How it ensures that local authorities protect the built heritage.

Local authorities have an important role to play in protecting the historic environment. They have a range of powers available to them to ensure the protection of the built heritage in their area. For example, they have a duty under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 to determine which parts of their area have special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserveor enhance and to designate such areas as conservation areas.
Under the 1997 act, they also deal with listed building and conservation area consent applications and have a general duty to have special regard to the desirability of preserving listed buildings or their settings or any features of special architectural or historic interest which they possess. Similar duties apply in respect of planning applications that affect scheduled monuments.
The Scottish Executive, through Historic Scotland, works closely with local authorities to offer advice and support to staff in respect of protecting the historic environment. The Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas sets out government policy in this area and local authorities are directed to it.
I have asked the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland for their independent advice on the role of local authorities in conserving the historic environment.