1.  This Memorandum has been prepared by Cadw at the invitation of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee as part of its inquiry into the Heritage Lottery Fund. It deals with Cadw's role as an advisor to the HLF and as an applicant for HLF funding. This Memorandum should be read in conjunction with the more general Memorandum prepared by the Welsh Office on HLF matters in Wales and with the Memorandum submitted to the Committee by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the lead Department on HLF matters.

  2.  Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments is an agency within the Welsh Office. It was originally created in 1984 and became an executive agency under the then Government's "Next Steps" Initiative in April 1991.

  3.  Cadw acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Wales in carrying out his statutory responsibilities for the conservation, presentation and promotion of the built heritage of Wales.

  4.  Cadw is anxious to co-operate with HLF to ensure funding for as many Welsh projects as possible; HLF resources are becoming an increasingly important element of funding for the built heritage of Wales and can often help buildings and projects not eligible for Cadw grant. The HLF are notified of any Cadw grant offered for a particular project so that the HLF can take it into account and prevent duplication of funding.

  5.  Since 1995 Cadw has advised the Heritage Lottery Fund on applications for Lottery funding from individuals and organisations in Wales for historic buildings and structures. Cadw is paid for these services at the rate of £350 per day plus travel and subsistence. The conditions of Cadw's contract with the HLF for these purposes were originally agreed in September 1996 and revised in April 1998.

  6.  The Agency provided advice on 74 cases in 1997-98, 30 of which were successful, involving grant offers of £2.7 million. Cadw has also joint-funded 7 projects with the HLF.

  7.  In common with its other advisors Cadw works to the assessment checklist which was drawn up for use from April 1998. Cadw has agreed with the HLF areas of the checklist on which it would be appropriate for Cadw to comment. These include heritage merit and benefit, technical viability and public benefit, and reflect the areas of expertise available to Cadw.

  8.  In addition to advising the HLF on applications from individuals and organisations, Cadw can itself apply for HLF grants for projects outside its core activities. One application has already been submitted to restore a Tudor garden at Plas Mawr, Conwy, but was not successful. Cadw is considering whether elements of the project should be reconsidered with a view to further discussion with the HLF.

  9.  Cadw has advised on the format of the HLF's townscape heritage initiative and has taken steps to encourage interest from Welsh authorities and organisations. These include letters to all Welsh local authorities about the initiative and discussions and site visits with representatives of the HLF, local authority and other potential partners. Cadw has also indicated that it would be prepared to act as a partner in and to offer funding for townscape projects. Given the extent of deprivation in many Welsh Historic towns, Cadw believes that the initiative represents a very real opportunity both in terms of preserving the built heritage and in economic regeneration.

June 1998