Exclusive:Culture probe recommends major overhaul at scandal-hit heritage quango
David Martin’s review of Historic Environment Scotland finds major issues - and makes suggestions for significant changes
A culture probe has recommended a significant overhaul of management at a crisis-hit heritage quango.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) was riven by scandals involving senior management and heavily criticised by the Auditor General.
The review makes a raft of criticisms of the organisation and lists some 30 recommendations for improvement.
Staff surveyed for the report said a “fear of reprisal” stopped them from raising issues.
READ MORE:Senior manager at HES investigated over allegations of twerking in front of Martin Compston
These include a new structure of departments and a decrease in directors from eight to five.
It follows a series of failings at the quango, described by Scotland’s public body watchdog as “unacceptable weaknesses” in the management of HES.
A report by the Auditor General outlined multiple concerns that had been revealed in The Scotsman.
These included procurement issues, data breaches, unclear processes for complimentary tickets to events at its venues, and no formal register of interests for the Executive Leadership Team.
Former Dundee City Council chief executive David Martin was commissioned to carry out a culture and organisation review.
The review, published on Tuesday, details how focus groups and anonymous feedback was “predominantly negative”.
“The tone of many of the comments and views expressed was predominantly negative, in part reflecting the challenging circumstances within HES over the last year or so,” it reads.
While Mr Martin praises the work of the organisation’s 1600 civil servants, he adds: “There is no doubt that in recent years organisational performance and strategic focus have not been well served by a combination of unproductive relationships between the HES Board and senior executives, a lack of joint visible leadership and limited collective accountability.”
A HES insider welcomed the review but expressed anger at the way it was shared online without warning.
“Given that the HES board considered and accepted all the findings of the culture review in late May it is beyond belief that they waited until the day that Peter Murrell appeared in court before publishing the document online,” they said.
“It is yet another example of the culture of secrecy that our corporate communications function operates.
“The findings are not a surprise but it is still shocking to see them all there in black and white.
“From a board that is described as intimidating, dysfunctional people systems to poor communications at corporate levels and a lack of strategic, visible leadership within HES tells you all that you need to know.
“Weak and inconsistent leadership behaviours at ELT level have been a problem for years.
“The new proposed structure should worry all members of the senior leadership team with multiple posts being either deleted or amalgamated, meaning no one is safe as they move forward.”
HES’s troubles included the suspension and re-instatement of the new CEO, Katerina Brown, following the sudden departure of former chair Dr Hugh Hall.
Mr Martin’s report outlines how engagement with the board can be “intimidating” and “challenging”.
It criticised HES for lacking a single performance culture and says there is a lack of strategic, collegiate, visible senior leadership within HES, which is a major contributor to current low levels of trust in management.
Looking particularly at the executive leadership team (ELT), Mr Martin finds weak and inconsistent leadership behaviours.
READ MORE: 'Catastrophic impact': Staff call for leadership change after probe clears heritage quango boss
He further criticises poor communication at corporate levels and dysfunctional HR systems, adding that the people department should be abolished and replaced.
HES is steward of more than 300 sites of national importance, including Edinburgh Castle, and more than 45,000 collections objects as well as five million physical and digital archival holdings.
Feedback from senior staff says: “Organisational policies, guidance and corporate frameworks are overly bureaucratic and complex, which can lead to frustration and non-compliance.”
Other staff said: “More should be done to positively encourage employees to tackle poor behaviour – there is a fear of reprisal evident.”
Directors at HES included Stephen Duncan, who faced questions over his use of Edinburgh Castle resources after allegedly taking staff for a boozy lunch at the castle that was not paid for.
Craig Mearns, who had been at the centre of a racism row, also faced criticism.
Another senior manager was accused of twerking in front of the actor Martin Compston at a corporate HES event at Edinburgh Castle.
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