to the number ofapplications in each of the previous two years. Despite the scale of this increase, there
was a much smaller increase in the grant support made available as a similar total
amount of grant money had to be disbursed amongst a larger total of valid
applications. Although uptake from landowners has improved markedly, thepreviously stated concern that the system for providing archaeological advice to the
SRDP is not fully reactive to agricultural threats to the historic environment still
applies. It remains the case that only certain types of applications are being sent in forcomment, mainly forestry proposals.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

28

Appendix 1
Annual Performance Statistics 2012-13 (figures for previous year in brackets forcomparison)
Weekly lists
The performance standard in the WoSAS Service Level Agreement for this area of work is
90% to be monitored and actioned within 14 calendar days of receipt.
Performance

90.4%(91.1%)

Planning and Listed Building Consultations
The performance standard in the WoSAS Service Level Agreement for this area of work is
80% to be actioned within 21 calendar days of receipt.
Planning Applications
Argyll & Bute
East Ayrshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianLoch Lomond & Trossachs

80.40%
74.51%
96.88%
79.49%
80.00%
78.26%
71.43%
75.79%
75.56%
86.67%
83.91%
75.47%(81.27%)(81.54%)(96.55%)(85.00%)(75.00%)(72.70%)(80.00%)(80.40%)(85.20%)(80.00%)(86.21%)(78.60%)Overall Planning Application Performance

79.07%(81.96%)

Other Work Areas
The performance standard for this area of work is 80% to be actioned within 21 calendar daysof receipt.
SRDP Advice
Pre-Application Enquiries
Permitted Dev/Statutory Undertakings
Other Archaeological Consultations
General/SMR Enquiries

84.17%
82.79%
72.41%
81.25%
82.35%(82.75%)(88.89%)(87.50%)(66.67%)(80.00%)Overall Other Work Performance

80.59%(81.16%)The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.

29

Appendix 2
WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICEINCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTFOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 20132011/12£2012/13£
Income140,703
31,734
1,482

Contribution from participating authorities
Fees & Charges
Interest on balances

140,703
25,585
1,390

173, 919

Total Income

167, 678

Expenditure
Employee Costs

187,852

Salaries, NI & Superannuation & Employee
Related Costs

136,333

Administration Costs
205
5,046
10,700
523
6,565
43
55
88
1,816
25,041Fees & Subscriptions
Travel & Subsistence
Rents
Printing & Stationery
Equipment Purchase & maintenance
Catering
Postage
Purchase of services (miscellaneous)
Audit Fee

130
4,281
10,700
91
2,988
458
0
0
1,771
20,419212,893

Total Expenditure

156,752(38,974)
149,888

Surplus/(Deficit) for Year
Surplus Brought Forward

10,926110,914110,914

Accumulated Surplus

121,840

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North
Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

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