Board meeting - June 2025

This document contains the agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Formal Board meeting on 27 June 2025 at 09.30am in Albert Hall, Ballater. Items for discussion include welcoming attendees, approving previous meeting minutes, declarations of interest, updates from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Convener, and an Integrated Wildfire Management Plan. The agenda also includes information on community-led local development with The Cairngorms Trust, an update on the Cairngorms 2030 programme, committee minutes, any other competent business, and the date of the next meeting which is scheduled for 26 September 2025.

This document contains the draft minutes of the Formal Board meeting held at the Cairngorms National Park Authority office on 28 March 2025. During the meeting, the board welcomed attendees, approved minutes from previous meetings, and discussed matters arising from those minutes. Key discussion points included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) report, the 2025/26 budget and operational plan for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, a consultation response to the Highland Council Visitor Levy proposal, the Local Development Plan 2021 – Delivery Programme, an update on the Sustainable Tourism Action Plan, the Public Sector Equality Duty Report, and Board Committee's annual reports. The board agreed to various recommendations and identified action points, such as circulating lists of Cairngorms 2030 projects, gathering information on ecological barrier removal, and adding a sentence to the consultation response regarding further consultation. The next meeting is scheduled for 27 June 2025.

This document contains a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) report and Convener update for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 27 June 2025. It highlights key strategic areas of work, including nature and climate change initiatives such as peatland restoration, climate adaptation funding, and nature restoration funding. The report also covers planning and place-related projects like the Speyside Way and Deeside Way improvements, as well as visitor infrastructure maintenance. It details progress in active and sustainable transport, including bike buses and cycle-friendly initiatives. The update also discusses the Local Development Plan, planning casework, community and stakeholder engagement, visitor surveys, corporate communications, website updates, and staffing changes. The Convener's update covers meetings with various officials and organizations to discuss topics such as affordable housing, land reform, climate resilience, and support for farmers and crofters.

This document contains a Board Paper that presents the final version of the Integrated Wildfire Management Plan for approval, which is part of the National Park Partnership Plan. The plan aims to help land managers prevent and respond to wildfires, increase landscape resilience, and protect communities. It was developed after a consultation period that received 15 responses and aims to promote collaboration among land managers in addressing wildfire issues. The plan includes a £75,000 resource allocation for wildfire management, signage, and communications, with implementation monitored by the Cairngorms Upland Advisory Group and the Park Authority Performance Committee.

This document contains an Integrated Wildfire Management Plan for the Cairngorms National Park, dated 27 June 2025. It outlines actions and recommendations for land managers and public bodies to reduce wildfire risks, improve firefighting effectiveness, and build resilience in the landscape, considering climate change. Key aspects include wildfire risk assessments, muirburn management, recreational fire management, wildfire danger ratings, community communication, signage, and estate fire plans. The plan also covers personal protective equipment (PPE), firefighting equipment and training, the role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), collaboration, helicopters and insurance, and increasing wildfire resilience with a focus on fuel load management and firebreaks. Finally, the plan emphasizes community involvement and outlines resource monitoring and review processes, including annual reviews.

This document contains an update for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board on the progress of the Cairngorms Trust in funding projects across the Cairngorms. The paper highlights the Trust's impact, outcomes, and future operations, as well as the evolution of Community Led Local Development (CLLD) funding after the loss of European Union (EU) funding. The Cairngorms Trust is approaching its 10-year anniversary as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 2026, and the board is being asked to note progress in delivering the National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP) and Corporate Plan objectives and to discuss the value of CLLD actions and the development of the Cairngorms Trust. The Cairngorms Trust helps deliver a range of NPPP priorities, securing inward investments and fulfilling risk mitigation strategies. The Scottish Government has commissioned research into CLLD which should inform government policy in the future. In the past 10 years, the Cairngorms Trust has distributed over £1.5 million to community projects, including youth-led funding and inclusive funding initiatives.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms 2030 (C2030) program, which aims to address the climate and nature crisis within the Cairngorms National Park. The program consists of 20 long-term projects focused on transforming landscapes, empowering communities, and promoting wellbeing. As of early 2025, the first year of the program's delivery phase has been completed, with key achievements including peatland restoration, woodland expansion, and community engagement. The Park Authority has received £12.5 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to support C2030 and become the UK's first net zero national park. Challenges remain, particularly around securing funding from Transport Scotland and managing risks associated with the Active Communities project. The Park Authority is working to address these challenges and move forward with planned projects like developing Community Cycle Hubs and engaging with land managers for nature recovery initiatives.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms 2030 programme for 2024. Inspired by the Gaelic word Dùthchas, which means a deep-rooted connection between people and nature, the Cairngorms 2030 programme aims to tackle nature and climate crises in the hands of those who live, visit, and work in the Cairngorms National Park. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the program includes 20 long-term projects that will focus on benefiting nature, empowering communities, improving transport, restoring landscapes, and improving people's health and wellbeing. Some key achievements include community engagement events, community grants being awarded, improved transport routes, restored peatland, native woodland being planted, and the launch of nature prescriptions.

This document contains the committee minutes from 24 January 2025 to 14 March 2025, including both regular and confidential minutes from the Resources Committee on 24 January and the Performance Committee on 14 March. The document recommends that the Board note both the regular and confidential minutes of these committees. Alix Harkness and Karen Johnstone, Clerks to the Board, prepared the minutes.

This document contains the minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Resource Committee meeting held on 24 January 2025, and the Performance Committee meeting held on 14 March 2025. The Resource Committee discussed matters arising from previous meetings, including updates on peatland restoration grants and budget updates. The committee also discussed a personal use of social media policy, budget monitoring, health and safety, the Staff Consultative Forum, and the Resources Committee annual report. Key action points included staff and board member training on navigating social media, investigating credit unions for staff, and reviewing the staff recognition and reward policy. The Performance Committee discussed the Cairngorms Trust, community led local development, the venison subsidy scheme, the Cairngorms 2030 programme, peatland action, and the Laggan hydrology project update.