The Digger
Norfolk privitises Unit as Councils cut jobs.
Norfolk County
Council is planning to privatize its archaeology unit. NAU will be taken over
by NPS Property Consultants Ltd - the authority?s private trading company
that ploughs its profits back into council coffers. A report by the district
auditor prompted the move. Vanessa Trevelyan, head of Norfolk Museums and
Archaeology Service, said that NAU was in a strong position to expand and
tender for work across the UK.Wyndham Northam, cabinet member for commercial
services, said: 'At the present time, they tend to work in Norfolk, but as
NPS has offices around the country this will give them an opportunity to spread
their wings. It?s a win-win for both.'
After a decade amassing debts of nearly UKP1m, NAU now makes a UKP75,000 surplus
on an annual turnover of UKP1.3m. The council has said the jobs of NAU's 32
staff are not threatened.
Other local authorities with archaeological units will be watching the takeover closely and may follow Norfolk's lead if privatization cuts costs and boosts income. Norfolk is a government-designated 'Beacon council' that already contracts out 65% of its services. Neighbouring Essex County Council, whose own Field Archaeology Unit has had problems in the past, also contracts some services to NPS.
Elsewhere, Northamptonshire County Council intends axing its Built and Natural Environment service that runs the local Sites and Monuments Record. Northants Archaeology Society, which is campaigning against the plans, says that the service's archaeological advice on development proposals will be vital for the county that will undergo 'enormous expansion in the next two to three decades.' The society has called for protest emails to be sent to the council's Chief Executive.
Three jobs are also under threat at York's Leisure and heritage department
as the city council cuts spending before the new financial year.
Links:
Norfolk Archaeology & Environment Division
Northamptonshire Archaeological Society (see newsflash at bottom of screen)
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