Performance Committee - November 2022

This document contains the draft minutes from the Performance Committee meeting of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, which was held on 12 August 2022. The meeting covered declarations of interest, approval of the minutes from the last meeting, and matters arising from previous meetings. Updates were provided on the Heritage Horizons Programme and the Cairngorms Peatland Action Programme, along with discussions about funding for community-led local development. The committee also discussed the draft annual report to the board and addressed concerns related to parking, traffic management, and ranger services. The next meeting is scheduled for 25 November 2022.

This document contains the Q3 2022 (July to September) update on the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 Programme, outlining the progress and planned development work up to December 2022. Prepared by David Clyne, Head of Heritage Horizons, the report details the programme's performance, noting that it is being delivered within acceptable risk levels. There are potential issues with finance, future funding, and staffing due to external economic factors, staff contracts ending, and unsuccessful SEFARI fellowship recruitment, but mitigation strategies are in place or being considered. The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has confirmed the earliest submission date for the second phase application, and there are ongoing communications and engagement activities, including press releases and online promotions.

This document contains an update from Colin McClean, Head of Land Management, for the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (Park Authority's) Performance Committee on the Peatland Action programme for 2022-23. The Park Authority planned to restore 905 hectares of peatland. Financial support from the Scottish Government is £3.47 million. As of 31 October 2022, grant offer letters have been issued to nine estates. The total grant offered to date is £1.98 million. The Park Authority has recruited two peatland officers and will soon seek to recruit a trainee project officer.

This document contains the latest updates on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. The Performance Committee is asked to review delivery updates and consider progress towards the project's agreed purposes, any strategically significant impacts on delivery of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (CNPA) Corporate Plan and National Park Partnership Plan, and any material impacts on the CNPA's strategic risk management. There has been positive progress made against all of the project's approved purposes with strong links to ongoing activities to strengthen information flow and support adaptive project and legacy planning. All project risks and issues, as identified in the quarterly progress report, are either in a favourable status or being managed closely at Project Board level with mitigation plans in place, and the project is operating with sufficient staff capacity to achieve its objectives. The Project Board agreed in June that the project should seek an extension to the current grant expiry in order to secure a firm legacy across all areas of work within the project.

This document contains a progress report on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, which is working to help capercaillie survive in the UK. The project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund until July 2023, is taking place in the Cairngorms National Park. The project is working with local communities, raising awareness about capercaillie, researching the birds' genetic diversity, improving their habitat, and monitoring them. The report details progress in different communities, including Carrbridge, the mountain biking community, the business community, the visitor community, the Deeside community and the dog walking community. The project is also working with landowners to improve habitat and engaging volunteers in the effort and they are looking at risks, and how to address them. Finally, the report includes a budget breakdown, detailing income, contributions, and expenditure.