Performance Committee - June 2025

This document contains the agenda for the Performance Committee meeting of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, scheduled for 13 June 2025 at 2.30pm in Grantown-on-Spey. The meeting will be a hybrid event held in the Spey and Dee meeting rooms. The agenda includes items such as welcome and apologies, approval of previous meeting minutes, declarations of interest, an update on the Climate Adaptation Fund 2024/25, a website update, discussion on the Bring Beavers Back project, and delivery of statutory duties as conferred by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The date of the next meeting is set for 12 September 2025, and there is an item for any other competent business (AOCB).

This document contains information about upcoming Cairngorms National Park Authority meetings on 13 June 2025. It will be a hybrid meeting, with a Planning Committee site visit at 9.30am, a Planning Committee meeting at 11.30am, and a Performance Committee meeting at 2.30pm. The Planning Committee and Formal Board meetings will be live streamed and available to watch via www.cairngorms.co.uk/working-together/meetings/, and the agenda and papers will be available the Friday before the meeting at www.cairngorms.co.uk/.

This document contains information for the Performance Committee about the Cairngorms Climate Adaptation Fund for 2024/25. Andy Ford and Gavin Miles prepared the update, which details how £370,000 was awarded to 20 recipients to support actions addressing climate adaptation within the Cairngorms National Park. The fund supported the National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP) objectives, and the Park Authority's Corporate Plan, with guiding principles around adaptation, nature-based solutions, and economy. From 51 applications, 20 projects were funded, resulting in a total spend of £359,815, and supported initiatives like renewable energy, wildfire preparedness, and sustainable agriculture, strengthening environmental and economic outcomes, and it acted as a pivotal enabler for sustainability. The Climate Adaptation Fund for 2025/26 is now closed, with successful projects set to begin 01 June 2025.

This document contains an update on the Cairngorms National Park's website activity, including a strategic risk register and ways to lessen those risks. The Cairngorms National Park Authority Board is asked to review the website activity, including the procurement process and budget, along with the risk register to ensure key risks are noted and managed. The new website was launched in beta (testing) mode in April after a year of development work and includes new pages and over 50 project pages. A site-wide alerts system provides updates on emerging issues, and a mapping tool and content finder have also been added. The beta site has been running alongside the existing website to gather feedback before the old site is switched off in mid-June. A risk register has been developed for the website project, highlighting potential issues and mitigation measures.

This document contains the latest updates on the "Bringing Beavers Back" project in Cairngorms National Park. The Park Authority has been working on releasing beaver families into the Upper Spey catchment to create a thriving population, while also supporting land managers and communities to live alongside beavers. Awareness of beaver ecology has increased, and the Beaver Project manager has engaged with many people through talks and site visits. The Park Authority continues to monitor release sites, respond to sightings, and provide support to landowners, and works with stakeholder groups, such as Cairngorms Agricultural Advisory Group (CAAG) and the Upper Spey Beaver Management and Mitigation group, to address any potential risks or concerns. The project is progressing well within budget, and no matters of strategic significance require escalation at this time.

This document contains information for the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Performance Committee, updating members on the delivery of the Park Authority's statutory duties under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The paper highlights access casework undertaken by the Access and Infrastructure Team, stakeholder engagement through the Local Outdoor Access Forum (LOAF), and promotion of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) via publications and digital media. While strategic risks are low, reputational and financial risks exist if access cases aren't resolved. The Park Authority is also reviewing its Core Paths Plan and the LOAF continues to play a crucial advisory role.