Board Meeting - June 2023

This document contains the formal board agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority meeting on 23 June 2023 at 9.30am, held in the Spey/Dee meeting rooms in Grantown on Spey. The agenda includes items such as welcoming attendees and apologies, approving minutes from previous meetings, discussing matters arising, and declarations of interest. The board will review the Chief Executive Officer's (CEO) report and a framework agreement with the Scottish Government for information. They will also make decisions on the National Lottery Heritage Horizons Fund delivery phase application, amendments to standing orders, and the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan. Additionally, the board will receive an update on the Public Sector Equality Duty, review minutes from committee meetings, discuss any other business, and set the date for the next meeting on 8 September 2023. Finally, there will be a motion to move to a confidential session to approve minutes from earlier meetings.

This document contains the draft minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board Meeting held on 24 March 2023. The meeting included welcomes to new members, updates on action points from the previous meeting, and discussions around the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) report, the Cairngorms National Park Authority Corporate Plan 2023-2027, the 2023/2024 Budget and Operational Plan, and the upcoming board elections. The Board approved the corporate plan and the budget, and discussed potential voting arrangements for the elections. The meeting concluded with the acknowledgement of contributions from outgoing board members and a note of the next meeting date.

This document contains a report from Grant Moir, Chief Executive, to Board Members, highlighting the main strategic areas of work being directed by the Management Team of the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The report covers topics such as woodland expansion, peatland restoration, freshwater restoration, species recovery (specifically Capercaillie), the Cairngorms Nature Festival, and visitor services including a new Active Cairngorms Action Plan and improvements to paths and long-distance routes. It also covers tourism infrastructure, volunteering, youth action, active travel, planning casework, housing delivery, wellbeing economy, rural development, sustainable tourism, business and visitor data, community support, communications, branding, website development, staffing updates and organizational development along with financial updates.

This document contains a proposal for the Cairngorms 2030 Programme, which aims to make the Cairngorms National Park a leading example of how people and nature can thrive together. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is seeking approval to submit the Cairngorms 2030 delivery phase application to the National Lottery Heritage Horizons Fund (NLHF) and is seeking approval for the Park Authority's delivery phase match funding of £450,000 per year from 2024/5. The program includes 20 projects focused on restoring landscapes, empowering communities, transforming transport, and improving health and wellbeing. The total budget for the 5-year delivery phase is £37.36 million, with £10.39 million coming from the NLHF. The document also addresses strategic risk management, governance, assurance, and staffing for the program.

This document contains a request for the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) board to approve changes to its Standing Orders, which are the rules for how the board operates. These changes include removing COVID-19 related governance arrangements and adjusting how quorums (the minimum number of members needed for a meeting to proceed) are calculated for both the board and its committees, to reflect the actual number of board members in place. The proposed amendments also address procedures for electing the Convener, Deputy Convener, and Committee Chairs.

This document contains a proposal for the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan - Development Plan Scheme 2023, prepared by Dan Harris (Planning Manager). The Development Plan Scheme is an important communications tool that supports the delivery of deliverable and people-focussed plans, and lets stakeholders know how to get involved in the preparation of the Local Development Plan. The Park Authority must publish, adopt, and submit a Development Plan Scheme to Scottish Ministers each year, and the Board is being asked to adopt the Development Plan Scheme 2023. The document also addresses the strategic context, risk management, and success measures related to the Development Plan Scheme, as well as outlining the next steps following its adoption.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Development Plan Scheme for June 2023, which outlines the planning process in the National Park and explains how the next Local Development Plan will be prepared and used, with consideration of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. It provides details on the processes, timescales and engagement opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the preparation of the next Local Development Plan and also includes a Participation Statement, detailing how the Park Authority will involve the public, and an invitation for communities to prepare Local Place Plans, as well as contact details for the planning team. The Local Development Plan will cover a 10-year period from around 2027 to 2037 and aims to be place-based, emphasizing maps, site briefs, and masterplans with minimal policy wording.

This document contains information for the Cairngorms National Park Authority board regarding a proposed 'Framework Agreement' with the Scottish Government. This agreement will replace the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum (MSFM) as the key document governing the relationship between the two bodies. The board is asked to consider the document and raise any concerns, and if there are no concerns, agree to adopt the proposed Framework Agreement. The agreement is based on a standard model used by the Scottish Government for its relationships with Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), and aims to clarify the roles, responsibilities, and accountability between the Park Authority and the Scottish Government.

This document contains a framework agreement between the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and the Scottish Ministers. The document outlines how the CNPA and the Scottish Government (SG) will work together, along with the key roles and responsibilities of various parties, including the CNPA Board, the Chief Executive, Scottish Ministers, and the Portfolio Accountable Officer. While not conferring legal powers, it serves as a key governance document, covering topics such as the CNPA's purpose, duties, governance and accountability, staff management responsibilities, budget management, and financial authorities. The document also specifies that CNPA must adhere to various guidelines, policies, and regulations set by the Scottish Government.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Equality Outcomes for 2021-2025, which was prepared by Kate Christie, Head of Organisational Development, and published on 30 April 2023. It highlights the Park Authority's work to meet the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty. The report covers six chapters and seven appendixes, outlining the four equality outcomes identified in 2021, including a more diverse workforce, promoting the National Park for all visitors, enhancing inclusive access to nature, and encouraging more equality groups to participate in consultations. Main achievements include a decreasing gender pay gap, the work of Equality Advisory Groups, new initiatives to support Board elections, the success of the Cairngorms Nature Festival, an inclusive National Park Partnership Plan consultation, the Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund, and inclusion and diversity work through Heritage Horizons Cairngorms 2030.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (Park Authority) equality outcomes from 2021 to 2025. It details how the Park Authority is working to ensure equality is part of its daily work, meeting the aims of the Equality Act (2010). The report highlights key achievements, including a reduced gender pay gap, signing up to the LGBT Charter, forming internal and external equality advisory groups, and supporting the Alzheimer Scotland's outdoor dementia resource centre. It also outlines ongoing efforts to improve inclusivity in areas such as community engagement, recruitment, service provision, and staff awareness, with specific actions and targets for increasing the representation and participation of underrepresented groups, including women, minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, and the LGBT community; in Park Authority initiatives.

This document contains the board committee minutes, presented on 23 June 2023. Prepared by Catriona Strang, Clerk to Board, the paper includes approved minutes from Audit and Risk Committee, Governance Committee, Performance Committee and Resource Committee meetings which occurred between 3 November 2022 and 27 January 2023. It also includes draft minutes from Audit and Risk Committee, Governance Committee, Performance committee and Resource Committee meetings which occurred in March 2023. The Board is asked to note the minutes from these meetings, which are available on the board portal or by emailing [email protected].

This document contains the minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board Meeting held on 23 June 2023. The meeting included discussions and decisions on several key areas such as addressing wildfires in the National Park, submitting the Cairngorms 2030 delivery phase application to the National Lottery Heritage Horizons Fund (NLHF), and proposed changes to Standing Orders. The board also reviewed the Development Plan Scheme for the next Local Development Plan, a framework agreement with the Scottish Government, and an update on equality outcomes. The meeting concluded with acknowledgements of Janet Hunter's service as Deputy Convener and Xander McDade's last meeting as Convener. The next meeting is scheduled for 8 September.