Commentary on Sections Part 4: Miscellaneous Section 38 – Establishment of Panel and work programme
234.Section 38 requires the Welsh Ministers to establish the Advisory Panel for the Welsh Historic Environment (“the Panel”). The purpose of the Panel is to provide expertise and a diversity of perspectives on a broad range of policy and strategy developments and activities relating to the wider historic environment. These activities may include: the gathering, recording and interpretation of information such as research, survey activities and excavation; the conservation of the historic environment, including identifying assets of national significance and applying the appropriate legislative protection; and public engagement with the historic environment, including active participation and access to historic assets and information.
235.The Panel may also provide expert advice on the effectiveness and operation of the current statutory protection and management framework for the historic environment of Wales, including periodic advice on potential future improvements in primary and secondary legislation.
236.The Panel will be required to prepare a three-year work programme and submit a draft to the Welsh Ministers for approval. The Welsh Ministers may approve the work programme with or without modifications. The Panel must publish the approved work programme.
237.The work programme may be reviewed and amended during the three-year period to respond to new issues as they arise. If the amendments are significant, they will need to be agreed by the Welsh Ministers. The work programme as amended must be published.
238.The Panel must, at the end of each financial year, publish a document setting out the matters on which it has provided the Welsh Ministers with advice.