WEST of SCOTLAND
ARCHAEOLOGYSERVICE
Annual Report of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service
2011/12
SummaryThis annual report covers the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012.
During the report period the West of Scotland Archaeology Service was restructured
following the early retirement of the former manager in June 2011. A new manager was
appointed from within the Service, and the resultant Senior Archaeologist vacancy was left
unfilled. Despite this reduction in manpower, the Service dealt with 1802 new caseworkitems, twenty-six more than in the previous year. For a second year in succession, this total
showed a modest increase, but there were once again variations in the type of casework
arising in the report period, both in general and in individual Council areas. Weekly lists ofplanning applications received from the eleven Councils and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs
National Park Authority made up 587 of the new work items. These were monitored to
identify applications raising potential archaeological issues. From monitoring the weekly lists,
and through direct referrals from our planning colleagues, 891 new planning and listedbuilding applications were identified as potentially raising archaeological issues, and a further
324 other items of new casework were also dealt with or initiated.
New Casework 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012
Council Area
Total New Casework Weekly lists
Items
Argyll & Bute
487
54
East Ayrshire
133
49
East Renfrewshire
84
51
Glasgow
113
49
Inverclyde
79
55
North Ayrshire
120
50
Renfrewshire
90
50
South Ayrshire
119
48
South Lanarkshire
230
52
West Dunbartonshire
60
48
West Lothian152
31
National Park Authority
129
50
General/Multi-Council
6
Total
1802
587

Planning Applications

Other

316
65
29
40
18
44
30
56
136
6
96
55

117
19
4
24
6
26
10
15
42
6
25
24
6
324

891

The increase in new casework items can be partly attributed to the reporting year being thefirst in which the Service was responsible for the provision of archaeological advice foralmost all of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority area, but the
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underlying upward trend is slightly greater still. The casework data show that fewer weekly
planning lists were monitored than is usual. An unfortunate breakdown in the automateddigital data exchange between West Lothian Council and the Service occurred during thereporting period, which resulted in a period where lists were not actively monitored by theService. A brief follow-up assessment indicated that no planning applications raising majorarchaeological issues went unidentified as a result.
Over the report period, work was also carried out in respect of a further 241 casework items
which had been initiated in previous years. This casework primarily involved advising on theappropriate scale of fieldwork and reporting required to satisfy conditions on consents granted
previously, and monitoring such work when it was carried out by commercial archaeologicalorganisations. Recent years’ figures in this category had also included work carried out todigitise and dispose of the Service’s older paper records of planning application casework.
This backlog clearance work had been carried out by our former part-time administrative
assistant, but was halted when her contract ended in 2010.
The 891 new planning and listed building applications identified as potentially raisingarchaeological issues constituted an increase of 9% on the previous year’s total of 818, andmore than reversed that year’s dip in planning casework figures. In the period covered by thisreport 337 of the identified 891 applications (37.82%) raised archaeological issues which
required advice from the Service. This is a sizeable increase on recent years’ figures but may
be largely attributed to an increase in small-scale wind power applications in some council
areas.
Summary Table of Planning Applications 2007-2012
Nos. Identified for Comment
07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
438
248
301
327
Argyll & Bute
108
78
82
60
East Ayrshire
29
28
29
15
East Renfrewshire
77
73
51
35
Glasgow24
988Inverclyde
87
58
53
46
North Ayrshire
78
52--North Lanarkshire
44
34
50
23
Renfrewshire
70
83
69
54
South Ayrshire
175
165
114
102
South Lanarkshire
42
40
34
31
West Dunbartonshire
106
67
76
98
West Lothian
21
21
14
19
National Park
Total
1299
956
881
818

11/12
316
65
29
40
18
44
-30
56
136
6
96
55
891

Nos. Raising Archaeological Issues
07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12
91
76
97
82
81
16
26
32
28
32
6
12
12
6
14
22
23
13
14
10
5
3
4
2
4
22
28
19
23
24
22
15
---12
10
20
12
17
21
25
35
20
31
50
46
50
56
63
14
10
11
7
3
44
28
29
42
34
6
4
4
6
24
331
306
326
296
337

In addition to weekly lists and planning applications a further 324 items of other new work
were processed by the Service in 2011/12. While this shows a slight decrease of 6.9% fromlast year’s surprisingly high numbers, it is possible to identify an underlying upward trend,
especially with regard to pre-application enquiries (see table below, figures for the lastreporting year in brackets).

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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Pre-planning application enquiries
Development Plan consultations
Permitted development enquiries
SRDP audits and other matters
Other Archaeological Consultations
Sites and Monuments Record information management matters
General or SMR enquiries
Policy liaison matters
Other (includes items sent in error)
Total

137 (110)10(7)
28 (38)71 (73)13 (18)58 (94)
5
(7)
1
(0)
0
(1)
324 (348)

In the report period 299 new site records were added to the Sites and Monuments Record
database following research by Service staff or following their identification in reports madeto the Service by commercial archaeological contractors and amateur archaeological groups.
In contrast to earlier years, there was no download of data from the Royal Commission on
Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) during the reporting period.
Amendments or additions were made to 519 existing site records, and 137 archaeologicalevents records were added. A total of 148 archive records (index to reports received by theService in paper and digital formats) were created. There were 169 archaeological events(excavations, surveys, watching briefs, desk based assessments etc) recorded within theService’s geographical area 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.

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1

Running the Service

1.1

The Service's Steering Group met three times during the report period to consider
various matters in connection with the running and restructuring of the Service. The
Service’s Joint Committee met on 17 May 2011.

1.2

A surplus balance in the Service's reserve account of £110,914 was achieved at year
end (see Appendix 2). The reduction in the surplus carried forward from the previous
financial year was smaller than had been projected, due to further modest savings in
expenditure on travel and subsistence, and on IT equipment purchase andmaintenance, and because of an increase in income generated from fee-earningsources. The opportunity arose to make long-term savings on employee costs (offset
for this year only by severance costs) through restructuring the Service when theformer Service Manager retired in June 2011.

1.3

There was a smaller than expected drop in external income to the Service over thereport period. Having halted work on behalf of ALGAO:Scotland (the Association of
Local Government Archaeology Officers), which had generated £1,528 inreimbursement income in the previous year, and expecting only minimal amounts ofincome from the remaining tasks associated with the M74 Completion project, it was
expected that fee income would fall by more than 40%. However, more than half of
this projected fall in income was offset by greater than estimated fee-earning income.
Contrary to expectations, the provision of advice on the reporting and publication of
the results of the archaeological works carried out for the M74 Completion was
required for a longer time within the report period. For this advice, the Service
received £6,390. There was also an unexpected increase in income from advice
provided to the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) through grant-aid
administered by Historic Scotland. The Service received £4,233 in 2011-12 for theprovision of archaeological advice to agricultural and forestry agents. Due to acontinuing rise in planning-related pre-application enquiries, income from fees andcharges made for the provision of mediated archaeological information and advice tocommercial organizations also increased. The Service’s hourly fee charge for thereport period remained at £70 plus VAT.

1.4

Following three years of decline in planning caseload as a result of the recession, there
was a modest increase during the report period. A slowing of the downward trend had
been noted last year, but the apparent turnaround is highly specialized. Several
councils are experiencing an increase in small-scale renewable energy applications,which because of their wider landscape effects may account for the majority of theapparent rise in casework. There continue to be few large, greenfield residential andtown centre commercial planning applications, which have previously generated themost developer-funded archaeological work. There was a modest pick-up in contacts
with the Service from commercial sector archaeologists working for private clients,
either seeking to implement archaeological conditions attached to planning consents,
or evaluating archaeological issues in advance of a planning application or its
determination. The number of pre-application enquiries to the Service increased bymore than 24%, building on a similar increase during the previous report period, and islikely to be a result of recent changes to the planning system.
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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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 time-efficientfashion, short-term problems continue to occur intermittently. Some delays inretrieving details of applications have been experienced, and it is thought that this may
be largely related to increased numbers of users accesssing the online system. Whenoccasional document download or website availability issues have been identified,they have been brought to the attention of relevant staff in the Member Councils.
Unfortunately, during this report period, a breakdown in the automated digital dataexchange between West Lothian Council and the Service went unnoticed by either
party for some considerable time. This resulted in a period where weekly lists from
West Lothian Council were not actively monitored and assessed by the Service. Whilethe continuing use of the archaeological consultation trigger map (ACTMap) systemof direct casework referrals from our planning officer colleagues in West Lothianensured that planning applications which might have raised serious archaeologicalissues were flagged up in advance, some smaller applications in areas of unknown
archaeological potential may not have been identified. However, a brief follow-up
assessment by the Service failed to find any applications where substantive
archaeological issues went unidentified. Following this regrettable and unusual lapse,
more rigorous procedures have been put in place to ensure the regular delivery or
retrieval of weekly lists of planning applications is maintained.

1.6

The increase in numbers of new casework items, coupled with the decrease in staff
numbers following the Service’s restructuring, meant that less time was available forwork to improve and enhance the Sites and Monuments Record. Work to digitise andincorporate older paper-based casework files and records into the Service’s
computerised Consultations database was all but halted so as to allow staff resources
to be allocated to current planning casework and to external fee-earning tasks as apriority.

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2Sites and Monuments Record Maintenance and Development

2.1

During the report period 299 new site records were added to the Sites and Monuments
Record database, 519 existing site records were amended or updated, 137
archaeological events records were added, and 148 archive records (an index to, andsummary of reports received by the Service in paper and digital formats) were created.
No automated download of new heritage data from the Royal Commission on Ancientand Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) was received and incorporated
into the Sites and Monuments Record during the reporting period. Consequently, the
new site records which were added to the Sites and Monuments Record database wereidentified by Service staff while carrying out research related to their current
casework, or were reported directly to the Service by commercial archaeologicalcontractors and amateur archaeological groups. Set against the reduced staff time
available for new archaeological data entry, these numbers of additional records
represent a substantial enhancement of the Sites and Monuments Record.

2.2

The Service’s web site (http://www.wosas.net) was updated over the report periodwith a further 34 news items from throughout the WoSAS area. During the reportperiod the Service website recorded more than 500,000”hits”.

2.3

The Service’s Sites and Monuments Record database has been online for more than adecade, and is accessible from the Service website. In addition, an integrated andinteractive map search facility was put online with the assistance of South Ayrshire
Council’s ICT team, and is regularly enhanced and updated. During the report period,
Historic Scotland commissioned a consultant to carry out a survey of central
government and local authority archaeological information sources and to develop anational strategy for their development. The Service contributed to this survey andprovided constructive comments on the developing strategy for records of the historic
environment. Consultation on the proposed strategy has continued and involves
Historic Scotland, the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of
Scotland, the Association of Local Government Archaeology Officers, the Scottish
SMR Forum, and other bodies such as the National Trust and the Forestry
Commission. It is expected that once a national strategy for historic environment data
sources has been agreed, further development of the Service’s Sites and Monuments
Record will be designed to be in accord with that strategy.

2.4

Feedback from all levels of user of the online Sites and Monuments Record continues
to be positive, and this is particularly true of members of the public. The map search
has allowed members of the public, students, and agents working for developers on
small-scale projects to obtain their own desk based information free of charge. When
deciding to make this online facility available, the benefits to the users had to beweighed against potential loss of fee income to the Service from commercial
archaeologists requiring such historic environment data for their business purposes. It
was noted in previous Service reports that this might lead to a decrease in chargeable
requests for extracts of digital data from archaeological consultants, and therefore aconcomitant decrease in Service income. However, structured Digital Extracts of large
amounts of data can be usefully manipulated within large scale Environmental
Assessments, and increasingly archaeological contractors are also making use of such
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

structured datasets in the production of smaller archaeological reports. Previous
Service reports recorded a steady and significant decrease in requests for Digital
Extracts from a peak of around one hundred per year in the period before 2008 to only
31 in the 2009/10 reporting period. However, 39 such requests were made in the
2010/11 reporting period, and 66 in the current report period. It now seems clear thatthe decrease in requests for large amounts of digital data was more a result of therecession rather than the availability of the online Sites and Monuments Record data,
and that commercial clients continue to find added value in the mediated and georeferenced data made available by the Service in our large-scale Digital Extracts.
2.5

During the report period, one research student and two amateur archaeology groups
requested Sites and Monuments 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 Sites and Monuments 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.

7

3

Advice to Argyll & 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 54 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 316 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
Argyll & Bute Council remained the largest Council user of the development
management advice service over the report period.
The 316 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
Refer to Historic Scotland (Scheduled Ancient Monument)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

9
10
27
28
3
4
235

Altogether 81 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 nine proposals –the erection of three wind turbines at Pennyghael, Isle Of Mull, the erection of a nineturbine windfarm at Clachan Seil, the erection of a single large wind turbine nearArdchonnel, Lochaweside, multiple applications for the erection of houses on two
separate sites near Bunessan, Isle of Mull, a fencing upgrade at Oban High School,
and the modified application for a mini hydro scheme, Balnabraid Glen, near
Campbeltown.. All but two of the proposals were located either adjacent to Scheduled
Ancient Monuments or in important views from the monuments. Two applications
initially proposed works which would directly affect the Scheduled Ancient
Monuments, but these were withdrawn or amended to avoid direct impacts. One of thehouse applications near Bunessan was granted by the Council subject to a condition
following amendments to minimize visual impacts.

3.5

As an example of the wealth of archaeology that is always turning up in Argyll and
Bute, archaeological fieldwork by Argyll Archaeology on land for a new housingdevelopment in Glenshellach, Oban uncovered further remains of complex prehistoricoccupation. Following earlier successful work in 2010, the new areas revealed threeround-houses, stone-lined pits, an area of burning and a quantity of pottery, some of it

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

3.6

decorated. It is possible that part of the site had a ritual function rather than a purely
domestic one.
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 117 other items of casework, including 31 pre-application enquiries
and 9 statutory undertaker enquiries (predominantly from Scottish and Southern
Energy and Scottish Water), 7 of which were subject to separate charging. There was
one Sites and Monuments Record enquiry from a member of the public.

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 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 65 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 65 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 required
Refer to Historic Scotland (Scheduled Ancient Monument)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

6
15
9
1
1
33

Altogether 32 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
4.4

A programme of archaeological work was undertaken by staff from Headland
Archaeology Ltd in order to satisfy a condition of planning consent for the proposed
extension to Laigh Glenmure Surface Mine, near Duncanziemere. An initial
evaluation by trial trenching was followed by open area excavation in two sections of
the site, one in the vicinity of the upstanding Hillhead farmstead, to look for evidenceof earlier phases of occupation, the other to record material associated with afarmstead called Back of Hill, which was shown on General Roy's Military Survey ofthe mid eighteenth century, but which had been removed before the 1st Edition
Ordnance Survey map of the mid-nineteenth century. At Hillhead, remains relating toan earlier settlement phase were recorded. The location of the pre-Improvement
Hillhead farm buildings depicted on Roy`s military map of 1747-55 could not be
ascertained. However, the remains of boundary and drainage ditches to the south of
the upstanding ruinous buildings provided evidence of that earlier settlement, as finds
dating to the seventeenth-eighteenth centuries were recovered from the features. It
seems likely that the later structures were erected on the footprint of the previous
farmstead. In addition, an area of narrow furrows forming a garden plot was identified,sealed by the cobble yard area of the nineteenth century farmstead phase. Comparablewith the 'kaleyards' of northern Scotland

4.5

The remains of Back of the Hill do not appear to be in the medieval longhouse/
Byrehouse tradition, with humans and animals under the same roof. Instead, thefarmstead is likely to have constituted a domestic structure with a series 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.

10

outbuildings for animals and storage. The presence of outbuildings became anincreasingly common feature of low status farms in the eighteenth century as
agricultural improvements began to take hold. Despite the farmstead making thistransition in layout, it appears construction techniques had not evolved towards themortared stone wall architecture that began to appear elsewhere in Scotland at thistime. Dating evidence provided by the bottle glass and pottery suggests the site was
occupied from possibly as early as the seventeenth century, was certainly in use byc.1730, and continued through to c.1790/1800. It is of note that the decline of the Backof the Hill farmstead coincides with the agricultural Improvement period that had
firmly established itself in Scotland by the late eighteenth century. In addition to
innovations in farming systems and the development of new crops and livestock
breeds, the structure of farms themselves changed. On many estates a process ofamalgamation took place at this time. The number of tenancies on farms was reduced,
leading to a dominance of larger single-tenant units in areas such as the Southern
Uplands and western lowlands. Back of the Hill farmstead may have succumbed tothis process, with Hillhead becoming the sole tenant of the surrounding land.
4.6

4.7

These remains are of significance, as examples of relatively low status medieval andpost-medieval farmsteads are rarely found in the archaeological record. The recoveryof the associated seventeenth - eighteenth century finds assemblage is also importantas the rural setting of such finds is unusual. The fact that the sites are relatively
undisturbed by later intrusions adds further significance to their importance infurthering our knowledge of Scotland`s rural settlements in this 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 19 other items of casework, including 15 pre-application enquiries
and one statutory undertaker enquiry.

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 2 requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of Development Plan advice and Strategic Environmental Assessment.

5.2

5.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 29 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 29 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

6
4
4
15

Altogether 14 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
5.4

5.5

An archaeological evaluation carried out by GUARD Archaeology Limited on an area
proposed for development at Ayr Road, Newton Mearns identified an enigmaticfeature of potential significance. They found an oval shaped pit, found on slightly
raised ground close to the northern boundary of their site. The pit measured 1.3 m inlength by 0.7 m in width, and had a fairly flat base and a maximum depth of 0.2 m.
The fill consisted of a moderately compacted black-brown sand silt which contained
charcoal flecks and a large amount of subangular pebble- and cobble-sized stones.
Although no artefacts were recovered to provide a possible date for the feature and its
function remains elusive, the nature of the remains suggest a possible prehistoric date.
While the evaluation trench was extended around the location of the pit, no further
features were encountered, though it remains possible that additional material may
survive in the vicinity. As a result, an additional phase of fieldwork will take placearound the pit, to take in the rest of the raised area, so that any associated features that
may be present can be excavated and recorded.
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 4 other items of casework, including one pre-application enquiry
and one from a statutory undertaker enquiries which were subject to separate charging.
There were no Sites and Monuments Record enquiries from members of the public.

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

6.1

6.2

6.3

Advice to Glasgow City Council
Development Plan Advice
Advice was provided to the Council in assessing known archaeological sites and areasof archaeological potential before identifying proposed land release areas in the
updated Glasgow City Plan and in response to the Pollokshaws Local Development
Strategy.
Development Management Advice
Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 40 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 40 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 Ancient Monument)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

2
4
3
1
30

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

The Archaeology Service continued to provide advice to the Council and its project
partners in connection with managing archaeological work by CFA Archaeology on
the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village site during thedeveloper’s site preparation work for the construction of the Athletes’ Village.
Excavations within the site were completed on time in the summer of 2011, andrevealed and recorded the very important early industrial remains of the first Glasgow
Water Works. These buildings and other engineering features dated from 1809 until
the 1850s, when the opening of the more famous replacement waterworks whichbrought water from Loch Katrine to the city rendered them obsolete. These were theWorld’s first industrial period municipal water supply, and the project was associatedwith and supported by some of the most famous engineers of the day, James Watt andThomas Telford.

6.5

Monitoring work undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group during the initial phase ofwork associated with a new retail development at Gallowgate, Glasgow, identified
elements of the late Georgian Infantry Barracks. Planning consent for thisdevelopment was issued by Glasgow City Council with a condition attached requiring
the completion of a programme of archaeological work, this condition being attachedon the advice of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service because of the former
presence of the barracks on the site, which was also the location of the late medieval
and early modern period Pighoose Pottery. The barracks were built on the burgh's
former bow-butts (which had fallen out of regular use and had been partially
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

developed) and on adjoining land to the east in 1795. The barracks were mapped on
Fleming's 1807 map of the city, and are depicted particularly clearly on the Ordnance
Survey Town Plan of 1857. Three main buildings, and a number of others, weredepicted. Two large barrack blocks faced each other across a central parade ground or
barrack-square.

6.6

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 24 other items of casework, including 9 pre-application enquiries,
and 2 from statutory undertakers. There was one Sites and Monuments Record enquiry
from a member of the public.

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

7

7.1

7.2

7.3

Advice to Inverclyde Council
Development Plan Advice
Advice and comments were provided to the Council on assessing known
archaeological sites and areas of archaeological potential for the Main Issues Report of
the Local Development Plan.
Development Management Advice
Over the report period 55 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 18 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues by the Archaeology Service.
The 18 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
1
14

Altogether 4 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
7.4

7.5

Headland Archaeology Ltd carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring
during public realm landscaping works at James Watt Dock, Greenock. The site ofJames Watt Dock, Garvel Island and Great Harbour form the eastern extent of awaterfront that elevated Greenock into one of the prime centres of maritime industry
and commerce in Scotland. A photographic record of the general site was taken torecord a number of original features including the remains of numerous railway lines
running along both the north and south sides of the surviving sugar warehouse andsome also leading into the building itself. These railway tracks were also recorded
both to the east and west sides of the warehouse with a number also running along thedock piers. A large area of cobbles at the eastern end of the docks were cleared, while
to the west of the warehouse current surfaces were also removed, though the depth of
excavation was limited (approximately 0.15m) and no earlier surfaces or features wererevealed. Excavations were monitored at the north-east corner of the warehouse, close
to the southern bay of the docks. This revealed the junction of a large brick-built
service culvert that was aligned both N-S along the dock side and E-W along thenorthern side of the warehouse. A number of cast-iron pipes and more modern cables
were visible in this culvert. Along the cobbled surface at the eastern end of the docks anumber of square manhole covers with brick surrounds were recorded. These were
thought to be associated with this culvert. This culvert was considered to be part of theoriginal dock construction, dated to the late 1870s.
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, including one pre-application enquiry.
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

8Advice 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 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 44 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 44 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained 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
Avoidance/protection within or to side of development
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

3
13
7
1
20

Altogether 24 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
8.4

8.6

8.7

Natural erosion of the edge of a quarry face at Sannox Sand Quarry, Isle of Arran, has
exposed a stone burial cist containing a pottery vessel and evidence of a possible
cremation. The vessel was retrieved by the finder, Jamie McKinnon, to prevent it
falling into the quarry floor. It is a tripartite Vase Food Vessel, which probably dates
to 2000-1800 BC. These vessels are usually found as grave goods in cists withcrouched inhumations. Very occasionally, they are associated with cremated bone, andeven more rarely they contain cremated bone. What appears to be a plano-convex flint
knife was also found within the cist, while the end-slab of a second cist was also
identified eroding from the old quarry face. Although the cist was found within an areaof sand extraction, the quarry is not currently in operation while consent is sought foran extension to the workings. Given the precarious nature of the cist, the archaeology
service approached Historic Scotland to successfully request that a rescue excavation
be arranged to record and remove these important remains before they were further
damaged or destroyed.
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 26 other items of casework, including 9 pre-application enquiries
and 2 statutory undertaker enquiries. There were also 2 Sites and Monuments Record
enquiries from members of the public.
The Archaeology Service provided advice on site selection to the Council’s Project
manager and archaeological consultant for the proposed development of a new leisurecentre in Irvine within the historic medieval burgh. .
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
Advice was provided to the Council in connection with the Renfrewshire Local
Development plan.

9.2

9.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 30 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 30 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
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
1
11
4
13

Altogether 17 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
9.4

Refusal of planning consent was recommended in respect of an application for theerection of a two-storey visitor accommodation building with associated landscaping
at the Ingliston Country Club & Equestrian Centre, Bishopton because it lay next tothe site of a nationally important Roman Fort.

9.5

Rathmell Archaeology Ltd continued their major programme of various
archaeological mitigation measures designed to accompany the remediation andredevelopment of the former Royal Ordnance Factory in Bishopton. The scope of theArchaeological Mitigation Strategy for the former munitions factory complex includes
conditions recommended by the Archaeology Service which require the completion ofan analytical historic building survey of the factory’s structures and processing areas
before remediation of the site, and a scheme of field evaluation of less-disturbed areas
within the proposed development area before development can take place. Should
significant remains be found, further mitigation measures will have to be put in place.
Analytical building recording work was completed during this report period, andinitial field evaluations had commenced.

9.6

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 10 other items of casework, which included 2 statutory undertakers
There was one Sites and Monuments Record enquiry from a member of the public.

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

10

Advice to South Ayrshire Council

10.1

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

10.2

10.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 48 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 56 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.
The 56 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
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
3
13
13
1
34

Altogether 20 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
10.4

Refusal of planning consent was recommended in respect of an application for theerection of wind turbine and formation of an access track, close to Crossraguel Abbey,
near Maybole. The turbine would have been in sight of both the Abbey ruins which are
a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and the ruins of Baltersn Castle, an A-Listed
structure close by. Following discussions, an alternative site was selcted which did not
intrude into the setting of the important heritage sites..

10.5

Archaeological evaluation undertaken by GUARD Archaeology Ltd at the northwestern end of Main Street, Monkton, identified a number of features indicative of
past settlement widely dispersed across an area proposed for a housing development.
This work had been undertaken to assess the archaeological potential of thedevelopment because of the quantity of archaeological material recorded from thesurrounding landscape. This included a number of flint scatters recorded from thevicinity of the nearby Dow's Burn, which could indicate the presence of previouslyunrecorded prehistoric settlement in the area, and the remains of the thirteenth century
church dedicated to St Cuthbert, demonstrating occupation during the medieval period.
The evaluation encountered a number of features widely dispersed across thedevelopment site. Broad rig cultivation remnants were visible over the majority of thesite, while a group of linear cut features and pits were visible towards the central partof the site. To the north-east of these remains a possible bipartite structure waspartially exposed. This appeared as a series of slot trenches rectangular in plan andformed of at least two compartments. Other more isolated linear cut features including

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

two possible palisade trenches and further pits were recorded around the southern andwestern fringes of the development area. An unworked flint fragment was recovered
during excavation of one of the pits, and a fragment of fourteenth century green glazed
pottery was recovered from a linear feature, possibly a ditch, during excavation. A
further heavily abraded fragment of fourteenth century pottery was recovered from thefill of a broad rig cultivation furrow. The finds suggest that the area has been part of asettled farming landscape since prehistoric times.

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 15 other items of casework, including 9 pre-application enquiries,
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.

19

11

Advice to South Lanarkshire Council

11.1

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

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 136 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service
or by Council staff.
The 136 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
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
8
15
36
3
73

Altogether 63 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 theerection of a 45.7m tall wind turbine near Carstairs Junction, where nationally
important Roman remains are preserved below the surface of open farm fields. The
views to and from hese important sites would have been badly affected by theconstruction of a new, mobile, and intrusive modern feature within a relatively
unspoiled rural setting.

11.5

Monitoring conducted by Headland Archaeology Ltd during the removal of topsoil
from a cable route associated with the Clyde Windfarm at Whelphill, near Crawford,
has identified a number of previously-unrecorded elements relating to a known
unenclosed platform settlement. The settlement adjacent to the cable route consists ofat least 11 platforms cut into the hillside at a height of about 300m OD. Platformsettlements are most frequently found disposed in a line along the contour, though in aminority of examples platforms have been found in tiered groups, and this appears tobe the case at Whelphill; several terraces are visible in the photograph above, andmaterial has been identified from each of them. A number of curving features havebeen identified, running across the width of the cable wayleave or extending into thebaulk. These may represent the remains of round-houses, though it is also possible thatthey could also be enclosures associated with the settlement. Further work will benecessary to expand the cable easement in the vicinity of these features in order toresolve their function. In other areas, features have been identified just down-slope

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

from the artificial platforms. While it is not uncommon to find small cairns on thelower hill-slopes below unenclosed platform settlements, the features identified at
Whelphill appear to represent either enclosures or retaining walls. Again, however,further excavation will be needed in order to clarify found fragments of a

11.6

11.7

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 42 other items of casework, including 33 pre-application enquiries
and 2 enquiries from statutory undertakers.
Advice and further map extracts were provided to the Rutherglen Heritage Society toassist them in continuing their survey of surviving burgh boundary stones for the royal
burgh of Rutherglen. In exchange for the advice and assistance provided, the localgroup submitted their updated survey information and copies of retrieved historicalinformation to the Sites and Monuments 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.

21

12

Advice to West Dunbartonshire Council

12.1

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

12.2

12.3

Development Management Advice
Over the report period 48 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 6 new planning applications were identified
as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or byCouncil staff.
The 6 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service interms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

3
3

Altogether 3 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
12.4

12.5

Trial trenching undertaken by CFA Archaeology Ltd in advance of construction of a
new health and care centre at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria, WestDunbartonshire, has identified what appears to be an important prehistoric site. The
work was required as the site lies on a raised terrace of the River Leven, within theVale of Leven, and lies close to a source of water. As the site did not appear to havebeen affected by modern development, it was considered by WoSAS to retain somepotential to produce material relating to prehistoric activity. Twenty-four trial trenches
were excavated during the course of the evaluation, representing roughly an 8%
sample of the area available for development. This revealed seven pits near the centreof the site. Sherds of prehistoric Grooved Ware pottery were recovered from the fill of
one of the pits, justifying a further phase of excavation. Work on the site continued torecover widespread evidence of Neolithic domestic occupation and one feature filledwith pottery fragments suggesting some form of ritual activity. It is likely that this site
will turn out to be one of the most important sites for Grooved Ware 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 6 other items of casework, including 3 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.

22

13

13.1

13.2

13.3

Advice to West Lothian Council

Development Plan Advice
Advice was provided to the Council on filtering out known archaeological resourcesfrom proposed development sites in the West Lothiam Local Development Plan.
Development Management Advice
Over the report period 31 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 96 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service
or by Council staff.
The 96 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
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
8
10
10
4
1
62

Altogether 34 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
13.4

Refusal of the planning application was recommended in respect of one proposal, theformation of a 23 turbine wind farm at Fauch Hill, West Calder. Despite lengthy early
consultation, the applicant submitted proposals which would involve the erection ofmultiple 123m high wind turbines in and around a well-preserved farmstead and fieldsystem of probable late medieval to early modern date, and in a scenic area in thefoothills of the Pentlands in main views of several Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

13.5

Archaeological evaluation was carried out by Headland Archaeology Ltd. to assesspart of the site of the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge before plans for development ofadditional facilities at the Leisure Centre at Kettilstoun Mains. The proposals raised
two archaeological issues. The first of these related to a circular crop-mark identified
on aerial photographs taken by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical
Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in 1981. The second related to the position of the
field proposed for development in relation to the site of the Battle of Linlithgow
Bridge, and the possibility that material associated with the advance or rout of troops
may be present. As a result of this, WoSAS advised that a metal-detecting survey andevaluation trenching should taken place, in order to assess the effect of any
development on archaeological material. The metal detector survey was undertaken bymembers of the Scottish Artefact Recovery Group in association with Headland
Archaeology, but identified very few metal artefacts. This may be because the area has
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

been subject to previous metal-detecting, or because the depth of topsoil present insome areas of the site was too great. Whatever the explanation, it provided little
definite evidence relating to the battlefield. The trial trenches excavated across thecropmark enclosure proved similarly negative, with no evidence for a ditch, palisadeslot or line of post-holes, suggesting that the enclosure visible from the air may be asurface feature. However, trenching elsewhere on the site did identify the presence ofsignificant evidence for prehistoric occupation, with lines of post-holes and prehistoric
pottery in one area, and two cremations elsewhere on the site.

13.6

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 25 other items of casework, including 18 pre-application enquiries,
and one Sites and Monuments Record enquiry from a member of the public.

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

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 2011-12 the National Park Authority
paid £16,200 to the Service for archaeological advice.

14.2

14.3

14.4

Development Plan Advice
Advice and comments were provided to the National Park Authority on thesignificance of archaeological remains and areas of archaeological potential in areas
proposed for development in the Local Development Plan.
Development Management Advice
Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 55 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues by the Archaeology Service or
National Park Authority staff.
The 55 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
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
9
7
5
2
31

Altogether 24 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
14.5

14.7

An archaeological evaluation of an eighteenth century military road at Loch Arklet
was carried out in early August 2011. The road was part of General Wade’s 1740s
network of military roads linking strongholds in the Highlands. The line of themilitary road runs for c.5km west to east from the former garrison site at Inversnaid
above Loch Lomond to Stronachlachar on Loch Katrine. The evaluation targeted theintersection of the military road and an earlier pre-1718 road in order to record theirrelationship. A culvert forming part of the road was also investigated. The evaluation
established that the eighteenth century military road straightened and improved earlier
phases of road construction with well constructed culverts built to cross the numerous
streams feeding Loch Arklet.
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 24 other items of casework including 8
pre-application enquiries and 5 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.

25

15

Information and Advice to Developers/Agents and to Statutory Undertakers

15.1

There were 137 requests for information and advice from developers or their agents,
including 66 requests for Sites and Monuments Record digital extracts. There were 32
requests for assistance in connection with Scottish Water, Scottish Water Solutions,
Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Electricity, and Transerve proposals. The
requests for assistance from developers and their agents raised income of £4,911, an
increase on the previous year’s sum of £3,850, and close to the level generated prior to
the recession.

16

Agri-Environment Advice

16.1

The Service received a grant from Historic Scotland of £4,233 to enable it to provide
advice to the Scottish Rural Development Programme’s decision makers on request.
This is similar to the previous year's grant of £4,039. The grant is now distributed
proportionally across Scotland in accordance with the number of SRDP applications
for which archaeological advice is sought. The Service was consulted for advice on 71
applications to the SRDP, which is also similar to the level of requests in the previous
financial year. As was the case last year, the geographical spread of applications
requesting information is not uniform, and there is concern that the system forproviding archaeological advice to the SRDP is still not fully functional across thewhole of the Service’s area.

17

Management of the M74 Completion Archaeology Contracts

17.1

During the report period the Archaeology Service concluded the provision of advice
on the management of the reporting stage of the Phase 2 archaeology contract which
had been procured in advance of the construction of the completion link between the
M74 and the M8. The Service had been working to the Appointed Agent for the roadprocurement – Glasgow City Council’s Land Services department. The archaeology
contract reached its conclusion with the completion of the post-excavation phase andfinal reporting stage in July 2011. During the report period an income of £6,390 was
received by the Service in respect of its work for the M74 Completion project. The
Archaeology Service may be invited to provide a post-completion assessment of thepredicted effects of the construction of the new road on the historic environment, andif so, will be paid for reporting its findings. The level of income to be derived fromthis possible source has yet to be determined.

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

Appendix 1
Annual Performance Statistics 2011-12 (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

91.1%(97.2%)

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

81.27%
81.54%
96.55%
85.00%
75.00%
72.70%
80.00%
80.40%
85.20%
80.00%
86.21%
78.60%(93.8%)(85.0%)(93.3%)(82.4%)(100.0%)(88.1%)(78.3%)(83.3%)(84.2%)(96.4%)(88.9%)(95.0%)Overall Planning Application Performance

81.96%(89.6%)

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

82.75%
88.89%
87.50%
66.67%
80.00%(54.2%)(77.6%)(91.9%)(93.8%)(57.14%)Overall Other Work Performance

81.16%(74.93%)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

Appendix 2
WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICEINCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTFOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 20122010/11£2011/12£
Income171,855
39,104857

Contribution from participating authorities
Fees & Charges
Interest on balances

140,703
31,734
1,482

211, 816

Total Income

173, 919

Expenditure
Employee Costs

189,019

Salaries, NI & Superannuation & Employee
Related Costs

187,852

Administration Costs
205
6,203
10,600
206
6,704
57
49
169
2,050
26,243

Fees & Subscriptions
Travel & Subsistence
Rents
Printing & Stationery
Equipment Purchase & maintenance
Catering
Postage
Purchase of services (miscellaneous)
Audit Fee

205
5,046
10,700
523
6,565
43
55
88
1,816
25,041

215,262

Total Expenditure

212,893(3446)
153,334

Surplus/(Deficit) for Year
Surplus Brought Forward(38,974)
149,888

149,888

Accumulated Surplus

110,914The 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.

28