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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Paper 7 9 January 2009 

CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 


FOR INFORMATION 


Title: Timetable for Local Plan Inquiry 

Prepared by: Murray Ferguson, Head of Visitor Services and Recreation 

Purpose 

1. The purpose of the paper is to update the Planning Committee on the 
proposed timetable for the Local Plan Inquiry. In view of the need to 
get information about timetable for the Inquiry into the public domain 
as soon as possible, this paper has been tabled as late item. 

Background 

2. CNPA Staff met with the Reporters Unit in mid-October and 
subsequently wrote requesting information on the availability of 
Reporters for the Local Plan Inquiry (LPI). The Reporters Unit 
recommended that it now best practice to have two Reporters, 
working in parallel. In discussion we identified several advantages of 
this approach: 

a) This is the first ever LPI into a Local Plan for a Scottish National Park. 
With two Reporters working as a team they will have greater 
opportunities for reflection and discussion. 

b) There would be a shorter Inquiry if Reporters could, at times, sit in 
parallel sessions in different parts of the Park. 

c) Parallel sessions would result in hearings being held closer to 
where people live, hopefully giving a stronger sense of ownership 
and transparency of the process. 

d) The writing of the official Report should be speedier. 

e) There would be less risk in terms of ill health of Reporters, etc. 

3. At that stage we anticipated an Inquiry taking place in April 2009. 
However, following considerable correspondence with the Reporters 
Unit it emerged that it was difficult for them to find Reporters who were 
available within that time-slot and, for a while, it seemed that the 
Inquiry may have to be postponed until at least August 2009. 


Recent progress 

4. Within the last few days the Reporters Unit has found two Reporters who 
are available from May 2009. Both individuals are highly experienced 
planners and have worked with the Reporters Unit on a number of 
Inquiries for some time. 

5. Following discussion about the implications for the Project Plan the 
Project Board has agreed that we should opt for an Inquiry in May with 
the two available Reporters. Staff are confident that we can be ready 
for the Inquiry at that time and that interested parties would prefer an 
Inquiry earlier rather than later. 

Next steps 

6. The most important next steps will be to: 

a) Communicate of the proposed timetable to relevant interested 
parties with specific details of dates and locations to follow as 
they become are available; 

b) Hold a Business Meeting with the two Reporters and staff from the 
Reporters Unit to discuss practical arrangements for the Inquiry 
and agree a date for the formal Pre-Inquiry Meeting; 

c) Advertise our Intention to hold the LPI before 28 February to 
comply with recently approved Regulations about changes to 
the planning system. 

7. Staff will, of course, keep the Committee fully informed as we approach 
the Inquiry. Consideration of modifications to the Plan following the 
recent consultation exercise is programmed for the Planning 
Committee meeting on 6 February. 


Murray Ferguson 
7 January 2009 

murrayferguson@cairngorms.co.uk