Performance Committee - December 2023

This document contains the draft minutes from the Performance Committee meeting held at the Cairngorms National Park Authority office on 8 September 2023. The meeting covered the approval of previous meeting minutes, action points arising, and updates on the Cairngorms Peatland Action Programme and Heritage Horizons. The committee discussed topics such as contractor security, estate involvement in peatland restoration, and staffing for new roles. The Deputy Chief Executive provided an overview of the Performance Committee's scope of work, and members requested future papers on topics like beaver and wildcat releases, the Raptor Project, woodland restoration, and the Ranger Service. Finally, the Chair thanked Doug McAdam for his service as Vice Chair, and the meeting adjourned at 2.30pm.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms 2030 Programme for the Performance Committee, outlining progress and planned work to March 2024. The document highlights the completion of the development phase and the second phase National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) funding application, along with a successful governance assessment. It also discusses recruitment efforts, communication strategies, and training plans for the upcoming delivery phase. A key focus is on changes to the Sustrans funding environment and the need for continued discussions with Transport Scotland to ensure the Cairngorms National Park Authority receives equitable funding. The appendices to the report include project briefs, action plans, and other supporting documents.

This document contains the Cairngorms Trust Quarterly Report for November 2023, prepared by Nancy Chambers, which provides updates on various projects and funds within the Cairngorms National Park. The report highlights the closure of several projects under the Grant Funding (GRF) and Nature Resilience Fund 22-23, the allocation of further funds to the Nature Resilience Fund 23-24, and ongoing communications efforts. It also discusses fundraising strategies, the Big Nature Festival, the Park for All Fund, Path Maintenance Campaigns Funding, and an update on the ACE Bike Project. The report also includes a summary of donations and claims for the period of July to September 2023, showing a bank balance of £199,570.39.

This document contains delivery updates on the Bringing Back Beavers Project for the Cairngorms National Park, outlining progress towards a healthy beaver population that benefits both wildlife and people. The Performance Committee is asked to review the delivery updates and consider the project's progress, its impact on the Park Authority's plans, and its effect on strategic risk management. Achievements include raising awareness, engaging with communities, and submitting a license application to NatureScot for beaver release into the Upper Spey catchment. The Park Authority has implemented mitigation plans and secured funding for potential floodbank damage caused by beavers, while also supporting eco-tourism opportunities. The project is on track, embedded within the Park Authority's activities, and has sufficient resources and staffing to achieve its objectives.

This document contains an update for the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Performance Committee on the work of the Cairngorms Local Action Group Trust (the Cairngorms Trust) and the Park Authority in Community Led Local Development (CLLD) activity. The paper asks the board to consider if the programmes are helping the Park Authority reach its strategic outcomes, if the delivery updates suggest any strategic impacts on performance objectives and if any material impacts on the Park Authority's strategic risk management arise from programme delivery. It also includes a performance dashboard assessing the delivery of work being done by the Cairngorms Trust and in CLLD within the National Park against key performance measures, compared to the previous report in June 2023, it highlights that further funding has been secured.

This document contains the minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Performance Committee meeting held on 8 December 2023. The meeting covered approvals of previous minutes, updates on the Cairngorms 2030 Programme (an initiative with planned development work ending in March 2024), the Cairngorms Trust and community-led local development, and the Bringing Back Beavers Project. Steve Micklewright was confirmed as Vice Chair. Discussions included budget pressures, partnership work, securing match funding, staff impacts, trust funding, and lessons learned from beaver consultation and engagement. The Management Team will consider items to discuss in the upcoming year.