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Lincoln City Council is being grant aided to fund a post in the planning department to offer in-house expertise and advise on archaeology throughout the authority. The full implementation of PPG-16 is a priority, and the first year has been concerned with establishing the appropriate structures within the planning department for the proper consideration of archaeology. With the assistance of the Inspector of Ancient Monuments a seminar was held for development and building control staff. This has successfully set the basis for the future development of archaeological conservation policy and practice. A number of development control issues have been dealt with in the first months including the successful defence of an appeal. Local Plan policies were revised in advance of the public local inquiry.
Lincoln City Council has commissioned an urban archaeology database from its sub-contractor the City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. This project is nearing its completion and the archaeology officer has been co-ordinating work on this first phase of the urban archaeology project. A draft project design for the urban archaeology assessment has also been drawn up. The City Council is the client for the post-excavation project that the City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit is currently undertaking. These two large projects are being brought together to produce the urban archaeology assessment which will represent the first comprehensive overview of the archaeology of the city of Lincoln. The archaeology officer has become involved in the national development of the urban archaeology project and is working with EH and other national bodies to establish links between the various cities producing urban archaeology databases. A conference on the management of the urban archaeological heritage is being organised with the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers and the English Historic Towns Forum. The post-holder is also liaising with local EH colleagues regarding the City Council's portfolio of historic buildings and monuments. A programme of conservation and repairs is in place and progress is being made in securing a future for some of the city's historical treasures.