Board Meeting - September 2019

This document contains the agenda for a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting on Friday, 20 September 2019, at 11am in Grantown on Spey. The agenda includes welcoming attendees, reviewing apologies, approving minutes from previous meetings (14 June, 28 June, and 16 August 2019), discussing any outstanding matters, declarations of interest, a CEO report, and decisions on the Cairngorms Youth Action. Information items include an audit and risk committee annual report and board member representational responsibilities. Finally, the date and venue for the next meeting (Friday, 6 December 2019) are listed.

This document contains the draft minutes from a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting held on 14 June 2019. The meeting covered a range of topics, including updates on strategic projects like the Cairngorms Nature Big Weekend and the Wildcat Project, progress reports on the National Park Partnership Plan, and discussions on affordable housing, climate change, and various partnerships. Presentations were given by representatives from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Forestry, Aberdeenshire Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and VisitScotland. The board also reviewed standing orders, the LEADER programme, and a capercaillie project update. Finally, the meeting concluded with an overview of joint working with other UK National Parks and a discussion of board fees.

This document contains the draft minutes from a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting held on 28 June 2019. The meeting primarily focused on reviewing and approving a new policy for board member fees. A recommendation to adopt option B, which involved a two-round consultation process, was supported by 85% of respondents. The new policy aims to fairly compensate board members for their time while maintaining transparency and aligning with Scottish Government agreements. Discussions included concerns about double funding for members with dual mandates (eg, as both board members and local councilors) and ensuring equitable workload distribution across committees. The board ultimately approved option B, with a minor amendment setting the standard payment at 36 days per year.

This document contains the draft minutes from a Cairngorms National Park Authority board meeting held on 16 August 2019. The meeting covered various items, including declarations of interest from several board members, and a key discussion regarding the submission of the Proposed Local Development Plan 2020 to Scottish Ministers for formal consideration. The board approved several documents related to this plan and set a timeline for its submission and adoption. Finally, the meeting included some discussion of community concerns about tourism impacts and litter.

This document contains a review of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Planning Committee Standing Orders. Following a June 2019 board meeting, the Planning Committee reviewed its standing orders in September 2019 to align with updated board orders. This document recommends the board approve the updated Planning Committee Standing Orders, with changes addressing quorum, the process for dealing with amendments and other procedural clarifications. The proposed changes maintain a quorum of 10 members for the committee. A separate, additional guidance note will be created to cover member responses to external representations.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee's standing orders. It details how often the committee meets (usually every four weeks), how meetings are called and cancelled (with seven days' notice, unless due to bad weather), and how pre-agenda briefings are handled. The document also explains procedures for written and oral representations on planning applications, including time limits and who can speak, and how the quorum and voting procedures work during meetings. Finally, it outlines rules about site visits, motions and amendments, and the delegation of responsibilities to planning officials.

This document contains a report to the Cairngorms National Park Authority board, summarizing the chief executive's activities and progress updates for the period up to September 20, 2019. The report highlights key initiatives in conservation, including the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project and the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership. It also covers progress on various projects, including work on long-distance routes (Speyside Way and Deeside Way), the Mountains and People Project, and improvements to visitor access and experiences. Furthermore, the report details updates on volunteering, education, and communication initiatives, along with progress on economic action plans, tourism, rural development and other initiatives. Finally, the report includes information about stakeholder engagement and the board's involvement in different projects and activities.

This document contains a proposal for Cairngorms Youth Action, a project to engage young people in the Cairngorms National Park. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) board previously agreed to support the development of a youth council. A Youth Steering Group has been working since January 2019 to create a structure and plan for the project, including establishing a youth group with a defined remit, creating a funding process for youth-led projects, and planning events. The plan includes the establishment of a Cairngorms Youth Action Team, comprising young people from across Scotland with an interest in the Cairngorms. The team will engage in decision-making processes, receive grants for projects, and participate in events organized by the CNPA. Funding for the project is currently secured through the EUROPARC Youth Manifesto Project, with future annual funding required from the CNPA. The project aims to empower young people by encouraging their involvement in the governance of the National Park and the development of innovative initiatives that benefit both themselves and the park.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report for 2018-2019. The report covers the Committee's activities, including reviews of the Authority's finances by internal and external auditors (Grant Thornton and BDO). The Committee oversaw risk management, reviewed accounting policies, and monitored progress on previous audit recommendations. Internal audits identified only a few low-priority issues, and the external audit gave an unqualified opinion. The Committee concluded that the Authority's governance and internal control priorities were successfully progressed.