Board Meeting - September 2024

This document contains the formal board agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority meeting on 13 September 2024 at 10am in Grantown on Spey. The agenda includes welcoming attendees and approving minutes from previous meetings. There will be updates from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and convener, plus an annual update on the National Park Partnership Plan. Decisions will be made on a seasonal fire management byelaw, code of conduct additions, the election of a Planning Committee Deputy Convener, and the nature action plan final report. The agenda also includes minutes from committee meetings and sets the date for the next meeting as 22 November 2024.

This document contains the draft minutes from the Formal Board Meeting held by the Cairngorms National Park Authority on 28 June 2024. The meeting included discussions and updates on various topics such as the approval of previous meeting minutes, action points from September 2023, fire management byelaws, an integrated wildfire management plan, the Gaelic Language Plan 2024-28, and a Capercaillie Emergency Plan. The board noted the papers, approved actions, and discussed concerns related to each topic, including the prioritization of a pine marten survey and the need for clear communication of byelaws. The meeting also included updates from the Audit and Risk Committee and concluded with the date of the next meeting set for Friday 13 September.

This document contains the CEO Report and Convener Update for the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) as of 13 September 2024. The report highlights key areas of work including nature and climate change initiatives such as the Climate Adaptation Fund, peatland restoration, and capercaillie conservation. Other areas of focus include deer management, beaver monitoring, nature networks, visitor services, ranger services and active travel. Planning and rural development efforts are ongoing, including work on the Local Development Plan and community-led local development. There's been lots of media and social media activity, including launching the Climate Adaptation Fund and participating in the UN-backed Race to Zero initiative. Workforce management updates include staffing changes, youth employment initiatives, and revisions to organisational policies. The Convener's update details meetings and discussions with various stakeholders, focusing on issues such as peatland restoration, affordable housing, and collaboration with other organisations and agencies.

This document contains the National Park Partnership Plan Annual Update, prepared by Gavin Miles, Director of Planning and Place. It summarizes the monitoring framework for the National Park Partnership Plan and pinpoints key areas where progress is being made, or where it's expected in the future after the second year of the plan. The document highlights progress in three main areas: Nature, People, and Place. For Nature, woodland creation and peatland restoration are exceeding targets, while the beaver reintroduction program has successfully started. For People, initiatives like the Green Health Referrals scheme and an increase in businesses paying the real living wage show positive development. Lastly, for Place, the National Short Term Let Licensing scheme has been fully implemented, affordable housing projects are underway, and the National Park received the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism. The document also discusses future steps, including continued monitoring and data collection to build a dashboard showcasing progress and supporting targeted promotion.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (Park Authority) NPPP Monitoring Framework Update from August 2024, outlining the progress and targets for various nature, people, and place-related objectives within the park. For nature, the key goals include reaching net-zero emissions, expanding woodland cover, restoring peatland, managing deer and herbivore populations, sustaining moorland management, managing gamebird populations, fire management, supporting sustainable farming, restoring freshwater systems, creating an ecological network, and improving ecosystem functionality. For people, the goals are focused on increasing the working-age population, developing a wellbeing economy, promoting real living wages, enhancing skills and training, increasing community assets and participation, supporting community-led planning, encouraging Gaelic language and culture, and improving mental and physical health. For place, the objectives are to ensure access to housing, deliver new housing, improve housing and community benefits, strengthen village and town centers, manage visitor numbers, promote sustainable tourism, improve transport options, create accessible path networks, and enhance the visitor experience. The document also shares the progress made from 2022 to 2024.

This document contains a formal board paper from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) regarding a seasonal fire management byelaw. The Park Authority board agreed to develop this byelaw, which will be in effect from 1 April to 30 September each year. This paper outlines the wording for the byelaw and seeks the board's approval for a 12-week statutory consultation starting on 23 September 2024. Following the consultation, members will review feedback and submit the final wording to Scottish Ministers for approval, with a target implementation date of 1 June 2025. The byelaw aims to reduce fire risk by limiting or excluding barbecues and open fires in key areas of the National Park, but also includes provisions and definitions relating to relevant parties and scenarios.

This document contains a formal board paper from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 13 September 2024, concerning an addition to their Code of Conduct. The suggested addition aims to provide specific coverage for dealing with quasi-judicial and regulatory activities and decision making, which officers have identified as a gap in the model code for public bodies. The board is asked to approve the proposed additional provisions set out in Annex 1 for inclusion in the Park Authority's Code of Conduct, and agree to submit the updated Code of Conduct to Scottish Ministers for approval.

This document contains information for the Cairngorms National Park Authority board regarding the election of a new Planning Committee Deputy Convener, as the current term ends on 8 December 2024. The board is asked to agree on the proposed election process, which will be similar to previous elections and conducted electronically. The process includes a call for nominations, circulation of candidate statements if needed, and an electronic ballot, with the goal of completing the election in November 2024, ahead of the Planning Committee meeting on 13 December 2024.

This document contains a final report on the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan 2019-2024, which is a key strategy for delivering the National Park Partnership Plan and achieving a carbon-negative and biodiversity-rich National Park. The report details the delivery of priorities, actions, and targets, and considers the role of the Cairngorms Nature partnership in directing conservation efforts. The Cairngorms Nature Strategy Group reviewed the report, and it will be circulated among stakeholders after Board approval, with a review of achievements and lessons learned to inform the upcoming Action Plan 2025-2030. The Cairngorms Nature Strategy group will meet to discuss the progress and development of the new action plan, with draft aims to be discussed by Board members in Spring 2025. The Board is being asked to note key achievements of the partnership and delivery against targets and approve the publication of the report.

This document contains the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan for 2019-2024, which outlines the plan to promote ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. Cairngorms Nature aims to involve people, from local communities to visitors, in caring for the area's natural heritage and it focuses on three main goals: landscape-scale conservation, targeted action for important species, and getting people involved. The plan builds upon previous efforts and addresses key challenges through collaborative efforts with various organizations and land managers and it includes targets for woodland expansion, peatland restoration, and wildlife-rich habitats. The document is available in large print and other formats on request from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA).

This document contains the final report of the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan from 2019 to 2024. The plan is a collaborative effort involving over 40 organisations to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the Cairngorms National Park. It has achieved significant progress in landscape-scale conservation, including restoring peatland, increasing native woodland cover, enhancing plantations and managing habitats for farmland waders, and restoring river habitats. The plan also focuses on priority species through reinforcement and reintroduction programs. The Cairngorms Nature Festival has grown and successfully engaged a wide range of people. The report also reflects on what was learned, including adaptability and progress, alignment and ambition, species cohort approach, recovery metrics, measurability, progress evaluation, adaptive management, empowering communities and partnership working.

This document contains board committee minutes from meetings between 19 April 2024 and 14 June 2024. The minutes include those from the Planning Committee on 26 April 2024 and 14 June 2024, and from the Resources Committee on 17 May. The document presents both the standard minutes and confidential minutes from these meetings. The board is asked to note both the standard and confidential minutes of the Planning Committee and Resources Committee.

This document contains the minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee and Resource Committee meetings. The Planning Committee met on 26 April 2024 and 14 June 2024 to discuss planning permissions, including an application for a caravan site extension and a windfarm development. The Resource Committee met on 17 May 2024 to discuss budget monitoring, peatland restoration grants, the Organisational Development and People Strategy, health and safety, and staff matters. Both committees covered other business, action points, and set dates for future meetings, and some sessions moved into confidential discussions.

This document contains the minutes from the Formal Board Meeting held at the Cairngorms National Park Authority office on 13 September 2024. During the meeting, the board approved minutes from previous meetings, discussed action points, and received a CEO report which mentioned budget restrictions imposed by the Scottish Government will mean that the Cairngorms National Park will not receive nature restoration funding this financial year. The board also discussed the National Park Partnership Plan, the seasonal fire management byelaw, and updates to the Park Authority's Code of Conduct. The final report for the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan 2019-2024 was also discussed, and the key achievements of the partnership were noted, alongside the approval for publication of the report. The meeting concluded with a discussion of the board committee minutes and setting the date for the next meeting on 22 November 2024.