Board Meeting - September 2020

This document contains the agenda for a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting on Friday, 11 September 2020, held via video conferencing. The agenda includes welcoming attendees, apologies, approval of previous meeting minutes (from 12 June and 28 August 2020), addressing any outstanding matters, declarations of interest, a CEO report and convener update, and discussions on strategic risk management, visitor management, and an East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership update. The meeting also includes time for any other business and sets the date for the next meeting as Friday, 27 November 2020.

This document contains the draft minutes from a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting held on 12 June 2020. The meeting covered a range of topics including the approval of previous meeting minutes, updates on action points, declarations of interest, and CEO reports. The board discussed several projects, including a successful online nature event, partnerships with local businesses, and the development of a seasonal ranger service. Significant time was dedicated to the Cairngorms National Park Green Recovery Plan and the 2020/21 budget and operational plan, both impacted by COVID-19. The board also reviewed updates on various projects, including visitor management and the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, and planned for future meetings.

This document contains the draft minutes from a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting held on 28 August 2020. The meeting, conducted via video conferencing, covered various topics including apologies, the review and amendment of standing orders and business continuity arrangements, particularly concerning the election of a Convener and Deputy Convener. The board shortened the nomination period, clarified details about statement lengths, and approved the updated election process. A revised timetable was scheduled to be circulated. Finally, the next formal board meeting date was set for 11 September 2020.

This document contains a report from the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Chief Executive, covering the period from 11 September 2020. The report highlights key achievements and ongoing projects, including progress on the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan, the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, and peatland restoration efforts. It also details work on woodland expansion, landscape partnerships, visitor management (especially regarding camping and campfires), long-distance routes, and community-led housing initiatives. The report further discusses the progress made on digital connectivity, stakeholder engagement, and communications around responsible outdoor access, and finally covers organizational updates.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's performance from 2018-2022, focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) and strategic risks. It highlights achievements and exceptions in conservation, land management, and visitor experience, noting the impacts of COVID-19 on planned activities. The document reviews the corporate performance monitoring framework and strategic risk register, including updates on risk mitigation. Finally, it provides an overview of progress toward strategic objectives, alongside recommendations for the board to review the update, highlight significant achievements or challenges, and assess the risk register's completeness.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's corporate plan reporting for the period up to September 11, 2020. The report covers several key areas, including conservation and land management, where progress on peatland restoration and woodland expansion was hampered by a shortage of contractors and the impact of COVID-19. Deer management efforts focused on balancing public interest with land use policies, while capercaillie conservation projects continued with the goal of securing wider community support. Visitor experience initiatives faced setbacks from COVID-19 restrictions, impacting the completion of waymarked paths and visitor events. Finally, the report highlights rural development projects, some of which experienced delays due to the pandemic, and updates on the Authority's organisational development and communications strategies.

This document contains a report from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 11 September 2020. It summarizes key performance indicators (KPIs) across several areas, including conservation and land use, visitor experience, rural development, and corporate services. Progress on targets varied; some areas showed significant achievements (like path upgrades and affordable housing), while others faced challenges (like wildlife crime and peatland restoration due to contractor shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic). Financial performance was generally positive, with income and expenditure mostly in line with budget projections. The report also highlights ongoing work to address deer numbers, improve equal pay, and reduce carbon emissions.

This document contains a Cairngorms National Park Authority strategic risk register from September 2020. It lists various risks, such as funding constraints, impacts of COVID-19, and potential changes in government policy. For each risk, the document notes the responsible party, mitigation strategies, comments on the current status, and a trend assessment (November 2019, February 2020, and August 2020). The register also includes specific service risks, focusing on partnerships, staff communication, and reputational concerns. The document concludes with notes explaining the risk assessment methodology and version control information.

This document contains data from 2017-2019 on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (CNPA) website and social media activity. Website visits increased nineteen percent in 2019, with forty-three percent of users accessing it via mobile devices. Social media followers grew by twenty-two percent, and reach increased by sixty percent, resulting in 362,317 engagements – more than double the previous year. Four staff Twitter accounts also contributed significantly to the CNPA's overall online presence.

This document contains an interim report to the Cairngorms National Park Authority board about visitor management during the summer of 2020. The Park Authority worked with many partners, including land managers, local authorities, and tourism groups, to prepare for reopening after lockdown. They created a visitor management plan and used a consistent communications approach. Seasonal rangers were hired to help manage visitors, and there was close work with police and fire services. While the summer saw a significant increase in visitors and some issues with irresponsible behavior (such as littering and fires), the overall approach was deemed successful. A full report will be presented at the end of October, including plans for future investment and visitor management.

This document contains a progress report on the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership (ECMP), established in 2015. The ECMP involves six large estates covering 138,000 hectares within the Cairngorms National Park, working together to improve moorland management. The report details achievements such as peatland restoration, woodland expansion, and monitoring of various species like mountain hares and waders. Future plans include continued peatland and woodland restoration, aiming for 430 hectares of peatland restoration per year, and improving habitats for moorland birds. The ECMP’s work contributes to the Cairngorms National Park’s response to climate change and biodiversity loss.