Historic Environment Scotland taking racism claims ‘very seriously’, MSPs told

The new chairman of Historic Environment Scotland has insisted it takes allegations of racism “very seriously” – while indicating staff involved could still have a role in the organisation.

Sir Mark Jones, who took up the post at the crisis-hit heritage body just over a month ago, told MSPs he is aware of two allegations of racism.

Appearing at Holyrood’s Culture Committee on Thursday, he said one had taken place over a year ago, while the other was “a bit more recent than that”.

He said: “We have taken both of those very seriously, and in one case the situation was dealt with and in the other case there is a live investigation which is not yet concluded.”

He stressed the HES board and “the organisation as a whole are committed to zero-tolerance of any form of prejudice or discrimination”.

But when asked by Green MSP Patrick Harvie if this would mean “those who have been found to have expressed racist views or attitudes would no longer have a role in the organisation”, Sir Mark said this is not his “understanding” of zero-tolerance.

Instead, he said that means racism will be “dealt with appropriately” by the organisation.

He told the committee “a series of investigations into grievances of various kinds are under way”, and these “need to be concluded and then the right action needs to follow”.

The HES chairman said: “I am satisfied that is happening, but it isn’t the work of an instant because there are proper procedures to be gone through, and those must be observed.

“But I am hopeful that that will be concluded, most of them I think will be concluded, in the next month or two.”

He appeared before Holyrood’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee in the wake of a series of damaging media reports on HES – including one that a senior leader at the organisation was sanctioned after allegedly “twerking” in front of actor Martin Compston.

Separately, HES chief executive Katerina Brown was reported to have been suspended following an investigation into her conduct, although Sir Mark said she is “at work now” and is “not suspended”.

Meanwhile, Auditor General for Scotland Stephen Boyle has confirmed he intends to publish a Section 22 report into HES.

Such reports are prepared into specific concerns arising from audits of public bodies, with Mr Boyle telling MSPs he is “concerned” HES has operated without an accountable officer for an extended period and “aspects of wider leadership instability is impacting on its culture and operation”.

Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said documents titled “HES corruption volumes” had been sent to Scottish ministers and Audit Scotland.

The Tory said: “I don’t think we can understate the seriousness of the situation at Historic Environment Scotland.

“The Section 22 report the Auditor General has indicated he will issue is pretty much a mayday signal from him in terms of the current status of Historic Environment Scotland.”

As well as the Section 22 report, Sir Mark told MSPs it is “very possible” there may also need to be a “broader inquiry into the culture at HES”.

He told the committee “one of the main challenges” the organisation faces is a “lack of leadership”, adding work is under way to bring in an interim chief operating officer for six months.

“That’s a process which is just getting under way now and which I hope will be complete in the next month or so,” he said.

He stressed to the committee that “HES has many dedicated and experienced staff who are doing a great job”, although he added: “That is not to deny we have problems, clearly we do and they need to be tackled.”

He accepted he “probably will never have all the answers”, he said his aim is “do my part in returning Historic Environment Scotland to a situation where the board and senior management are seen to be effective leaders of an organisation that is able to concentrate on doing a much needed and widely appreciated job”.

With HES board member Andrew Davis also telling MSPs he was “not aware” of any meetings between the board and Culture Secretary Angus Robertson in the last four years, Mr Kerr said this “beggars belief”.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Kerr said: “It’s now blindingly obvious that this organisation is in meltdown and has a toxic culture.

“Had there been any competent oversight by ministers, this need never have happened.

“HES receives more than £70 million in taxpayers’ money every year and performs a central role in preserving our national heritage.

“As culture secretary, Angus Robertson should have been supervising HES, but has clearly been asleep at the wheel during this period of disgraceful mismanagement and only taken an interest in the organisation after these scandals emerged.”