Board Meeting - November 2022

This document contains the draft minutes of the Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting held on 26 August 2022. During the meeting, the board members discussed the election of a new Board Deputy Convener, including the proposal for a one-year appointment to allow new board members to get to know each other before a standard three-year term election in September 2023. The Director of Corporate Service will seek legal advice on job sharing for the Deputy Convener role and provide a recommendation at the next board meeting on 9 September 2022. The public part of the meeting closed at 1.58pm.

This document contains the draft minutes of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board meeting held on 23 September 2022. Key items included welcoming attendees, declaring no conflicts of interest, and approving minutes from the previous meeting on 10 June 2022. A major focus was on Paper I, addressing the Park Authority's response to the Scottish Government's Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation consultation, with board members providing detailed feedback and suggestions. The Board approved the response with agreed amendments to be made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) before submission. Finally, the Board Convener acknowledged departing Board Members and the next meeting was scheduled for 25 November 2022.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) report from 25 November 2022, highlighting key strategic work areas. The CNPA is working with partners on projects such as beaver translocation, woodland creation, and peatland restoration, with positive stakeholder feedback. The CNPA is working to deliver action plans and habitat improvements. The Deer Working Group's recommendations are being implemented and the CNPA is continuing to progress the Wellbeing Economy Project. Efforts are underway to improve outdoor access, engage with communities, and finalize the Local Development Plan's housing guidance. The CNPA is also supporting housing delivery projects and managing visitor pressures. They are working to enhance tourism infrastructure, promote sustainable tourism, and address tourism and business challenges. The National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP) was officially launched and the CNPA is working with LGBT Youth Scotland to promote inclusivity. The CNPA also reports on their Active Cairngorms campaign, species conservation, website development, and publications. There have been staffing changes, including departures, new hires, and internal appointments and the CNPA is supporting youth employment and equality initiatives.

This document contains a paper for decision by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) board regarding Sustainable Tourism and Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plans. Prepared by Murray Ferguson, Colin Simpson, and Heather Trench, the paper introduces two action plans on Sustainable Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure for approval. The board is asked to note the work undertaken on visitor management in 2022, the grants awarded by the Park Authority as part of the Visitor Infrastructure Improvement Programme, and to approve the Sustainable Tourism Action Plan and the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan for submission to Europarc and VisitScotland, respectively. The paper also provides background information on the National Park Partnership Plan, the process of accreditation with the "European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas," and the Park Authority's visitor infrastructure improvement programme. The next steps include submitting the action plans to Europarc and VisitScotland in December 2022.

This document contains an end-of-season report for 2022 on managing visitors in Cairngorms National Park. Feedback from ranger services and land managers shows that visitor numbers were back to pre-pandemic levels, with the Cairngorms and Glenmore area remaining a hotspot for traffic, parking, and camping issues. Car park improvements at Loch Muick have helped alleviate parking problems. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Ranger Service, with 15 ranger services, works with partners to welcome visitors and protect the park. A summer campaign on Facebook and Instagram reached 1.8 million people with messages on parking, dog walking, and camping, and will inform future visitor information and behaviour change campaigns.

This document contains a summary of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (Park Authority) Visitor Infrastructure Improvement Programme projects for 2022. Approved by the Board in March 2021, the Park Authority allocated £324,000 and then in 2022 made available a further £350,000 for visitor management, to improve visitor facilities and experience. Land managers submitted proposals, and those approved received funding. In 2021/22, projects included improvements to a campervan facility, car parks, toilets and parking facilities, totaling £345,349 in grants awarded. For 2022/23, projects included improvements to a mountain bike trail, car park overflow, and several paths, totaling £307,542 in grants awarded.

This document contains the Cairngorms Sustainable Tourism Action Plan for 2023-2028, which functions as the overarching Sustainable Tourism Strategy within the National Park Partnership Plan 2022-2027. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and the Cairngorms Business Partnership have signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action on Tourism. The plan is structured into three sections: Nature, People, and Place, outlining desired outcomes by 2045, aligned with the Scottish Government's net-zero target. It addresses the climate and biodiversity crisis, as well as issues arising from increased visitor numbers, and is coordinated by the Cairngorms Tourism Partnership. It seeks to ensure that tourism benefits the local economy while preserving the area's natural environment, and aims to engage businesses, visitors, and residents in sustainable practices.

This document contains the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Plan for the Cairngorms National Park for 2023 to 2028. It aims to develop a more strategic approach to investment in, and maintenance of, tourism infrastructure in the Cairngorms National Park. The plan identifies objectives, such as developing a clear picture of existing tourism infrastructure, identifying pressure points, prioritizing improvements, developing projects to a "shovel ready" stage, and developing data gathering systems. It aims to add value to the National Park Partnership Plan 2022–2027 and will function as an internal management tool to prioritize investment, direct resources, and assess future funding applications. The plan considers visitor pressures, accessibility, and the importance of sustainable development, and outlines principles for tourism infrastructure development, focusing on maintaining existing assets and achieving net zero emissions. It covers various aspects like active travel, public transport, private transport, and electric vehicle charging points, with specific priorities identified for different areas within the National Park. Appendices include visitor management plans, infrastructure project summaries, core path plans, and maintenance commitments.

This document contains a submission from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 25 November 2022, in response to a NatureScot consultation on the future direction of National Parks in Scotland. The Park Authority believes that any overarching purpose should be set in policy rather than legislation and they think the current aims of National Parks should be modernised to include a reference to nature recovery and the climate crisis. The Park Authority suggests that 'greater weight' should be formally defined in the national policy statement and guidance given about how that approach should be applied within a Park. Other topics discussed are the need for well-regulated green finance, and the importance of governance for each National Park Authority based on local circumstances. The Board are asked to approve the Park Authority's response to the Future of National Parks in Scotland consultation.

This document contains a request for the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) board to approve its response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the future of agriculture and rural development in Scotland, specifically regarding proposals for a new Agriculture Bill. The consultation, closing on 5 December, seeks input on mechanisms and powers needed to deliver the long-term vision for farming and food production, addressing climate and biodiversity crises while ensuring a fair transition for communities. The proposed framework includes a tiered payment system to support climate mitigation, nature restoration, and wider rural development, conditional on meeting climate, biodiversity, and business efficiency outcomes. The Park Authority supports the proposed approach, emphasizing the importance of aligning payments with the National Park Partnership Plan and enabling adaptability to address emerging challenges and regional priorities.

This document contains information for the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) Board regarding a greenhouse gas emissions assessment and target scenario for the Cairngorms National Park. Small World Consulting (SWC) conducted the assessment, which aims to inform the Board and summarise the work the Park Authority will undertake to reach net zero. The document recommends that the Board consider the greenhouse gas emissions assessment and note the target scenario to reach net zero, followed by the positive carbon contribution the National Park can make for Scotland in the future. The report highlights the importance of actions within the National Park Partnership Plan and peatland restoration in achieving these goals.

This document contains a greenhouse gas emissions assessment and target scenario for the Cairngorms National Park, completed in October 2022 by Small World Consulting Ltd. It finds that, as the world focuses on the climate emergency, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and managing land sustainably are vital. It explains that this report looks at emissions related to what residents and visitors consume, including travel and a series of aligned recommendations. Because National Parks are mostly rural with agriculture and non-agricultural habitats, emissions from land use and management are included. Finally, the report sets Paris-aligned greenhouse gas emission targets for six key areas with a goal to reach net zero emissions by 2024.

This document contains the draft minutes of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Board Committee meeting. The paper presents the approved minutes from the Audit and Risk Committee meeting on 27 May, and the Governance and Resources Committees meetings on 2 June 2022. It also includes the draft minutes from the Performance Committee, Resources Committee, and Governance Committee meetings which took place on 12 August 2022. The Board is asked to note these minutes from the various committee meetings.

This document contains the annual reports from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) Board Committees which include the Performance Committee, Governance Committee, Resources Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee. The Park Authority has completed its first year of its revised committee structure and each committee submits an annual report covering its activities and reflecting on its operations. The Board is asked to note the annual reports from these committees.