201113DraftBoardMinutes10
CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING
held via LifeSize Video Conferencing on Friday 13th November 2020 at 9.30
PRESENT
- Xander McDade (Convener)
- Carolyn Caddick
- Peter Argyle
- Geva Blackett
- Deirdre Falconer
- Pippa Hadley
- Janet Hunter
- John Latham
- Douglas McAdam
- Eleanor Mackintosh
- Willie McKenna
- Ian McLaren
- Dr Fiona McLean
- William Munro
- Anne Rae Macdonald
- Dr Gaener Rodger
- Derek Ross
- Judith Webb
In Attendance:
- Grant Moir, Chief Executive
- David Cameron, Director of Corporate Services
- Murray Ferguson, Director of Planning & Rural Development
- Gavin Miles, Head of Planning & Communities
- Dan Harris, Planning Manager (Forward Planning & Service Improvement)
Apologies:
- John Kirk
Welcome and Introduction
- Xander McDade, the Convener, welcomed everyone to the meeting.
- Apologies were noted from John Kirk.
Declarations of Interest
Xander McDade declared an Indirect Interest in Paper 1:
- Reason: As a Perth & Kinross Councillor submitted a response to the initial proposed Local Development Plan.
Geva Blackett declared an Indirect Interest in Paper 1:
- Reason: As a resident of Braemar.
Submission of CNP LDP to Scottish Ministers (Paper 1)
Dan Harris, Planning Manager presented Paper 1 to the Board which presents the modified LDP as the version the CNPA wish to see adopted and agree to submit to Scottish Ministers in accordance with section 19(12) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
The Board considered the detail in the Paper and discussions took place around the following:
a) The Planning Committee Convener recognised the hard work that gone into getting the Local Development Plan to this stage and praised staff. She mentioned that she had attended the recent meeting of the Developers Forum where they shared the same concerns of the removal of housing sites in Aviemore North and Braemar. She explained that it takes time to prepare a site and that there was some frustration that the plan should be looking beyond 5 years.
b) The Deputy Planning Committee Convener highlighted that the real positive was around affordable housing level set at 45%, in view of general policy where the level was 25% and achieving that level was significant.
c) Comment made around the significant reduction of the total affordable housing allocation particularly in the Aberdeenshire area of the plan and whether it contradicts wider policies.
d) A Member reminded the Board that when Main Issues Report was being consulted on initially, the Braemar site was not a recommended site and it came in afterwards. She added that there were other sites in Braemar that were being looked at for development. She said that the situation in Braemar was not as bleak as people make it out to be.
e) Comment made that they had noted that Scottish Ministers had made a change to the 2015 Local Development Plans, how likely were Scottish Government Ministers to make changes to the current plan specifically the concerns of housing allocations in Braemar and Aviemore? Head of Planning & Communities advised that in that case reporters had made a factual error that provided a route in for Scottish Ministers.
The Board approved:
a) the modifications proposed to the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan as a result of the Examination of the Plan and
b) Reporters’ Recommendations and publication of the proposed Plan (as modified);
c) the publication of notices and notification of those who made representations on the proposed Plan of the CNPA’s intention to Adopt the Plan (as modified) with a view to adopting the Plan in early 2021.
d) the submission of the modifications, proposed Plan (as modified), Habitats Regulations Appraisal Record, SEA Environmental Report, and copy of advertisement of Notice of Intention to Adopt the Plan to Scottish Ministers by 26 November 2020.
Action Point Arising: None.
Election Process Review and Election of Planning Committee Convener (Paper 2)
The Convener thanked the staff for the election process and ballot for the recent election of the Board Deputy Convener.
David Cameron, Director of Corporate Services presented Paper 2 to the Board which presents a review of the process used in September 2020 to elect the Deputy Convener, with a number of suggested amendments to resolve points where there was some lack of clarity. He added that the paper also seeks to initiate the election process for the Planning Committee Convener.
The Board considered the detail in the Paper and discussions took place around the following:
a) Concern raised around the postal votes being received in time, given that with Christmas looming, the Royal Mail may be busier than usual. Director of Corporate Services noted the point and said that provisions could be made for example if 18 members say they have posted it and only received 11, then with the Board’s agreement they would extend the time limit.
b) It was agreed that the names of proposers and seconders with the declarations of candidates would be published going forward. Xander McDade proposed this and Peter Argyle seconded this motion and the Board agreed it.
The Board approved:
a) considered the review points on the election process and to determine whether members wish to adapt processes as provided for as “potential amendments” in Annex 1;
b) considered whether there are any further points of review from their perspective of the Deputy Convener election which are not drawn out of the internal review process set out in Annex 1 and which require to be considered prior to subsequent use of the election process;
c) agreed to commence the election process for Planning Committee Convener with effect from the date of this Board meeting;
d) subject to decision at point “c”, note the planned election timetable for conduct of the Planning Committee Convener election.
Action Point Arising: None.
AOCB
A Board member raised that the Dark Skies Observatory was not going ahead anymore and what was planned for the £40k committed to the project? Director of Corporate Services advised that the Finance & Delivery Committee were meeting that afternoon and were looking at a budget review paper. The current proposal was that a paper would be brought to the Formal Board meeting on 27 November 2020 for fuller consideration by the Board and to agree the reallocation of the monies.
Comment made by a Board member that she had not yet been invited to attend a Cairngorm Capercaillie Group Meeting. CEO advised that they had been looking at dates for the next meeting and when available she would be informed.
A Board Member asked that recently published Scottish Government report entitled Driven grouse moors — socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts: summary report be circulated around the Board. CEO agreed and advised that it would be included in an update scheduled for circulation to the Board later today.
A locally elected member who lives in the Glenlivet community commented that the information surrounding the Glenlivet application was to her knowledge not yet in the public domain in her community. The Finance & Delivery Committee Chair noted that it was in the Finance & Delivery Committee meeting papers for that afternoon.
Date of Next Meeting
Next formal Board meeting to be held on 27 November 2020 via Lifesize video Conferencing.
The meeting concluded at 10.20am.