Operating Charter Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service

General

The charter sets out some of the standards of service you should be able to expect from Worcestershire Historic Evironment and Archaeology Service and the targets that we have set for ourselves. This is part of a continuing process of trying to improve the services that we deliver.

Functions

The remit of the  Historic Environment and Archaeology Service is to protect, manage, record, interpret and promote the historic environment of Worcestershire.  To this end it :

• Develops strategic policy towards the historic environment;
• Maintains and develops the Sites and Monuments Record (Historic Environment Record) as the principal database for information on the historic environment;
• Provides advice on development issues to local planning authorities, developers and ecclesiastical authorities;
• Provides advice on land management issues where they may impact upon the historic environment;
• Provides a fieldwork service to undertake desk-based assessments, field evaluation, excavation and historic building recording;
• Undertakes research on the heritage of the county;
• Provides educational resources and information;
• Promotes the heritage of the county by way of exhibitions, displays, talks and other events.

Conduct

The staff  of the Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service will  treat clients and other members of the public courteously at all times  and make all reasonable efforts to answer any queries.

It will provide advice impartially and to equal degree to planning authorities, land-owners and developers, whilst respecting any requests for confidentiality. Every effort will be made to meet planning deadlines, so long as all requested information was supplied in reasonable time.  Performance in providing advice and meeting deadlines will be recorded and monitored on a quarterly basis.

It will provide information from the Historic Environment Record (formerly the Sites and Monuments Record) unless it is considered that there is a risk to the archaeological resource, and respecting the confidentiality of sources and land ownership.  Information may be refused if it is considered that it may be used for any illegal activity. The information supplied may only be used for the purposes of the original request.   If information is refused for any reason then a written explanation will be provided. Performance in dealing with enquiries will be recorded and monitored on a quarterly basis.

A charge may be made on commercial enquiries to the Historic Environment Record (HER)  Further details on access and charging policy to the HER may be found in the published Access and Charging Policy (available from the Historic Environment Record Manager, see below).

It will undertake projects in accordance with the published standards and guidelines of the Institute of Field Archaeologists and the local Standards and Guidance  (75.97 KB) for Fieldwork in Worcestershire (WorcestershireHistoric Environment and  Archaeology Service).  The Service is a Registered Archaeological Organisation and is subject to regular assessment by the Institute of Field Archaeologists.  

Every effort will be made to complete projects and reports within the agreed timescale and budgets. Any potential problems will be reported promptly to the client.  

The Service is pleased to try to identify archaeological finds brought in by members of the public, although this service may be limited by available resources.  Enquirers will be asked to leave the finds for a period of time (usually 14 days) and will be given a written receipt.  Enquirers will be asked to provide as full details as possible of the findspot  for inclusion in the HER (although details of finder and landowner will  not be made public, as detailed above).

Correspondence

The target for dealing with written enquiries (letter and e-mail) to the Service is to provide a reply to 75% of enquiries within 7 working days of receipt.  If the matter cannot be resolved within 14 days, an acknowledgement will be issued with an estimate of when a substantive reply will be sent.

Contacts and Enquiry Points

The Service Office is open Monday – Friday from 9am – 5.30.  The Sites and Monuments Record is open by appointment 10am – 4pm.

General enquiries:Administrative Officer.  Tel: 01905 855455

Policy and Standards: Head of Service (County Archaeology OfficerTel: 01905 855474

HER Enquiries: Historic Environment Record Manager: Tel 01905 855494

Planning enquiries: Historic Environment Planning Advisor: Tel: 01905 855454

Countryside enquiries: Historic Environment Countryside Advisor: Tel: 01905  830732

Fieldwork enquiries: Principal Field Archaeologist: Tel: 01905  855499

Outreach enquiries: Historic Environment Record Officer: Tel 01905 855494

Feedback and Complaints

Comments and suggestions on improving the Historic Environment and Archaeology Service are always welcome. Please contact the Head of Service, Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, Woodbury, University College Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ.  The aim of the Archaeological Service is to provide a service of excellence so that you should have no cause for complaint, but if you do, the complaint will be dealt with speedily and courteously.

• All complaints about the administration or operation of the Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, or the conduct of  its staff, should be raised in the first instance with the Head of Service at Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, Woodbury, University College Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ. Tel: 01905 855474.  The County Archaeology Officer will reply to such complaints in accordance with the timescales set out above.
• If the Head of Service fails to deal with the complaint satisfactorily, the complainant may refer it to Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP in accordance with the County Council Complaints Procedure.  
• Complaints about the professional performance of the Historic Environment and Archaeolog Service may be addressed to the Institute of Field Archaeologists, University of Reading, 2 Earley Gate, PO Box 239, Reading, RG6 6AU. Tel: 0118 931 6446

The Service would also welcome positive feedback on areas where you consider the Service is performing well, so that this can be used as a model for other areas of work.

Performance

The performance of the Worcestershire Historic Environment and ArchaeologyService will be monitored regularly against the standards detailed in this document.  As a Registered Archaeological Organisation it is also assessed externally on an annual basis by the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Further Information

Further copies of this charter may be obtained from the Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service. General information on the work of the Service may be found on its web site at http:/www.worcestershire.gov.uk/archaeology

This charter was first issued on 1st February 2003 and was modified on 1 April 2003.

Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, Woodbury, University College Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ.

Tel: 01905 855455
Fax 01905 855035
e-mail: archaeology@worcestershire.gov.uk