Officials leave heritage agency ‘in crisis’ as staff report claims of work-related stress absences

Published on Friday 3 February 2012 00:00

LEADING members of Historic Scotland have quit the body responsible for the country’s ancient buildings and monuments, amid allegations of bullying. At least two senior officials are reported to have privately alleged they were bullied and others off work sick or on medication due to stress before leaving.

A survey of Historic Scotland employees, conducted in October by an independent consultancy, found that 53 individuals had reported some form of bullying.

Scotland’s former culture minister Patricia Ferguson said the allegations could affect the government agency’s “ability to do the job” of looking after the country’s historic buildings.

Neil Baxter, head of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), said that the body “deeply regret the loss of talent” from Historic Scotland, such as Malcolm Cooper, chief inspector, who quit last year after a stress-related illness, while Pat Connor, head of communications, took retirement at very short notice.

Mr Cooper has now joined RIAS, along with Deborah Mays, Historic Scotland’s former head of policy and outreach, who left last month. Other staff members are also reported to have been absent with stress-related illnesses.

The departures came as finance secretary John Swinney announced cuts to the agency’s funding from £47 million to £35.7m in 2014-15.

Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) vice-chairman Euan Leitch said: “We as an organisation have grave concerns about the government’s agency taking the protection of historic conservation seriously.”

A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said it took allegations about “bullying extremely seriously and operated a zero tolerance policy” on the issue.