diff --git a/.custodian-brief.md b/.custodian-brief.md
deleted file mode 100644
index aa045da..0000000
--- a/.custodian-brief.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-<!-- custodian-brief: generated by fix-consistency — do not edit manually -->
-# Custodian Brief — core-hub
-
-**Domain:** infotech  
-**Last synced:** 2026-09-28 21:58 UTC  
-**State Hub:** http://127.0.0.1:8000 *(adjust if running on a remote machine)*
-
-## Active Workstreams
-
-### Runtime absorption into hub-core and archive
-Progress: 4/5 done  |  workplan_id: `9cc1abf3-2ab0-54a4-a250-83f382a49441`
-
-**Open tasks:**
-- ! Archive repository  `6e67fd41`
-  *(wait: Archive only after the stabilization window and RAPPCOREHUB-WP-0002-T05 closes.)*
-
----
-## MCP Orientation (when available)
-
-If the state-hub MCP server is reachable, call:
-`get_domain_summary("infotech")`
-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 7f13e21..b65a050 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -179,3 +179,6 @@ cython_debug/
 
 # Local smoke/runtime state
 .local/
+
+# Local State Hub orientation snapshot; authored work records remain tracked.
+/.custodian-brief.md
diff --git a/SCOPE.md b/SCOPE.md
index 42d551c..6d787eb 100644
--- a/SCOPE.md
+++ b/SCOPE.md
@@ -52,3 +52,9 @@ See `/home/worsch/the-custodian/docs/hub-ecosystem-architecture.md`.
 - Duplicating hub-core router factories or dev-hub workplan tables locally
 - Making the unresolved hub-core library-vs-thin-host decision merely to meet
   a host-decommission deadline
+
+## 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.