Board Meeting - June 2019

This document contains a notice for Cairngorms National Park Authority meetings on 14 June 2019, to be held at Glenlivet Distillery in Glenlivet. The Staffing and Recruitment Committee meeting will begin at 9am, followed by the Formal Board Meeting at 11am. The agenda and papers for the Board meeting will be available on the Cairngorms National Park Authority website on the Monday of the meeting week. For any access or other requirements, people should contact the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) office in advance of the meeting.

This document contains the agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board meeting on 14 June 2019 at Glenlivet Distillery. The meeting will cover welcoming attendees, apologies for absence, and approving the minutes from the meeting held on 29 March 2019. Other items for discussion include matters arising from the previous meeting, declarations of interest, a chief executive officer report, the National Park Partnership Plan progress, and strategic risk management. Decision items include standing orders and the board fees policy. The agenda also includes updates on the Cairngorms Leader Programme, the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, and joint working with United Kingdom National Parks, as well as the date and venue of the next meeting.

This document contains an update report for the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) from June 2019. The report outlines the main strategic work areas directed by the management team, covering conservation efforts such as forest strategy, capercaillie framework, moorland partnerships, and peatland action. It also highlights visitor experience initiatives like local access forums, long-distance routes, and mountain path upgrades. Furthermore, the report details rural development plans, including local development plan progress, planning casework, and economic and tourism action plans. The report also covers various stakeholder engagement meetings, communications campaigns, and organizational development efforts including office extension projects and staffing updates, as well as youth employment schemes. Finally, the report summarises the external engagements attended by the Board Convener.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority's formal board paper from 14 June 2019, discussing the National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP) progress for 2018/19. The NPPP is the strategic plan for the National Park, guiding the work of public bodies and partners to manage the Park, provide strategic context for development and land use, promote sustainable tourism, and contribute to the Scottish Government's goals. The board is asked to note the progress made in 2018/19 and identify priority areas for the coming year, considering the impact of climate change and biodiversity emergencies, as well as ongoing reviews of grouse and deer management. The main strategic risk to the NPPP is ensuring sufficient resources (financial and personnel) to deliver the plan by 2022.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's performance towards its 2018 to 2022 strategic objectives. It focuses on how well the Authority is doing based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), highlighting any issues or risks. The document also includes the latest version of the Strategic Risk Register, which has been reviewed by the Management Team and the Audit and Risk Committee. The Board is asked to review corporate performance, strategic risk management, achievements, exceptions, and the risk register itself.

This document contains a corporate plan reporting for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 14 June 2019. It details progress on key priorities such as landscape-scale conservation (including peatland restoration and woodland expansion), deer management, moorland management, visitor infrastructure, increasing physical activity, creating an inclusive park, and rural development (including housing). The report also covers corporate services, including organizational development and staff support, as well as communications and engagement strategies to raise awareness and involvement in the park's activities.

This document contains a summary of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's key performance indicators (KPIs) as of June 14, 2019. The KPIs cover conservation and land use, visitor experience, rural development, corporate services, operational plan budget, carbon emissions, and equal pay assessments. Woodland expansion and peatland restoration are progressing well. Deer densities are being maintained to help woodland regeneration, and the number of John Muir Awards completed exceeded the target. However, there have been raptor and pearl mussel crimes, staff turnover is higher than the target, and an RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) reportable injury occurred. The park is working with partners to address wildlife crime. Path upgrades are exceeding targets, affordable housing is being delivered, and business satisfaction is high. The park is also working to reduce carbon emissions and improve equal pay.

This document contains a strategic risk register from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 14 June 2019. It identifies various risks that could impact the Park Authority's ability to deliver its corporate plan and strategic goals. These risks are categorized and include potential crossover risks, governance issues, and resourcing challenges, including those related to staffing, funding, and EU exit implications. The register also outlines mitigation strategies for each identified risk, assigns responsibility for managing the risks, and tracks trends in risk levels over time.

This document contains a formal board paper from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 14 June 2019, regarding revisions to the Authority's Standing Orders. Prepared by David Cameron, Director of Corporate Services, the paper presents revisions following the Board's consideration of a revised draft in March 2019. The Board is requested to review the revised Standing Orders and, subject to amendments, approve the finalized documents for endorsement and publication. The Standing Orders are a key governance document supporting the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum agreed by the Scottish Government, the Authority's Code of Conduct, and other statutes and regulations. They ensure the Authority's operations are based on the highest standards of governance and support the Code of Conduct.

This document contains the standing orders for meetings of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (referred to as 'the Board' in the document). These rules, which were established on 25 March 2003, outline the procedures for Board meetings and committee meetings, and supplement any requirements in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, and other Acts of Parliament or guidance from Scottish Ministers. The document covers topics such as the composition of the Board (which has 19 members), the election of the Convener and Deputy Convener, quorum requirements (10 members), public attendance at meetings, the preparation and circulation of board papers, and the process for making board decisions, including voting procedures. It also addresses members' interests, confidentiality, board minutes, committees, delegation of functions, and suspension and amendments of standing orders, to ensure efficient and transparent operations.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms Local Action Group (CLAG) LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale) Programme, which supports rural development through community projects. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is asked to note the program's contribution to the National Park Partnership Plan and its successful management of LEADER funding. The LEADER Programme has been awarded just under £3 million in funding from the Scottish Government and the European Union. The CLAG operates as the Cairngorms Local Action Group Trust and is supported by the Cairngorms National Park Authority as the Accountable Body. The Board has endorsed the Local Development Strategy and business plan and agreed to act as the Accountable Body for the Cairngorms LEADER. The CLAG has fully committed the LEADER Programme Grant, allocating £2.969 million to projects with a total value of £3.773 million and the programme involves projects in 13 different communities. There are potential risks associated with the Authority's role as Accountable Body, including financial clawbacks and the UK's exit from the European Union. The Authority's support brings significant investment to communities and supports the objectives of the National Park Partnership and the Authority's Corporate Plan. The delivery of the LEADER Programme is monitored by the Cairngorms Trust Board, and the Authority's support will be assessed in terms of successful program delivery and investment.

This document contains an extract of the Cairngorms Trust's LEADER (Local Action in Rural Development) quarterly report from February to May 2019. It includes a project summary, analysis of applications to the Local Action Group, financial information, and commitments to date. The report highlights the Cairngorms LEADER program's financial commitment to approved projects, focusing on farm diversification, enterprise projects and cooperation projects. It also provides updates on ongoing and completed projects, showcasing their impact on the community, tourism, and environment. Additionally, the document includes a social media annex with updates on various projects and initiatives.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board, dated 14 June 2019. The report highlights the decline in capercaillie population, with only around 1,100 left in the UK, mostly within the National Park, with the main reasons for the decline being poor productivity, habitat loss, and disturbance. The Scottish Capercaillie Group guides work to protect and enhance the species, and previous funding helped slow the rapid decline. The Cairngorms Capercaillie Project aims to find new ways for people who live, work, and visit the National Park to help conserve capercaillie by improving habitat, involving more people in conservation, and enabling community action plans. The project is currently in a testing phase, seeking ways communities can participate in capercaillie conservation, with Carrbridge serving as a pilot community and the next steps including creating a delivery phase action plan with habitat improvements, continued population monitoring, and community collaboration.

This document contains an update on the collaborative efforts of the 15 National Park Authorities (NPAs) in the UK. These joint activities focus on areas like developing the National Park Partnerships (NPP), a Limited Liability Partnership, and the UK National Parks Charity Foundation, which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The Park Authority is actively involved in the "Working Together" initiative and the National Parks' Communications Group. The goal is to enhance communication, secure corporate sponsorships, and improve efficiency through shared services, with the aim of increasing the profile of National Parks and delivering public benefits; the National Parks Communications Unit will cost between £5,000 and £6,000 in each of the next three years.