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 Paper 8 10/08/07 CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY FOR INFORMATION Title: CORPORATE PLAN REPORT: THEME 4 Prepared by: Francoise van Buuren, Head of Strategy and Communications Don McKee, Head of Planning and Development Control Purpose To inform the Board of our work to date to achieve the fourth strategic theme of the Corporate Plan for 2005-08, and our plans for future activity. Recommendations a) That the Board note the progress and plan for achieving the fourth theme of the Corporate Plan for 2005-08. Executive Summary The fourth theme of the Corporate Plan for 2005-08 states: “To ensure our commitment to future generations we will look beyond the horizon and put in place plans to guide and co-ordinate the long-term integrated management of the Park” The CNPA’s main work to date on this theme has concentrated on completing the National Park Plan and developing the Local Plan, and associated interim planning policy. The implementation of the National Park Plan and completion of the Local Plan will be the focus of our work over the next 12 months. CORPORATE PLAN REPORT: THEME 4 – FOR INFORMATION Background 1. This is the fourth report on the fourth theme of the CNPA’s Corporate Plan for 200508. The Board considered the third report in May 2006. 2. The fourth theme is: “To ensure our commitment to future generations we will look beyond the horizon and put in place plans to guide and co-ordinate the long-term integrated management of the Park” 3. This theme is concerned with providing strategic guidance focused on the area of the National Park. This guidance should help to integrate the four aims of the Park and look beyond the immediate, providing a policy framework in which all those involved in the management of the Park, including ourselves, can then develop more detailed activity. 4. This is an essential theme for the CNPA because is goes to the heart of our general purpose to ensure that the 4 aims of the Park are collectively delivered in a coordinated way; through setting out clear and long-term plans, we enable others to deliver. This helps us to provide focus for others and bring their actions more into line with one another; and in pulling these plans together, we provide leadership that is centred on the needs of the National Park. 5. Most of our forward planning efforts continue to concentrate on the National Park Plan and Local Plan. National Park Plan 6. The National Park Plan has progressing according to the scheduled agreed by the Board in July 2004. The Board approved the draft plan for consultation in December 2005; we held a briefing session for MSPs in March 2006; and Rhona Brankin MSP formally launched the consultation on 11th April 2006. The consultation was successfully completed at the end of June and feedback and comments were received from 31 consultation meetings, 63 organisations and 61 individuals. Responses were provided and changes to the plan were discussed with our partners before a final plan was endorsed by our public sector partners and submitted for ministerial approval in December 2006. The National Park Plan was approved without modification by Sarah Boyack MSP in March 2007 and formally adopted by the Board in April 2007. This marks a significant milestone for the Park and has been achieved through the hard work and commitment of many individuals from a wide range of organisations and interests and in particular by the hard work carried out by Nick Halfhide and Hamish Trench. 7. Mechanisms to support the implementation of the Park Plan have been agreed and put in place. Seven delivery teams with representation from various partner organisations will focus on delivering the priorities for action outcomes by 2012. A delivery plan which indicates what actions will be taken by the CNPA and our partner organisations will be prepared by the end of this financial year using a format similar to our operational plan against which progress can be monitored. At the end of each financial year an annual report will be prepared which demonstrates our collective achievements against the Park Plan. 8. A review of our existing advisory forums has resulted in a slight re-alignment of focus so that each forum reflects one of the three strategic objectives set out in the Park Plan; Conserving and Enhancing the Park, Living and Working in the Park, and Enjoying and Understanding the Park. The first meeting of all three advisory forums will take place on Friday 28th September 2007. Members of each advisory forum and other interested parties have been notified of the proposed change in focus and the date of the next meeting. 9. A strategy group made up of the members of the Panel for Joined-up Government and the Chairs of the Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce, Association of Cairngorms’ Communities and Scottish Environment LINK will focus on the longer term issues facing the Park. A meeting will be held early in 2008 which will focus on gaining support and commitment for the seven priority for action delivery plans, agreement on the ‘health indicators’ and a research programme for the Park and a general discussion on the longer term issues facing the Park. Local Plan 10. Following the decision of the Planning Committee on 4 May 2007 and the endorsement by the Board on 15 June 2007, the Cairngorms National Park Deposit Local Plan was published on 9 July 2007 with a consultation period running until 28 September 2007. The Local Plan is accompanied by the Environmental Report from the Strategic Environmental Assessment and the Consultation Report from the Consultative Draft. 11. Prior to publication of the Local Plan a number of drop in sessions were held in venues around the Park to let people know it was being published and to advise them on how to participate in the consultation. Following publication a number of surgeries are being held in various settlements so that people can call in and discuss the content and make comments if they wish. A guide to the Local Plan has also been published. In addition meetings are being held with local authorities and other stakeholders to brief them on the content and assist with their response. 12. After 28 September 2007 we will take stock of the level and nature of objections and other comments received and take a decision on the timetable for bringing any suggested modifications before Members. This is likely to be either November 2007 if the workload is manageable or else in February 2008. Once the Board endorses proposed modifications there will be a further period of formal consultation with outstanding objections heard before a Local Plan Inquiry, probably in summer 2008. Additional Planning Policy Activity 13. A contract has been let for production of an updated Aviemore Master Plan taking account of current circumstances and of the Deposit Local Plan. This is a partnership project with The Highland Council and HIE and will be complete by the end of October this year. 14. A contract has also been let for the production of a Sustainability Checklist and Design Guidance; again this will be complete by the end of October this year. 15. There will be other pieces of work associated with the Local Plan, some of which will not be required until its adoption, and a precise programme will be established following the end of the current consultation period. These will include an Action Plan for the Local Plan’s implementation, a protocol with the 4 local authorities on developer contributions, a protocol with the 4 local authorities for consistent implementation and use of the Local Plan, and a raft of supplementary planning guidance covering, for example, site development briefs, micro-generation/smallscale energy production, affordable housing provision. Francoise van Buuren Don McKee 10th August 2007 francoisevanbuuren@cairngorms.co.uk donmckee@cairngorms.co.uk