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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Paper 4 15/05/09 


CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 


FOR INFORMATION 

Title: ELECTION OF CONVENER 

Prepared by: Jane Hope, Chief Executive 

Purpose 

To give Members advance notice of the process and timetable for election of the 
Convener. 

Recommendations 

To note. 

Executive Summary 

This paper simply draws to members’ attention that the Election of the Convener will 
take place as the first item of business at the Board meeting on 10 July (to be held in 
Braemar). This is in accordance with standing orders which require that the election 
of Convener takes place “at the second last CNPA meeting before the term of 
office of the current Convener expires”. 

A reminder of the process for election of Convener is given in the paper overleaf. 



PAGE 2

ELECTION OF CONVENER AND REVIEW OF COMMITTEE 
MEMBERSHIP– FOR INFORMATION 

Election of Convener 

1. The current Convener was elected as Convener by the CNPA Board on 8 
September 2006, for a period of three years. Standing Orders require that the 
election of a Convener takes place “at the second last CNPA meeting before 
the term of office of the current Convener expires”. Therefore the next 
election for Convener is due as the first item of business at the Board meeting 
on 10 July 2009 (to be held in Braemar). 

2. Your attention is drawn to paragraphs 4-6 of the CNPA standing orders which 
set out the process. In particular, please note: 

a) Nominations will be taken at the meeting (which for this item is chaired 
by the Proper Officer). Any member may, at the meeting, propose 
another NPA member for the post of Convener, and there must be a 
seconder. 

3. Standing Orders provide for the Convener to be elected for a period of 3 
years. At the time of writing, it is not clear whether the proposal put forward 
as part of the Strategic review of National parks that the Convener should be 
appointed by Scottish Ministers, will be implemented. However, if it is, it would 
require a change to primary legislation which would override any election 
made under the current arrangements. Further, the timing of any such 
change is not clear. I therefore recommend that the Board proceed with the 
election of Convener, as usual, under current arrangements, for three years, 
and without prejudice to any changes to the founding legislation. 

4. The time input of the Convener, and the basis for payment, was agreed by 
the Board in 2003 as 2 days a week (and Deputy Convener 1 day a week). 
Members are paid on the basis of 3 days a month. 


Jane Hope 
1 May 2009 

janehope@cairngorms.co.uk