Grievances at heritage body will be robustly investigated, minister tells MSPs

Grievances at Scotland’s crisis-hit heritage body will be subject to “robust investigation”, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has insisted, as he came under fire from MSPs for not attending key meetings at Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

Mr Robertson accepted the body, which manages more than 300 properties of national importance across Scotland, is in a “very difficult position”, and said it is “apparent to me there were serious issues in relation to leadership generally in Historic Environment Scotland”.

But he told Holyrood’s Culture Committee he is confident HES will “emerge from these challenges a stronger and a more effective organisation”.

He faced MSPs in the wake of a series of damaging media reports concerning HES – including one that a senior leader was sanctioned after allegedly “twerking” in front of actor Martin Compston.

New HES chairman Sir Mark Jones last week told MSPs “a series of investigations into grievances of various kinds” are taking place at the organisation.

Mr Robertson said the chairman – who was appointed in September – had “inherited a range of investigations”.

The minister told the committee: “Should at any stage there be a requirement for any further investigations… I am not ruling anything out.”

The Culture Secretary made clear he has the “utmost confidence” in Sir Mark, adding the chairman is “acutely aware of the situation he has come into”.

Mr Robertson said while reports have suggested a “range of concerns” at HES, he added: “I think now we are in a position with new leadership in the board that these issues can be addressed.”

Adding that he could not speak about individual staffing matters, Mr Robertson said he had been assured Sir Mark and the HES board are “overseeing the robust investigation of all grievances and disciplinary matters”.But Mr Robertson came under fire for not attending board meetings of HES during the more than four years he has been Culture Secretary.

Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr told him: “You’ve not been in attendance at a single meeting, and I find it really odd.”

He said previous culture secretary Fiona Hyslop had “met with the board at least twice, sometimes three times, a year and that was without the organisation being in a state of chaos and crisis”.

Mr Kerr continued: “It has been clear the organisation is in deep trouble, but you didn’t choose to meet them.”

Mr Robertson insisted he had been “involved personally” in HES.

He said: “I have met with the chairman personally, I have met with the chief executive personally, and I have ensured the appropriate officials attend the appropriate meetings and report back to me.”

Scottish Government officials “meet almost daily with Historic Environment Scotland”, he said, adding that since the start of May there are estimated to have been “over 100 engagements with Historic Environment Scotland”.

Government officials have also attended all nine HES board meetings that have taken place since May 22, the committee was told.

Mr Robertson said: “I have been advised by my senior officials about what has been proceeding in these meetings, and that has helped us to be able to make the right decisions.”

But Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said “Even when you were aware there were serious issues with the organisation, you still didn’t attend board meetings.”

The Culture Secretary responded: “I deemed it necessary that the responsible officials, who deal at that level with the day-to-day management of the organisation, attend the meeting, that is the normal custom and practice.”