diff --git a/.custodian-brief.md b/.custodian-brief.md
deleted file mode 100644
index eddfce7..0000000
--- a/.custodian-brief.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-<!-- custodian-brief: generated by fix-consistency — do not edit manually -->
-# Custodian Brief — canned-prompts
-
-**Domain:** agents  
-**Last synced:** 2026-09-06 19:25 UTC  
-**State Hub:** http://127.0.0.1:8000 *(adjust if running on a remote machine)*
-
-## Active Workstreams
-
-*(none — repo may need first-session setup)*
-
----
-## MCP Orientation (when available)
-
-If the state-hub MCP server is reachable, call:
-`get_domain_summary("agents")`
-This provides richer cross-domain context.
-If the MCP call fails, use this file as your orientation source.
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index eeb9798..8d71f2d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -12,3 +12,6 @@ __pycache__/
 # service
 service/.venv/
 service/*.db
+
+# Local State Hub orientation snapshot; authored work records remain tracked.
+/.custodian-brief.md
diff --git a/SCOPE.md b/SCOPE.md
index 4443956..4a9ae13 100644
--- a/SCOPE.md
+++ b/SCOPE.md
@@ -65,3 +65,9 @@ There is no lint or build step yet; `pyproject.toml` declares the
 - Format specification: `CannedPromptFormat.md`
 - Agent instructions: `AGENTS.md`
 - Workplans: `workplans/`
+
+## Local orientation brief policy — 2026-10-21
+
+`.custodian-brief.md` is a local, ignored State Hub orientation snapshot. Refreshing
+it does not require a Git commit. Authored workplans and the generated
+WORK-RECORDS index keep their existing source and staged-generation contracts.