WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the pdf version of this document. CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Local Plan Working Group 09/09/04: APPROVED MINUTES LOCAL PLAN WORKING GROUP APPROVED MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON Thursday 9th September 2004 at 3.00pm. in Cromdale Village Hall. PRESENT: Douglas Glass CNPA Board Sue Walker CNPA Board Fiona Munro CNPA (Housing Strategy Implementation Forum) Norman Brockie CNPA Board Gavin Miles CNPA Board Anna Barton CNPA Board (Community Liaison Co-ordinator) Alan Simpson Highland Council (Badenoch & Strathspey Area Manager) Maggie Bochel Highland Council Development Planning Bill Rowell Association of Cairngorms Community Councils Duncan McKellar Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce Kevin Clifton Scottish Water David Bale SNH Miff Tuck SRPBA AGENDA: 1. N.Brockie welcomed those present and offered introductions. APOLOGIES: 2. N.Brockie offered apologies for: Martin Wanless, Moray Council; Laura Robertson, Aberdeenshire Council; Jim Mackay & Nicola Abrams, SEPA; Bruce Luffman/ Duncan Bryden/ Basil Dunlop and Peter Argyle ~ CNPA Board, Jean Henretty ~ Local Plan Co-ordinator. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: 3. Were approved, following Martin Wanless, Fiona Munro & Duncan McKellar being added to the Apologies list. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES: 4. Item 4: D.Bale requested a copy of the Scottish Executive response regarding the Local Plan/Park Plan scheduling and legal issues be circulated to members of the group.Action NB. PRESENTATION BY Alan Simpson on HIGHLAND’S COMMUNITY PLAN. 5. Alan Simpson, Highland Council’s Area Manager for Badenoch & Strathspey, gave an overview of the Community Planning system, based on the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003. The second Highland Community Plan is almost finalised and Alan issues draft copies to those present, as well as guidance notes for his presentation (let us know if you need a copy). 6. The Community Plan, (whose remit is to ensure that the public sector and communities work together to improve quality of life through more effective delivery of services), has been prepared by the Highland Wellbeing Alliance; this is a partnership which was set-up in 1996, pre-dating community planning, and includes the likes of NHS Highland, Communities Scotland, HIE and SNH. 7. The new Community Plan has 7 priority action areas, which are assessed against 3 aims/issues (as to how to achieve them, what the targets are and how to monitor them). The priority areas are: 1) Develop a strong, sustainable and competitive economy. 2) Encourage lifelong learning and a developing community capacity. 3) Improve health and wellbeing. 4) Invest in housing and its infrastructure. 5) Improve transport. 6) Enhance cultures, heritage, gaelic language and the natural environment. 7) Develop safe, strong and attractive communities. The 3 aims are: a) More people choosing to live, work and learn in Highland and able to do so (birth rates are lowering and age-profile is rising, need to attract inward migration of young people). b) Individuals and communities feeling they are dealt with equitably. (9 areas within Highland comprise 15% of the most deprived in Scotland, although it is difficult to assess rural deprivation). c) Highland having the infrastructure to keep it in the forefront of modern rural regions. (most of Highland’s waste is transported south for re-cycling). 8. There are to be 8 Community Planning Partnerships covering Highland, of which Badenoch & Strathspey is one. The Partnerships will buy into the agenda set by the Community Plan, and then chose how they wish to deliver it. The Community Plan will also be a useful tool for Highland Council to apply government Efficiency Review Figures (looking at service delivery on a regional level, possibly including other authorities). 9. The Scottish Executive is encouraging closer links between Local Plans and Community Plans; while the consultation on the new Highland Community Plan is well past, there will be plenty scope for the CNPA to take cognisance of it (and the other 3 community plans) in the development of the CNP Local Plan. 10. It was queried as to how Public Agencies not involved in the Highland Wellbeing Alliance (e.g. Crofters Commission) could be encouraged to deliver the Community Plan; ~ relevant groups will be invited to join ‘thematic groups’ to discuss such. The issue of how businesses and landowners (with no specific funding) could apply the Community Plan? 11. Quite how the Community Plan and Local Plan could link-up is something of an unknown (as there’s no written guidance) but the Community Plan does act as a useful ‘umbrella’ for all service delivery. The ‘land-use’ planning implications for the Local Plan are also something of an unknown, but at least we are addressing the issue at the start of the process and hopefully the answers will become clear(er). 12. Under priority 4/aim a) ~ it was queried as to how we could assess in-migration patterns against housing/affordable housing needs, and the net-growth projections there-in; the CNPA is currently assessing the requirement for housing needs studies, which will hopefully clarify this issue. COMMUNITY LIAISON CO-ORDINATORS’ REPORT. (full written reports were also provided, covering all their Community Council areas); additionally: 13. Anna noted that the Rothiemurchus and Glenmore community area was now the only one with no facilitators, and the consultation being run by CNPA staff and co-ordinators 14. David Bale noted that he had recommended the use of ‘community liaison coordinators’ to the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Team. UPDATE ON WESTER ROSS LOCAL PLAN by Maggie Bochel. 15. Maggie noted that the WRLP had gone on Finalised Draft Deposit on 4th June 2004, some 14 months after the Notice of Intention to Prepare; 75 objection letters had been received ~ many of which were the result of implementing the ‘neighbour notification’ process whereby everyone who lives adjacent to a proposed housing site is notified in writing. Using this notification process at Preliminary Draft stage may help to flush-out problems early, but may also cause dis-illusionment if the site stays in the plan. 17 objections related to changes to settlement boundaries, and some others to non-planning crafting issues. 16. There are relatively few objections to policy issues. SEPA have objected to the lack of provision for waste-sites and coastal flooding. SNH have objected on issues of ‘wild land’ classification, and the 3 tiers of countryside [low/medium/high sensitivity relative to environmental designations]. 17. A Public Local Inquiry is scheduled for January 2005, but there should be few objections remaining after hearings and arbitration; even one objection will require a PLI. There will be no revised Deposit Draft with Modifications, so all objections will be considered by the Inquiry Reporter even if they have been overcome/agreed by subsequent discussions. UPDATE ON QUESTIONNAIRE & COMMUNITY PROFILE. 18. N.Brockie noted that the questionnaire and profiles were currently being delivered to (hopefully) all households within the Park. The questionnaires were due to be returned by Friday 24th September and were being collated and analysed by Strathspey Surveys in Boat of Garten. ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL MEMBERS FOR GROUP. 19. No new members were proposed, but links to the 4 constituent local authority Community Planning teams would be invited and developed. ANY OTHER BUSINESS. 20. N.Brockie suggested that, with the Chair of the group leaving (Peter Argyle), and the Working Group structure changing from a Board Member ‘committee’ to a staff-run stakeholder group, that the Chair and Vice-chair should be jointly held by Norman Brockie and Gavin Miles. Sue Walker proposed the motion towards this, and it was seconded by Dougie Glass; no-one opposed the proposal. 21. Miff Tuck requested that the draft minutes be sent out more quickly for Group members to comment. 22. A query was raised as to the process and procedures involved in actually developing the CNP Local Plan from the consultation process, and the mechanisms for feedback. It was agreed that a paper outlining the process and timeline would be produced for the next meeting.Action NB/GM DATE OF NEXT MEETING. 23. The next meetings were arranged for Thursday 7th October in Aboyne at 3.00pm, venue to be confirmed. 24. The meeting closed at 5.00pm.