Issue - meetings

To consider a recommendation of the Place and Resources Committee of 28 July 2022.

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The old metal detecting on Dorset Council farms policy is out of date and does not include all Dorset Council land.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.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Communities and Customer Service set out the report. She further advised that the report and its recommendations had been supported by the Place and Resources Overview Committee on 28 July 2022. She proposed the recommendation for approval.

Members were informed that the old metal detecting on Dorset Council farms policy was out of date and did not include all other Dorset Council land.  The revised Archaeological Fieldwork and Metal Detecting on Dorset Council Land policy provided an updated version.

The recommendation was seconded by Cllr T Ferrari.

Decision

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.

To consider a report of the Senior Archaeologist (Promotion and Liaison).

The committee received and considered a report of the Senior Archaeologist (Promotion and Liaison) regarding the adoption of a new policy related to permissions required for amateur archaeological work and metal detecting on Dorset Council land.

Councillors considered the issues arising from the report and during discussion the following points were covered:

·            Use of the word ‘amateur’ in the policy as the view was expressed that this could be ambiguous as the policy applied to people with a wide range of archaeological experience.  Officers agreed to consider this following the meeting

·            It was suggested that some information around safeguarding should be included in the policy, due to the possible involvement of younger persons in these activities.  This would be considered by officers following the meeting

·            The arrangements for how found items were dealt with was discussed and comparisons made with the approach taken in the private sector and other organised archaeological activities

·            It was noted that the proposed policy did not cover work commissioned by Dorset Council as landowner for planning or land management purposes

·            The inclusion of highways verges as council owned land would be clarified within the policy and guidance to be produced

·            Following discussion with the council’s S151 officer, it had been agreed that charges would not be made for drawing up agreements in this area as the administrative burden would outweigh the benefits of providing access and guidance for all.  This would be kept under review.

Recommendation to Cabinet

That the Archaeological Fieldwork and Metal Detecting on Dorset Council Land Policy be adopted subject to Cabinet taking into consideration the suggestions made by the Place and Resources Overview Committee as follows:

·       Removal of the word ‘amateur’ from the policy

·       Including information around safeguarding issues

·       Clarification within the policy that highways verges are included as council owned land.