Performance Committee - October 2021

This document contains the agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Performance Committee meeting on 29 October 2021, held via Lifesize Video Conferencing. The meeting will cover a welcome, apologies, declarations of interest, and approval of minutes from the last meeting. Discussions will include the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, Cairngorms Leader and Cairngorms Trust Delivery, the Badenoch Great Place Project, and the Cairngorms Peatland Action Programme Delivery. There will also be updates on the Heritage Horizons Project and private finance. The next meeting is scheduled for 11 February 2022, via Lifesize.

This document contains the latest updates on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. The Performance Committee is asked to review these updates and consider the project's progress, its impact on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (CNPA) Corporate Plan and National Park Partnership Plan, and its impact on strategic risk management. The project aims to address the decline of capercaillie populations through community involvement, raising awareness, genetic research, habitat improvement, and monitoring. While positive progress has been made, the project faces challenges such as staffing constraints, resource allocation, and reputational risks due to differing opinions on capercaillie conservation. Senior managers believe that there are no matters of strategic significance at this time.

This document contains a progress report on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, which is working to help capercaillie survive in the UK. The project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund until 2023, with work happening across the Cairngorms National Park. The key actions include community-led projects, raising awareness, researching genetic diversity, improving habitat, and monitoring capercaillie. The project involves many partners like the Cairngorms National Park Authority, estates, and community groups. It reports on progress in different areas like Carrbridge, mountain biking, business, visitors, and Deeside communities, and also identifies risks and issues. The report also details the budget, income, and expenditure, listing the funding received from various sources, the breakdown of contributions, and how the money is being spent on community projects, habitat improvement, and staff.

This document contains delivery updates on the Cairngorms Local Action Group (LEADER) Programme and voluntary and charitable giving activities managed by the Cairngorms LEADER Local Action Group Trust (Cairngorms Trust). The Performance Committee is asked to review the updates and consider whether the activities are contributing to the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (NPA) strategic outcomes, if there are any significant impacts on performance objectives, and if there are any material impacts on strategic risk management. The document also highlights the strategic risks, the priorities of the National Park Partnership Plan, and progress made despite the impacts of Coronavirus. Development plans for a replacement to community led local development funding remain in the early stages. The Cairngorms Trust has made progress in delivering e-bikes to residents. There are integrated transport signage projects in Aviemore that have been impacted by procurement and supply issues. There are no matters of strategic significance which merit escalation at this time.

This document contains the Cairngorms Local Action Group (LAG) Trust's quarterly report for the period of May 2021 to August 2021. It provides an update on the Leader program, including project summaries, financial information, commitments, and monitoring and evaluation. The Leader program's end date is still set for 31 December 2021, and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has kept the staff team in place until 31 January 2022. The report also details various projects, such as Active Cairngorms E-bikes (ACE) and Wigwam Holidays, and their progress. Financial commitments to approved projects total £2,455,174, or 99.24% of the total project allocation. The report also notes that some projects are at risk, while others are performing well in the current Covid-19 climate.

This document contains the August 2021 quarterly report for the Cairngorms Trust, prepared by Nancy Chambers and submitted to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority). The report highlights the progress of campaign projects like the Osprey Nest for the Osprey Village and the Kingussie Path Network Improvement Project, the latter of which is nominated for an award. The Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund projects for 2021 have all started, while the 2020 projects have been completed. The TICK project, in partnership with the LEADER team and Cycling UK, continues to extend the project worker's role. The report also looks ahead, discussing the need for increased marketing and visibility for the Cairngorms Trust and mentioning new campaign funds for Nature, Infrastructure, and Youth. Finally, the document contains information about donations and claims for the period.

This document contains a summary and review of the Badenoch Great Place Project (BGPP), which finished on 30 September 2021. The project, subtitled "Badenoch Heritage: Bringing the Past to the 21st Century Project," was a three-year, £438,000 partnership funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and other sources. The project aimed to make Badenoch a stronger tourist destination with a good reputation based on its heritage, offering a wide range of experiences and economic opportunities, involving more people in caring for and presenting the area's heritage, and being managed by a sustainable partnership of organisations and communities. The Performance Committee is being asked to note the project's achievements and challenges, and consider the legacy arrangements. The project delivered over 20 interconnected sub-projects, increased awareness of the area's cultural heritage, and faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and complex management issues. A Legacy Plan is in place, overseen by a Legacy Board, to continue developing the area and ensure the project's investments are secured for the future, with VisitScotland recognizing the project as setting a standard for others.

This document contains a final report on the Badenoch Great Place Project (BGPP), a three-year initiative to promote Badenoch's cultural heritage within the Cairngorms National Park (CNP). The project, launched in 2017 and concluding in September 2021, aimed to develop a tourism offering based on the area's history. Activities included auditing cultural sites, creating the "Badenoch The Storylands" brand with an accompanying website and mobile app, developing tourist routes, and hosting a Heritage Festival. The BGPP also supported archaeological digs, storytelling sessions, and community skills building, and has helped to establish a legacy board to ensure the project's sustainability.

This document contains an executive summary of the Badenoch Great Place Project, a three-year project aimed at promoting the cultural heritage of the Badenoch area within the Cairngorms National Park and boosting tourism and economic development, the project was set up because in 2017, the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan identified Badenoch as a spatial priority area that needed focused investment and assistance, the area's heritage assets will be promoted to create a good visitor experience. The document outlines the project's background, aims, key activities, funding, governance, and what has been achieved so far. The main thing that has been achieved is creating a brand for Badenoch, called "Badenoch: The Storylands". The document also discusses challenges posed by COVID-19 and how the project has adapted, as well as future plans for the project's legacy. The document is being shared to update the progress of the project and what the future achievements will hopefully be.

This document contains the latest update on the Cairngorms Peatland Action Programme. The Performance Committee is asked to review the delivery update, considering progress, risks (such as weather and contractor capacity), and any strategic impacts on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (NPA) performance objectives. Peatlands are important for carbon storage, but many are degraded. The Scottish Government has peatland restoration targets and the Peatland Action programme has been in place since 2012. Over 25% of the Cairngorms National Park is peatland habitat but a large amount is degraded. The Peatland Action Project Officers provide project management services and this year, 2021/22, the programme plans to deliver 557 hectares of peatland restoration management. The establishment of the Peatland Programme is in progress, and although the programme is on course to deliver the targeted hectares of peatland restoration management this year, weather and contractor constraints remain a risk.

This document contains an update on the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 Programme. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) was awarded £1.7 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to complete the development phase of the programme, with a total budget of £3.8 million. This phase involves engaging residents, businesses, and visitors to tackle climate, nature, and public health emergencies. The Park Authority has completed the project initiation stage with the NLHF, and the programme's communication and consultation plan is expected by the end of December 2021. The Heritage Horizons Programme Board and Advisory Panel have been appointed. The Heritage Horizons Programme Governance Plan and the preliminary 2-year development phase cash flow plan has been approved by the NLHF. Key personnel have been appointed, including David Clyne as Head of Service and Lynn Anderson as Programme Delivery Officer, and recruitment is underway for other positions. Consultancy tenders are being revised and partnership agreements will be complete by the end of December 2021. According to senior managers, there are no matters of strategic significance that need escalation at this time.

This document contains information about the governance of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, which aims to help people and nature thrive together in the Cairngorms National Park. It details the programme's structure, including the escalation matrix and terms of reference for the Programme Board, Programme Management Group, Advisory Panel, Theme Leads, and Theme Team. The document also lists the members of the Programme Board and Advisory Panel, and outlines the objectives, agendas, and requirements for the Project Management Group and Theme Team meetings. The programme is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and involves various partners and stakeholders.