Resources Committee - June 2023

This document contains the draft minutes of the Resources Committee Meeting held at Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort, Aviemore on 10 March 2023. The meeting covered the 2022/23 budget monitoring position, where the finance team is targeting a break-even position while recognizing a potential underspend. Discussions included the ring-fencing of peatland project funding and the use of underspent staff salaries for pay awards, also the committee was asked to consider the budget management position of 2022/23 and any risks around achieving and outturn within target parameters. Also discussed was the 2023/24 budget development, highlighting a significant increase in grant in aid and key assumptions for income and expenditure and the committee invited to review the position achieved in the budget. The committee was also asked to present the Infrastructure Investment separately in the budget summary table.

This document contains the 2023/24 budget monitoring report from Louise Allen, Head of Finance and Corporate Operations, for the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (Park Authority) Resources Committee, dated 30 June 2023. It gives an early overview of the Park Authority's budget management at the end of May 2023, the first two months of the financial year. The report highlights that overall spending is 10% lower than expected, with staff costs slightly under budget. All programme management costs are being recovered from external funders. Running costs are under spent by £50,000, which appears to be a timing issue. Heads of Service have forecasted their budget to track expenditure timing. Most peatland restoration is for projects contracted in 2022-23 or earlier and no unexpected impacts on the Park Authority's core budget have been identified. The Resources Committee is asked to consider the budget management position for 2023/24.

This document contains a budget forecast for the year ending 31 March 2024, comparing the actual figures from 31 May 2023 with the planned budget. It breaks down the finances across different areas like staff costs, board fees, project costs, running costs, and the operational plan. The total expenditure is forecast at 13,347,000, with a small amount of other income and a net cash expenditure/income of 14,000.

This document contains an estimated financial outturn position for the 2022/23 financial year for the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The finance team is closing the accounts and anticipate an external audit in late September/October 2023. Draft figures suggest an underspend of £250,000 against a total income of £10,636,000, which is just under 2.4%. The main reason for the underspend relates to capital expenditure on peatland restoration, due to challenges in contracting work. The Resources Committee will consider the estimated outturn position, and further updates will be provided to the Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee.

This document contains an estimated financial outturn position for the 2022/23 financial year for the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The finance team is closing the accounts, with an external audit expected in late September/October 2023. The draft figures show an underspend of £250,000 against a total income of £10,636,000, which is just under 2.4%. A large portion of this underspend is related to capital expenditure on peatland restoration, due to challenges in contracting work. The Resources Committee will receive updates, as will the Audit and Risk Committee, which oversees the external audit of the final accounts.

This document contains an equal pay audit from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 30 June 2023, that reviews the gender pay gap within the organization. The gender pay gap for 2023 was 9.55%, which is lower than both the Scottish average and the authority's own pay gap in 2022. For full-time staff, the gender pay gap is 13.78%, while for part-time staff, it is -14.16%, indicating that on average, part-time women earn more than part-time men. The audit analyzes pay gaps across different grades and directorates, finding that while women make up a significant portion of the workforce, there are fewer women in higher-paid positions. The authority has implemented several measures to improve gender balance in recruitment and career progression, such as reducing essential criteria in job descriptions and encouraging flexible working arrangements, and the audit concludes that the gender pay gap is improving due to these interventions.

This document contains draft minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Staff Consultative Forum meeting held on 20 March 2023. Key discussion points included a neurodiversity policy, a proposed move to a 35-hour working week, results from the "new normal" survey, and a discussion about allowing dogs in vehicles. There was also an update on health and safety, the Board Member elections, equality and diversity training, the pay award, and volunteering days. Finally, the meeting addressed pigeonholes, the sign-in system and the shed at the rear of the building.

This document contains the minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Health & Safety meeting held on 19 January 2023. The meeting covered a review of minutes and previous actions, the new electronic sign-in system, facilities matters such as updating staff PPE registers and issues with doors being left unlocked, visitor services, peatland matters, and fire marshall training. The document includes action logs from this meeting and actions outstanding from previous meetings.

This document contains the minutes from the Resource Committee meeting held virtually on 30 June 2023. Key topics discussed included the 2022/23 budget monitoring and estimated outturn, with the committee considering budget management for 2023/24. An equal pay audit for 2023 was presented, highlighting a narrowing of the gender pay gap. The Staff Consultative Forum Minutes and the Health & Safety Committee Meeting Minutes were also introduced and noted, with the Convener set to discuss board member attendance at the Staff Consultative Forum. The next meeting is scheduled for 11 August 2023.