WEST of SCOTLAND
ARCHAEOLOGYSERVICE

Annual Report of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service
2019/2020
SummaryThis annual report covers the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.
During the report period, the Service dealt with 1978 new casework items, 60 more than in
the previous year. This modest 3% overall increase in casework continues an underlying
trend across Council areas over the past three reporting periods.
A total of 594 weekly lists of planning applications registered with the Councils and with theLoch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority were monitored for potential
archaeological impacts. This essential element of the Service’s work identifies applications
raising potential archaeological issues which have not been fully dealt with at the preapplication stage so they can be considered further. This monitoring of the weekly lists, alongwith direct consultations from planning officers, identified 1014 new planning applications
which required additional detailed assessment, a 9% increase on the previous year.
A further 370 new casework items in other categories also arose in the reporting period.
Spatial data from the Historic Environment Record was provided to the local government
Improvement Service’s Spatial Hub website on two occasions, allowing our authorities tomeet the historic environment element of their statutory responsibilities under the EU
INSPIRE Directive without the need to commit additional resources to the task.

New Casework 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020
Council Area

Total of New
Casework Items

Weeklylists

Argyll & Bute

51
51
49
51
49
47
49
46
52
50
49
50

235
90
44
32
69
52
47
74
179
21
101
70

General/Multi-Council

392
154
113
90
150
123
112
157
282
84
175
141
5

106
13
20
7
32
24
16
37
51
13
25
21
5

Total

1978

594

1014

370

East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianNational Park Authority

Planning
Applications

Other

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

1Planning Application Casework 2019-2020
The number of new planning applications identified as potentially raising archaeologicalissues was 9% greater than in the previous reporting period. After allowing for the increase
resulting from the integration of East Dunbartonshire Council to the Joint Service two years
ago, this is nevertheless a statistically significant increase on the averaged five-year trend in
the number of applications made to member Councils.
Of the combined total of 1014 applications which the Service staff examined in detail, 493(49%) were assessed as raising potentially significant historic environment issues which
would justify some form of archaeological intervention. This proportion has remained fairly
stable in the six years since the introduction of the Service’s award-winning archaeologicalimpact mitigation system. This streamlined working method continues to deliver better use of
officer time within the Service, and within the planning services of member authorities.
The casework response of the Service during the final part of the reporting period wasaffected by the government’s response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. In the 21 days
prior to the end of the reporting period a total of 25 planning applications were identified asraising potentially significant archaeological issues, but the start of the UK-wide lockdown on
23 March interrupted work on these cases, meaning that making a response to 20 of theapplications was impossible within the Service’s Performance Standard response period.
The health crisis lockdown’s interruption to the work of the Service therefore had a small, but
significant adverse impact on the performance statistics for the year (see Appendix 1),
lowering total planning application performance scores by approximately 2%.
Summary Table of New Planning Applications 2014-2020
Numbers of applications identified for
detailed further assessment

Numbers of these then assessed asraising significant archaeological issues

Argyll & Bute
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianNational Park

14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20
208 159 160 184 222 235
112
95
101
105
137
145
84
99
94
89
86
90
38
40
43
35
26
40
43
44
20
12
27
22
24
29
36
32
12
11
9
18
18
14
52
48
63
66
59
69
16
18
31
29
25
32
30
50
55
58
52
46
52
25
32
30
31
23
44
41
43
42
40
47
21
26
24
26
18
22
108
72
92
87
96
74
39
24
34
36
35
37
122 154 140 132 125 179
66
68
67
76
54
83
33
23
26
40
18
21
10
11
12
13
6
8
104 12866
92
94 101
57
57
28
53
47
47
54
65
52
64
65
70
21
31
24
29
26
23

Total

886

866

818

877

930 1014(% raising issues)

417

413

403

451

435

493

(47%)

(48%)

(49%)

(51%)

(47%)

(49%)

Continuing Casework 2019-2020
In addition to working on the identification of new casework and responding to consultations
from planning officers during the reporting period, the Service also carried forward work on
341 planning application cases which had been initiated in previous years.
The majority of these applications had been granted consent with archaeological conditions
which required the submission of detailed project design documents for the planning
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

2

authority’s approval before development could commence. The Service facilitates thisprocess by providing detailed advice to developers and their agents and archaeologicalcontractors, and to Council planning staff on the appropriate scale of fieldwork and standardsof reporting which should be required to conform to the Councils’ historic environment
policies and so satisfy the attached archaeological conditions.
Typically, around 40% of these cases involve project planning discussions and agreements
ahead of fieldwork or are related to setting the scope of post-fieldwork analysis or reporting
requirements, while a greater number involve facilitating the commercial archaeologicalfieldwork required to implement conditions, and providing comments on the resulting reports
and analysis.
The Service also monitors the fieldwork carried out by commercial archaeologicalorganisations in response to planning conditions to ensure appropriate compliance. This
monitoring role also provides a measure of independent quality assurance to the developers.

Other New Casework 2019-2020
In addition to casework items generated from weekly lists and planning applications, a further
370 items of other new work of various types were initiated in the report period. (See tablebelow, figures for the previous year in brackets).
Pre-application planning enquiries

90 (105)

Permitted Development enquiries

27

(36)

Development Plan consultations

1(1)

Policy liaison matters

4

(10)

Historic Environment Record information management matters

87

(74)

General or Historic Environment Record enquiries

45

(36)

Other Archaeological Consultations

24

(18)

Scottish Rural Development Programme audits and other agri-environment matters

92 (115)

Other (includes items sent in error)

0

(0)

370

(395)

Total

As has been the case in previous years, the numbers of new casework items in the different
categories have varied in comparison to the earlier reporting periods. After last year’s modest
increase in the total cases covered by these categories of work, the overall number of casesin the current reporting period has returned to around the average level recorded in recent
years.
Pre-application planning enquiries
The substantial rise in pre-application enquiries to the Service reported in the last reporting
period has not been sustained, and the number of cases recorded has returned to the level
recorded over the previous two years. Conversations with commercial archaeologicalcontractors indicates that some of this apparent fall in demand for pre-application advice is a
result of the contractors’ growing familiarity with the likely policy requirements of Councils
within the Service area, particularly with regard to greenfield developments and householder
applications, and because of the provision of improved procedural guidance by the Service.
Permitted development enquiries
Following the 22% fall in advance enquiries from statutory undertakers recorded in last year’s
report, the number of requests for advice on how to implement their own policies for the
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

3

protection of the historic environment fell by a further 25% in the current reporting period.
While this number of enquiries is still within the normal range recorded in previous years, it
now lies close to the lower margin of variation. It is not yet known whether this represents along-term shift in project preparation practice within the organisations, or whether it is atemporary effect caused by fluctuations in advance project planning by the major
infrastructure providers.
As will be apparent, the number of pre-application planning enquiries and permitted
development enquiries, and the fee income generated by them through the Service’s
approved Access to Information and Charging Policy varies according to the timing and scaleof the projects brought forward by developers or though the infrastructure providers’ capital
investment programmes.
Policy matters, professional standards and guidance, and liaison with other bodies
During the reporting period, the Service continued to be consulted, and to comment on
Scottish Government proposals for the future of the planning system, including consultationon the review of the Planning Advice Note dealing with Planning and Archaeology.
The Service continued to contribute to the ongoing development of Scotland’s Historic
Environment Data Strategy (SHED Strategy), the collaborative national strategy for thecollation, management and exchange of historic environment data.
Through membership of the Scottish HER Forum (formerly the Scottish SMR Forum), theService represented the interests of the member councils in discussions on national data
standards and collaborative working patterns between the local authority HERs and otherbodies including Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the Treasure Trove Unit (TTU), andthe Local Government Improvement Service.
The Service continued to represent the interests of the member councils on an Association of
Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO:Scotland) workgroup on the delivery of
the aims of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy, promoted by HES, and contributed toworkshops and consultations in relation to HES’s development of its own corporate policies,
Scottish national heritage policy, policies relating to heritage designations, and the content
and scope of specialist guidance documents for Managing Change in the Historic
Environment.
Through membership of ALGAO:Scotland, and its ‘observer status’ at meetings of the Built
Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), the Service was able to provide information andadvice relevant to the roles and responsibilities of the WoSAS member councils, so as tobetter inform the discussions of BEFS member organisations.
During the reporting period, the Service provided the ‘curatorial member’ to the Inspection
Panel of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) in the assessment of anarchaeological consultancy wishing to continue to be included in CIfA’s Registered
Organisation scheme.
On four occasions the Service liaised with and provided advice to Police Scotland inconnection with reported finds of skeletal material. In one of these cases, the Service
facilitated an archaeological intervention to recover prehistoric burial remains using a
notification and call-out contract system set up and funded by Historic Environment Scotland.
During the reporting period, the Service also met with the Dumfries and Galloway Council
Museums Service and Planning Archaeology Service officers to further develop a funding bid
for a joint project to deliver a Regional Archaeological Research Framework for South-West
Scotland.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

4Historic Environment Record matters
Continuing high levels of planning application casework have again limited the time which theService’s permanent staff could devote to updating the Historic Environment Record (HER).
Despite this, a total of 332 new site records were added to the HER database, andamendments or additions were made to a further 115 existing site records. In addition, 269
cross-referenced archive records were created within the HER following the receipt of reports
on completed archaeological projects.
During the reporting period 228 archaeological event records were created. The
incorporation of such records into the HER partly depends on the regularity of notifications of
new fieldwork by commercial archaeological contractors and academic and amateur
researchers submitted to the nationwide ‘OASIS’ archaeological activities reporting system,
in which local Authority HER services have an important data verification and validation role.
Public engagement, training, and research assistanceDuring the reporting period, the Service provided two training seminars to West LothianCouncil, the first to Development Management Planning Officers and the second to Elected
Members.
In December 2019, the Manager of the Service gave a presentation on the value ofdeveloper-funded archaeological research to a Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA)
Training Workshop on the future of archaeology in Scotland.
During the reporting period, the Service assisted or liaised with four local amateurarchaeological or historical groups and one university department in the preparation of local
heritage fieldwork projects or funding bids.
In excess of twenty general telephone enquiries from the public were dealt with during theinitial contact call through reference to relevant information in the HER, but because of theshort duration of the calls, these did not trigger a formal time-recording entry in theConsultations Log module of the HER, and are thus not otherwise recorded in our annual
statistics.
The Service also assisted two PhD candidates with the provision of data for a thesis, and byagreeing to be interviewed for a research survey.
Agri-environment matters
While there were a substantial number of recorded agri-environment casework items during
the current reporting period, the overwhelming majority of the cases were consultation
requests from Forestry Commission Scotland Conservancy offices inviting comments on thehistoric environment impacts of forestry grant applications they had received. Responses
have been provided through each planning authority’s consultation response process, whenrequested by the member council. Separate consultation responses from the Service havenot been provided as these would require a considerable expenditure of un-resourced staff
time.
Other requests for information and advice from commercial forestry companies have been
dealt with where the chargeable fee has been accepted in line with the relevant forestry
industry guidance.
As has been reported in each year since the withdrawal of centrally funded payments to
Local Authority HERs which underwrote the costs of providing archaeological informationand pre-application advice to forestry agents and landowners seeking public grants, there
has been no significant uptake from these applicants for the mediated information which
would help to minimise identified adverse impacts of their forestry operations on historic
environment resources.
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

5

1

Running the Service

1.1

The Service’s Joint Committee met on 19 September 2019, and prior to this on 26
August 2019, the Convenor had met with the Manager of the Service to consider the
pre-audited annual accounts for 2018/19, as set out in governance procedures
previously agreed with Audit Scotland. The Joint Committee meeting due to be heldon 26 March 2020 was postponed as a result of the UK-wide Covid-19 healthemergency lockdown.

1.2

The Service's Steering Group met twice during the year to consider various matters inconnection with the running of the Service, including the ongoing assessment ofalternative future service delivery models and the development of proposals for the
implementation of a preferred model.

1.3

The balance in the Service's reserve account at year end stood at £149,797 (seeAppendix 2). The level of financial reserves at the financial year end was higher than
had been predicted in budget forecasts. Once again, this was largely because of
reduced salary and employee-related costs as a result of a continuing temporarychange to staff work rostering, and because projected contingency spending was not
required. The level of financial reserves is kept under annual review as specified in
the Service’s approved Reserves Policy.

1.4

The previous year’s increase in the amount of external income generated by theService’s Access to Information and Charging Policy was sustained at the same level
over the report period, further validating the findings of a review of the revisions to thepolicy approved by the Joint Committee in March 2015. Over the current reporting
period, the Service received £17,200 for the provision of archaeological information
and advice to developers and their agents. Consequently, there would appear to be
no immediate need to review its provisions or charging rates.

1.5

Continuing a pattern reported on in the preceding three years, there has been no
significant uptake from forestry agents for archaeological information and advice
since centrally funded transitional payments for the provision of such advice andinformation were phased out. Similar outcomes have been noted by other local
authorities across Scotland who are unable or unwilling to undertake this work without
additional external resources. This diminution in the range of mediated information
available for planning environmentally sustainable forestry operations is a matter ofconcern which has been raised with national agencies.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

62

Historic Environment Record Maintenance and Development
2.1

During the report period 332 new site records were added to the Historic Environment
Record (HER) database, 115 existing site records were amended, 278 archaeologicalevents records were added, and the HER was informed of the commencement of 123
new fieldwork events. Following the receipt of reports on previous archaeologicalprojects 269 archive records (indexed and cross-referenced hyperlinks to the reports
received by the Service in digital format) were created.

2.2

The Service’s website (http://www.wosas.net) was not updated regularly over thereport period, as available staff time is being directed towards a re-design to allow are-launch bringing the online content up to date with procedural changes and therequirements of the Scottish Historic Environment Data Strategy (SHED Strategy)
which have still to be finalised. Nevertheless, during the same period, there were over
715,000 “hits” on the existing website.

2.3

The Service continued its liaison role with the national heritage agencies and data
providers as the member Councils’ representative on the Association of Local
Authority Archaeological Officers (ALGAO:Scotland), and the associated HER Forum
Scotland (formerly known as the SMR Forum Scotland). WoSAS continued tocontribute to national initiatives on a cost-neutral basis to ensure that the shared data
sources which are being developed under the SHED Strategy meet the needs of the
WoSAS member Councils. During the reporting period, HER data was provided toHistoric Environment Scotland for uploading to their Pastmap website, andinformation on chance finds was provided to the HER by the Treasure Trove Unit..

2.4

The Service has consolidated its engagement with the Spatial Information team of thelocal authority Improvement Service and their Spatial Hub website, which provides
public access to environmental spatial data to ensure that Councils comply with the
INSPIRE (Scotland) 2009 Regulations. The Spatial Hub is designed to allow local
authorities to meet their statutory responsibilities for spatial data access without
having to set up their own INSPIRE-compliant portals. By updating the Spatial Hub
with collated and curated HER data in June 2019 and January 2020, WoSAS has
assisted member councils to meet this legal requirement without the need for
additional resources.

2.5

Throughout the reporting period, the Service engaged in the ‘OASIS validation’ ofdraft archaeological reports received by the HER following data entry or editing by theauthors. OASIS is a UK-wide national archaeological data repository set up at the
University of York with funding from national agencies. It is designed to holdarchaeological reports and information from across the heritage sector. Local
authorities have been given a major role in the validation of the reports generated,
and in integrating the finalised and validated information into local HERs so it remains
available for local researchers and the commercial sector in future. An improved
update to the OASIS reporting system was agreed, and the WoSAS HER was invited
to test and comment on the early release version of the revised system to ensure thefinal version is fit for purpose in the modern planning system.

2.6

During the reporting period, the Service assisted or liaised with four local amateurarchaeological or historical groups and one university department in the preparationof local heritage fieldwork projects or funding bids, and dealt with more than twenty
short-duration telephone enquiries regarding HER information on specific sites orareas.

2.7

Service staff assisted two PhD candidates with the provision of data for a thesis, andby agreeing to be interviewed for a research survey.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

7

3

Advice to Argyll and Bute Council
Development Management Advice

3.1

Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 235 new planning applications were identified asraising potential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of
73 planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

3.2

The 235 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 235 applications, 217 (92.3%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStanding buildings survey condition
Avoidance/protection within, or to side of development
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

1
37
43
47
2
13
2
90
235

Altogether, 145 of the 235 planning applications (61.7%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
3.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 106 other items of casework, including 9 pre-application enquiries,
16 HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 13 enquiries from statutory
undertakers.

3.4

For the second time in two years, the Service liaised with and provided advice to
Police Scotland in connection with reported finds of skeletal material on the Isle ofColonsay. The Service was able to verify that the bones appeared to have eroded
from what appeared to be a rock-face shelter which may have been used in the earlyprehistoric period. Following the police report to the Procurator Fiscal, anarchaeological intervention to recover the remains and investigate the site wasarranged using a notification and call-out contract system set up and funded by
Historic Environment Scotland.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

8

4

Advice to East Ayrshire Council
Development Management Advice

4.1

Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 90 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 21
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

4.2

The 90 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of the policy
and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 90 applications, 83 (92.2%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStanding buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

13
16
8
2
1
50
90

Altogether, 40 of the 90 planning applications (44.4%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
4.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 13 other items of casework, including 5 pre-application enquiries, 3
HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 1 enquiry from a statutory
undertaker.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

95

Advice to East Dunbartonshire Council
Development Management Advice

5.1

Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 44 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 12planning applications which had been submitted in a previous year.

5.2

The 44 identified planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 44 applications, 38 (86.4%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

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, or no action possible
Totals

4
1
1
6
32
44

Altogether, 12 of the 44 planning applications (27.3%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
5.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 20 other items of casework, including 2 pre-application enquiries, 6
HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 2 enquiries from a statutory
undertaker.

5.4

During the report period the manager of the Service also represented the Council on
the Antonine Wall Research Group and contributed to discussions on revisions to the
Supplementary Planning Guidance for development management in and around theAntonine Wall World Heritage Site.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

106

Advice to East Renfrewshire Council
Development Management Advice

6.1

Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 32 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 8planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

6.2

The 32 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of the policy
and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 32 applications, 29 (90.3%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStanding buildings survey condition
Avoidance/protection within, or to side of development
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

2
5
5
1
1
18
32

Altogether, 14 of the 32 planning applications (43.8%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
6.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 7 other items of casework, including 1 enquiry from a statutory
undertaker, and 1 HER site information query.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

11

7

Advice to Glasgow City Council
Development Management Advice

7.1

Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 69 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 33
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

7.2

The 69 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of the policy
and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 69 applications, 56 (81.2%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStanding buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

7
16
5
2
2
37
69

Altogether, 32 of the 69 planning applications (46.4%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
7.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 32 other items of casework, including 13 pre-application enquiries,
8 HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 2 enquiries regarding statutory
undertakings.

7.4

During the report period the manager of the Service represented the Council on theAntonine Wall Research Group and contributed to discussions on revisions to the
Supplementary Planning Guidance for development management in and around theAntonine Wall World Heritage Site.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

128

Advice to North Ayrshire Council
Development Management Advice

8.1

Over the report period 47 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 52 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 19
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

8.2

The 52 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of the policy
and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 52 applications, 48 (92.3%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

13
14
3
22
52

Altogether, 30 of the 52 planning applications (57.7%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
8.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 24 other items of casework, including 3 pre-application enquiries, 2
HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 4 enquiries from statutory
undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

13

9

Advice to Renfrewshire Council
Development Management Advice

9.1

Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 47 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 13
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

9.2

The 47 identified planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 47 applications, 43 (91.3%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

7
11
3
1
25
47

Altogether, 22 of the 47 planning (46.8%) applications identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council’s Area
9.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 16 other items of casework, including 7 pre-application enquiries, 1
HER site information query, and 1 enquiry from a statutory undertaker.

9.4

The Service continued to advise on the historic environment implications of thecouncil’s new City Deal projects, and continued to liaise with design teams in order tominimise risks of delays or unforeseen archaeological costs.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

14

10

Advice to South Ayrshire Council
Development Management Advice

10.1

Over the report period 47 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 74 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 28
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

10.2

The 74 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of the policy
and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 74 applications, 67 (90.5%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStanding buildings survey condition
Avoidance/protection within, or to side of development
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

1
6
17
7
2
3
1
37
74

Altogether, 37 of the 74 planning applications (50.0%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
10.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 37 other items of casework, which included 14 pre-applicationenquiries, 9 HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 3 enquiries fromstatutory undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

15

11

Advice to South Lanarkshire Council
Development Management Advice

11.1

Over the report period 52 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 179 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 69
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

11.2

The 179 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 179 applications, 169 (94.4%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

1
19
37
22
4
96
179

Altogether, 83 of the 179 planning applications (46.4%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice in the Council's Area
11.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 51 other items of casework, including 14 pre-application enquiries,
9 HER site information queries or public enquiries, and 3 enquiries from statutory
undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

16

12

Advice to West Dunbartonshire Council
Development Management Advice

12.1

Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 21 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 17
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

12.2

The 21 identified planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. All of the 21 applications (100.0%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

1
1
4
2
13
21

Altogether, 8 of the 21 planning applications (38.1%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
12.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 13 other items of casework, including 1 pre-application enquiry, 3
HER site information queries, and I enquiry from a statutory undertaker.

12.4

During the report period the manager of the Service also represented the Council on
the Antonine Wall Research Group and contributed to discussions on revisions to the
Supplementary Planning Guidance for development management in and around theAntonine Wall World Heritage Site.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

17

13

Advice to West Lothian Council
Development Management Advice

13.1

Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 101 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 30
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

13.2

The 101 new planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 101 applications, 95 (94.1%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

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, or no action possible
Totals

17
16
10
4
54
101

Altogether, 47 of the 101 planning applications (46.5%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
13.3

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 25 other items of casework, including 15 pre-application enquiries,
and 2 HER site information queries or public enquiries.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

18

14

Advice to the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority

14.1

Archaeological advice is provided to the National Park Authority planning service
under the terms of a chargeable Service Level Agreement covering the whole of the
National Park area. In the year 2019-20 the National Park Authority paid £16,667 to
the Service for archaeological planning advice, and other historic environment advice.
Development Management Advice

14.2

Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 70 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues. In addition further work was done in respect of 18
planning applications which had been submitted in previous years.

14.3.

The 70 identified planning applications were assessed by the Service in terms of thepolicy and guidance contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011. Of the 70 applications, 68 (97.1%) were actioned within 21 days (ourperformance standard is 80%), with the results set out in the table below:
Total of cases

Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStanding buildings survey condition
Avoidance/protection within, or to side of development
Refer to Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled or Listed asset)
No issue, or no action possible
Totals

1
9
5
5
2
1
47
70

Altogether, 23 of the 70 planning applications (32.9%) identified for detailed
assessment required some form of response to address the potential impacts of the
proposals on archaeological remains.
Other Advice within the National Park Authority’s Area
14.4

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including National
Park Authority staff, in respect of 21 other items of casework including 6 preapplication enquiries, 5 forestry consultations, and 9 HER site information queries or
public enquiries.

14.6

During the report period the manager of the Service also represented the National
Park Authority in online discussions with other members of the National Parks
Historic Environment Working Group and contributed to discussions on national
historic environment policy matters relevant to the Park.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

19

15

Information and Advice to Developers/Agents and to Statutory Undertakers

15.1

There were 90 requests for pre-application information and advice from developers or
their agents, including 33 requests for Historic Environment Record digital extracts. In
addition, detailed advice on the implementation of planning conditions was provided
to archaeological contractors working for developers on 105 cases where planningpermission had been granted in previous years.

15.2

There were 27 requests for assistance in connection with Scottish Water, Scottish
Water Solutions, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Electricity, Transerve, andTransport Scotland proposals. These enquiries were generally in relation to advice toassist the statutory undertakers in implementing their own policies for the protectionof the historic environment while operating under Permitted Development Rights. In
those cases where archaeological information or advice was provided and where
fieldwork interventions were recommended, relevant fees were levied by the Service
through its approved Access to Information and Charging Policy.

15.3

During the reporting period the provision of assistance to developers and their agentsin accordance with the WoSAS Access to Information and Charging Policy generated£17,200 income for the Service.

16

Agri-Environment Advice

16.1

Changes to funding priorities and assessment criteria for national agri-environment
schemes in 2014 resulted in less weight being attached to the importance of historic
environment sites and the mitigation of adverse effects on them in decisions on theaward of grants in the current scheme except with regard to forestry projects.

16.2

As has been reported previously, landowners and agents seeking forestry grants
have appeared reluctant to secure archaeological information and advice from the
HER as recommended in procedural guidance on the preparation of new forestry
proposals. Despite Forestry Authority confirmation that local authorities’ fee-charges
for this archaeological service were eligible to be met from the existing public grant,
the same reluctance has been increasingly evident across Scotland since centrally
funded payments to local authority HERs to underwrite the costs of providing suchadvice and information were phased out.

16.3

Except in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park area where the National
Park Authority has itself underwritten the costs of providing such advice to forestry
agents planning new forestry projects or felling proposals, and in South Lanarkshire
Council’s area where the Council planning service has on occasion requested our
input for a coordinated consultation response, any such consultations are treated as
un-resourced work and removed from our priority work-load lists if the enquirer has
not accepted the nominal fee as set out in the WoSAS Access to Information andCharging Policy. In the reporting period, the fee-charge was accepted by theenquirers in two requests for information and advice, and detailed responses were
provided within each client’s preferred timetable.

16.4

Where the Service’s priority work-load has allowed, we have continued to respond to
the Forestry Authority’s consultation requests on the competency of forestry
proposals, and where possible, in compliance with the requested timetable forresponse. However, these responses were limited to general advice and summary
information, or drew attention to apparently incomplete or inadequate provisions forthe historic environment within the proposals as set out.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

20Appendix 1
Annual Performance Statistics 2019-20 (figures for the previous year in brackets forcomparison)

Monitoring of Weekly lists of planning applications
The performance standard in the WoSAS Service Level Agreement for this area ofwork is for 90% to be monitored and actioned within 14 calendar days of receipt.
Performance

98.81%(99.49%)Planning and Listed Building Consultations
The performance standard in the WoSAS Service Level Agreement for this area ofwork is for 80% to be actioned within 21 calendar days of receipt.
Planning Applications
Argyll & Bute
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianLoch Lomond & The Trossachs

92.34%
92.22%
86.36%
90.63%
81.16%
92.31%
91.49%
90.54%
94.41%
100.00%94.06%
97.14%(96.83%)(96.47%)(93.10%)(100.00%)(93.22%)(100.00%)(97.50%)(100.00%)(94.35%)(88.89%)(95.75%)(95.38%)Overall Planning Application Performance

92.11%(96.23%)

Other Work Areas
The performance standard for this area of work is for 80% to be actioned within 21
calendar days of receipt.
Pre-Application Enquiries
Permitted Dev’t/Statutory Undertakings
General/HER Enquiries
Other Archaeological Consultations
SRDP/Forestry Casework

91.11%
85.19%
95.35%
91.67%
44.09%(86.54%)(88.89%)(90.91%)(81.82%)(73.04%)Overall Other Work Performance

75.72%(81.96%)The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

21

Appendix 2

WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICEINCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTFOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 20202018/19£2019/20£
Income128,095
43,762855

Contribution from participating authorities
Fees & Charges
Interest on balances

138,090
41,334
1,027

172, 712

Total Income

172, 712

Expenditure
Employee Costs

140,844

Salaries, NI & Superannuation &Employee Related Costs

141,122

Administration Costs
140
948
6,700
3,000
35
0
1,085
1,970
13,878Fees & Subscriptions
Travel & Subsistence
Rents
Equipment Purchase & maintenance
Catering
Building repairs and security
Purchase of services (miscellaneous)
Audit Fee

150
870
6,700
3,000
100
0
0
2,020
13,878

154,722

Total Expenditure

153,962

17,990105,318

Surplus/(Deficit) for Year
Surplus Brought Forward

26,489123,308

123,308

Accumulated Surplus

149,797

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Na%onal Park Authority.

22