Decision details

Seeking adoption of a new policy as an update to an earlier policy (1996) which relates to permissions required for metal detecting on DC county farms.

That the Archaeological Fieldwork and Metal Detecting on Dorset Council Land Policy be adopted including the suggested amendments made by the Place and Resources Overview Committee as follows:

·         Removal of the word ‘amateur’ from the policy and replacing it in some places with ‘non-professional’

·         Including the following wording in bullet point 7 in paragraph 5.1 of the policy on safeguarding issues: ‘Demonstrate awareness of health and safety measures appropriate to the activity for which permission is being requested, including safeguarding, as necessary.’

·         Including the following wording in point 3.1 of the policy on highway verges: ‘This policy applies to all Dorset Council land, including highways and verges

Reason for the decision

The old metal detecting on Dorset Council farms policy is out of date and does not include all Dorset Council land. The revised Archaeological Fieldwork and Metal Detecting on Dorset Council Land Policy provides an updated version.