Paper 2 annex 4 Operational plan 25-26
Annex 4
Operational Plan 2025⁄26
Corporate plan | ||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | ||||
A1 | Net zero Delivering baseline report, monitor and annually report on progress towards Cairngorms National Park achieving net-zero and subsequently acting as a carbon sink. Lead on delivering Cairngorms 2030, empowering people to contribute to net zero ambitions | Climate Adaptation Fund See cairngorms 2030 programme | 200,000 | 0.25 | ||||
A2 | Woodland expansion Deliver 1,000 hectares (ha) of new or expanded woodland with new and innovative uses of the Forest Grant Scheme as part of Cairngorms 2030. Promote and administer a Woodland Challenge Fund to support land managers in the preparation of Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) applications. | Two woodland creation schemes are in preparation on Atholl Estates. These will enhance biodiversity and landscape around Glen Fender and Dalnamein. This funding is designed to reduce the cost of developing woodland creation proposals by funding some surveys and the creation of plans. | 12,000 | 48,000 Plus funding given directly to partners | 0.7 | 0.3 | ||
A3 | Peatland restoration Support and finance the restoration of peatland, with 6,500 hectares restored by 2027 | We aim to run at least 12 peatland restoration projects across the Cairngorms National Park in 2025 – 26. Within these projects we aim to bring some 1500ha of peatland under restoration. | 20,000 | 3,000,000 | 8.5 | 0.5 |
Corporate plan | ||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | ||||
A4 | Deer and herbivore impacts Work with Deer Management Groups, as part of Cairngorms 2030, to deliver strategic land management plans to support a reduction in deer numbers. | Deer reductions are being achieved in some areas of the Cairngorms National Park through a Section 7 Agreement. We have sought to incentivise deer reductions in high density areas through a venison subsidy scheme. The results of that scheme will be evaluated in March 2025. This evaluation will then influence subsequent discussions with Deer Management Groups (DMG). | 10,000 | 0.8 | 0.2 | |||
A5 | Species management — geese Investigate and trial models which achieve policy outcomes and retain skills and employment in the sector Cairngorms 2030 3 Nature Recovery | Resident greylag geese in the Dulnain strath and parts of Strathspey have been subject to control for 18 months. There is some evidence that resident numbers have reduced significantly. Numbers will be assessed by Sep 25 and decisions made on future control. Red Deer Hind Incentive Scheme Income from NatureScot (Nature Recovery Fund) | 15,000 40,000 (40,000) | 550,000 | ||||
Moorland management Lead the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership (ECMP) as a demonstration of sustainable moorland management delivering both public and private interests. | We will fund projects which enhance moorland management and biodiversity within ECMP. | 20,000 | 10,000 | 0.4 | ||||
A6 | Gamebird management |
Corporate plan | ||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | ||||
A7 | Establish baseline and assess impact of gamebird releases on native biodiversity. Produce report and recommendations on potential options based on impact assessment. Fire management Develop an integrated wildfire management plan Establish a baseline of deep peat | A partnership project with Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is underway to determine numbers of gamebirds released within six catchments in the Cairngorms National Park. Further work in subsequent years will seek to determine the ecological and socio-economic impacts of those releases. Communication of the fire byelaw to the public by a range of means including physical signage across the Cairngorms National Park. Estate muirburn plans will need an assessment of peat depth across each estate. The methodology determining how this should be carried out is being developed but it is likely there will be a need for land managers to roll this out across much of the Cairngorms National Park in 2025⁄26. | 75,000 | 0.1 | ||||
A8 | Farming Deliver Cairngorms 2030 Future Farming projects supporting farmers in achieving carbon neutrality and helping address the twin crises in the context of a profitable farm business. Work with partners to support farmers and crofters through transitions | Nature Friendly Farming- ie waders, species rich grassland and flood resilience projects / initiatives. Supporting delivery of enhancing farmland biodiversity and building resilience to climate change alongside productive farm businesses. Support biodiversity and carbon auditing. | 21,000 | 63,500 | 251,000 | 1.2 | 0.6 | |
A9 | Freshwater systems |
Corporate plan | |||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | ||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
A10 | Deliver Cairngorms 2030 Climate Resilient Catchment projects demonstrating restoration complimentary to surrounding land use that benefits communities and wildlife. Develop long term approach to water management and abstraction | Support Catchment Management Partnerships and Fisheries Boards. Three full time employees (FTE) supported to develop and deliver restoration projects across Dee, Esk and Don catchments River and wetland restoration research and monitoring. Evaluate success of methods and biodiversity response, inform future works. | 82,000 | 466,000 | 0.4 | 1.6 | |||
Ecological network Design, deliver and showcase a template for Nature Networks to guide habitat restoration priorities and support land use decision making. Develop, publicise and administer a system for encouraging land managers to engage with creating Nature Networks including a call for sites. | Opportunity mapping and design including Glenshee montane woodland scheme and pollinator plan. Production and design of Nature Networks map, call for sites. | 13,000 | 39,000 | 0.6 | |||||
A11 | Ecological restoration Define and establish a baseline on land managed principally for ecosystem restoration. Encourage more land in the National Park to be managed principally for ecosystem | Freshwater ecological restoration focused on riparian planting and large woody structures. | 30,000 | 60,000 | 0.7 |
Corporate plan | ||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | ||||
restoration to meet the target in the Park Plan. | Support development and delivery of the Dee Catchment Resilience Strategy Delivering wood ant and narrow-headed ant captive rearing and translocation work based on feasibility work in 2024 Restoration grazing feasibility study and workshop Supporting the Angus Glens and landscape scale partnerships and initiatives ie workshops. | 5,000 10,000 15,000 10,000 | 15,000 | |||||
A12 | Facilitate landscape scale partnerships Cairngorms Nature Index Design, deliver and showcase a Cairngorms Nature Index | Website portal development and engagement. Analysis and data cost. | 32,000 | 1.0 | ||||
A13 | Species recovery Lead on beaver reintroduction. Lead on a capercaillie emergency plan and long-term strategy. Lead on the Cairngorms raptor project. Freshwater pearl mussel | Preparatory works for year three releases, ongoing survey and monitoring; delivery of management and mitigation plan; research, comms and engagement. Support delivery of the project Legacy and Emergency Plan including contribution to staff cost of project coordinator staff and reinforcement feasibility study. Survey and monitoring focusing on merlin; support for hen harrier surveys in ECMP, raptor tagging, research and engagement. Delivery of Recovery Strategy activities including Spey in catchment translocation Autumn 2025. Support development of | 60,000 34,000 49,000 | 4.9 | ||||
70,000 |
Corporate plan | |||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | ||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
captive breeding for Dee population. Survey work on Don. Supporting Cairngorms Nature Action Plan partnership projects- Rare Invertebrates Cairngorms (RIC), Rare Plants x 2, Saving Wildcats, Skills for Bees, Strathspey Farming for Waders (SFFW), Wader Monitoring post. Survey of priority species and Cairngorms Nature Index (CNI) indicator species. Land management and Cairngorms Nature engagement, showcasing conservation and land management activities and best practice across the Cairngorms National Park. Lead oversight of delivery of Cairngorms Nature Action Plan including investment portfolio. Production and launch of new Cairngorms Nature Action for 2025 — 2030. | 7,500 5,000 26,500 | 45,000 | |||||||
A14 | Species recovery partner project support Comms and engagement Lead oversight of delivery of Cairngorms Nature Action Plan. Coordinate and support Cairngorms Nature partnership and Cairngorms Upland Advisory Group | ||||||||
B1 | Green investment Pilot approaches to blended public and private finance to deliver net zero and biodiversity targets, whilst also providing long-term benefits for land managers, investors and local communities. Cairngorms 2030 6 Green finance and community wealth building Working-age population Deliver and monitor Local Development Plan 2021 | Continue with the Delnadamph pilot peatland restoration project in partnership with Canup Ltd and Palladium and learn lessons from it. Continue to monitor developments in this field through liaison with Scottish Government (SG), Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), West Estates Scotland (WES) and others. Deliver and monitor LDP 2021 LDP costs under Place (C1) | 15,000 | Partner activity |
Corporate plan | |||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | ||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
B2 | Lead development of new Local Development Plan (LDP) Lead the coordination and development of Cairngorms Youth Action Team Wellbeing economy Lead the development of Cornerstone Indicators Lead development of Wellbeing Economy Action Plan to integrate economic and community-led development Cairngorms 2030 7 Wellbeing economy | Building the evidence base for the next LDP and starting early engagement with partners and the public on the evidence. Cornerstone indicators used to monitor NPPP and Wellbeing Economy Action Plan. | Cairngorms Youth Action Team supported via CLLD funding (Corporate objectives) | 0.2 | 0.2 | ||||
B3 | Real Living Wage Promote the development of Real Living Wages through Economic Steering Group as part of Wellbeing Economy Action Plan | Information sharing and promotion of real living wage benefits and value to businesses and economy. | 5,000 | 0.1 | |||||
B4 | Skills and training Develop the Park Authority as exemplar of good practice in youth training and skills — emphasis on Planning Service, Peatland, Ranger Service and Outdoor Access and Corporate functions Financially support targeted skills initiatives, mentoring schemes and collaborative business organisations (e.g. Growbiz, | Junior Ranger programme used to generate interest in countryside careers. Four seasonal trainee ranger posts offered each summer. Grants to community-focused organisations, including Growbiz, Cairngorms Business Partnership and Countryside Learning Scotland. | 45,000 45,000 | 0.6 |
Corporate plan | ||||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | ||||||
B5 | Countryside Learning Scotland, Cairngorms Business Partnership) Community assets and land Coordinate and promote the development of Local Action Plans / Local Place Plans | Programme of refreshing Local Action Plans underway and incorporating a clearer spatial framework to help inform the planning process. | 75,000 60,000 | 0.2 | ||||||
B6 | New approaches to citizen participation Cairngorms 2030 15 community managed grant scheme 11 effective community engagement | 252,000 204,000 | 0.1 | |||||||
B7 | Community-led planning and development Coordinate and promote the development of Local Action Plans / Local Place Plans Act as accountable body or other supporting role as required to underpin delivery of CLLD in Cairngorms. | 0.3 | 1.0 | |||||||
B8 | Cairngorms 2030 12 Climate learning and education Gaelic language and culture Develop the Gaelic Language Plan for the Park Authority | 12,000 | 0.2 |
Corporate plan | |||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | ||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
B9 | Promote Gaelic especially though work on sustainable tourism, community development and relevant heritage projects Mental and physical health Lead development and delivery of Active Cairngorms Action Plan Deliver Cairngorms 2030 projects Cairngorms 2030 8 Public health and the outdoors 9 Outdoor dementia resource centre | Supporting volunteer led Health Walks programme through training, advice and developing new Health Walk groups. Green Health link workers liaison with NHS / GP practices to offer green health opportunities / nature prescriptions | 3,500 5,000 75,000 | 1.0 | |||||
B10 | A Park for All Lead on developing delivering new Active Cairngorms Action Plan Deliver the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan and Sustainable Tourism Action Plan. Develop Equalities Mainstreaming Report and Plan Refresh and promote Park for All campaign Lead coordination of Equalities Advisory Panel | Support for Youth Action Team and their activities (includes Youth LAG/funding programme). Junior Ranger programme. Engagement activity including in schools through Countryside Rangers. Direct capital investment and grant aid to partners to deliver improved / more accessible facilities and path network — see C9 Activity continuing for 2025⁄26 through B9, B11 & C8. Work by the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 18 members will continue, with monthly | 3,000 94,000 | 13 |
Corporate plan | |||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | ||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
B11 | Volunteering and outdoor learning Lead on delivering new Active Cairngorms Action Plan | meetings and ongoing advice on developing our projects, plans and strategies. Recruitment and resourcing of volunteers and subsequent training. Operation of a volunteering portal to match volunteers with organisations / land managers offering volunteer opportunities. Work with third sector partners to offer volunteer opportunities for disadvantaged groups. | 40,000 | 2 | |||||
C1 | Lead on recruitment / training / coordination of volunteers to care for Park Access to housing Deliver and monitor Local Development Plan 2021 | Deliver and monitor Local Development Plan 2021 Building the evidence base for the next LDP and starting early engagement with partners and the public on the evidence. | 78,000 | 3 | |||||
C2 | Lead development of new LDP Support community-led housing network New housing Deliver and monitor Local Development Plan 2021 Lead development of new LDP Coordinate community-led housing network Housing and community benefit Promote Review through Wellbeing Economy Action Plan | Bringing community housing projects together to share knowledge and experience. Deliver and monitor Local Development Plan 2021 Building the evidence base for the next LDP and starting early engagement with partners and the public on the evidence. Bringing community housing projects together to share knowledge and experience. | 4 | ||||||
2 |
Corporate plan | ||||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | ||||||
C4 | Lead development of new LDP Village and town centres Promote Review through Wellbeing Economy Action Plan | Building the evidence base for the next LDP and starting early engagement with partners and the public on the evidence. Building the evidence base for the next LDP and starting early engagement with partners and the public on the evidence. | 20,000 | 1.2 | ||||||
C5 | Lead development of new LDP Visitors to the National Park Deliver Sustainable Tourism Action Plan and Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan. Lead the development of Active Cairngorms Action Plan Undertake visitor surveys and collate and share visitor data | Infrastructure Plan now updated. Infrastructure investment supported through grants programme. | 20,000 | 1.1 | ||||||
C6 | A sustainable destination Deliver Sustainable Tourism Action Plan and Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan. Cairngorms 2030 13 Climate conscious communities | 10,000 | 0.2 | |||||||
C7 | Transport to and around the National Park Deliver Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan. Cairngorms 2030 17 Cycle friendly Cairngorms 18 Active communities 19 Sustainable travel 20 Changing travel behaviours | Infrastructure Plan activity under C9. Advice provided to partners and communities to support their projects. Most transport delivery via C2030 | 324,000 337,000 119,000 49,000 | 4.6 |
Corporate plan | |||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | ||||
Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
C8 | Accessible path and cycle network Speyside Way, community paths and upland path maintenance | Investment in path upgrades and ongoing maintenance of elements of path network for which the Park Authority is responsible, notably the Speyside Way. | 45,000 | 61,000 | 1.0 | ||||
C9 | High quality visitor experience Deliver Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan Develop and deliver Active Cairngorms Action Plan. Coordinate family of Ranger Services | Direct investment in path improvements and grant aid to partners to deliver new or improved infrastructure. Undertaking of statutory access duties including promotion of responsible behaviour. Use of digital approaches for monitoring of path network. Management of the Park Authority ranger service and support / advice / training to partner ranger services. Grant aid to partner ranger services. | 15,000 240,000 | 312,000 | 3 | ||||
C10 | Cultural heritage Lead development of Cairngorms Cultural Heritage network as part of Wellbeing Economy Action Plan with focus on community involvement and interpretation Cairngorms 2030 14 Communities arts and culture Cairngorms 2030 10 Landscape and communities Communications objectives Communications | Ongoing communications management: publications and interpretation, stakeholder engagement, social media, website etc. | 25,000 173,000 | 25,000 | 26,000 64,000 | 0.6 | 1.2 | ||
6.3 | 1.0 |
Corporate plan | ||||||||||
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Aim | Park Authority delivery | Thumbnail sketch | Resource | Financial requirements £ | Staff resource FTE | |||||
Continuing development of website | Capital | NRF | C2030 | Operational plan | C2030 | |||||
Corporate objectives | ||||||||||
Planning services Facilities capital projects HR initiatives Information technology Information management Community managed grants Procurement support | Delivering programme of ongoing planning service improvements Groundworks (Grantown) Back-up heating system (Grantown) Ongoing furniture replacement Culture and values training throughout the organisation Equalities panel team building Best Company staff survey People HR software upgrade Ongoing replacement of kit Consultancy / other resource C2030 Research and knowledge exchange CLLD grant awards Staffing costs Support for delivery (Flexible Procurement Team) | 58,000 77,500 25,000 30,000 10,000 70,000 30,000 | 31.43 | 5.67 | ||||||
Shared services Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) C2030 programme contribution Environment Public Sector Reform delivery | Ongoing shared services agreement Committed annual contribution | 62,000 450,000 | 0.25 |