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.




MINUTE of MEETING of the 
NATIONAL PARK PLAN WORKING GROUP 
held in the Braemar Village Hall 
on 16TH January 2004 at 9am 

PRESENT 

Duncan Bryden (Chair) CNPA Board 
Nick Halfhide CNPA Staff
David Green CNPA Board
Susan Walker CNPA Board 
APOLOGIES 
Peter Argyle CNPA Board 
Angus Gordon CNPA Board 

Welcome and Apologies 

1. Duncan Bryden welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted that there were apologies from 
Angus Gordon and Peter Argyle. 

Minutes of the Meeting on 7th November 2003
 
2. These were approved with no changes. 

Matters Arising 

3. There were no matters arising. 

4. Nick Halfhide advised the Group that he had sought tenders for the State of the Park Report 
research and for the "Health" Indicators; and that he planned to convene the first meeting of 
the Advisory Group on Joined Up Government in February, to be chaired by Andrew Thin. 

5. The Group agreed that for the remaining consultancies approved by the Board as part of the 
Park Plan process, Nick Halfhide would liaise with Duncan Bryden over the briefs and the 
consultants to be invited to tender. More generally, the Group felt that the Board needed to 
discuss the use of consultants, and in particular how to involve more locally based firms. 
Action 
DB 
NH 

Agreement of Groups Purpose and Short-term Outputs 

6. There was general discussion of the Group’s purpose and short-term outputs, and it was 
agreed that Nick Halfhide and Duncan Bryden would meet to discuss these further. 
Action 
DB 
NH 

Discussion 

Scope of the Four Aims 

7. The Group discussed the need for the whole Board to have informed and informal discussion 
about the scope of four aims of the Park, and our vision for them. This should ideally begin 
in the spring, with sessions being led by the Heads of Natural Resources, Visitor Services and 
Recreation, and Economic and Social Development. These discussions would not only help 
establish the scope of the four aims, but would also provide a framework for decision making 
and policy formation until such time as the full Park Plan is in place. 

Shape of the Park Plan 

8. The Group agreed that this would need further consideration, taking into account the needs of 
the different audiences for the Park Plan. Duncan Bryden agreed to return those plans that he 
had borrowed, and Nick Halfhide will circulate examples to the whole Group. 
Action 
DB 
NH 

Final Presentation 

9. There was no detailed discussion of this point, though the Group realised that in time, much 
more detailed consideration would need to be given to how the Park Plan is finally presented. 

Process of External Engagement 

10. The Group recognised that the Advisory Group on Joined Up Government would be a key 
route for engaging with the public sector. They agreed that in addition to the list of invitees 
circulated by Nick Halfhide, that the local authorities should be encouraged to send their 
Chief Executive as well as Convenor, and that the Highlands and Islands Enterprise should be 
asked to send both their Convenor and Chief Executive. Other members were discussed, 
such as the Health Board, but the Group agreed that there were merits in keeping the Group 
reasonably small to start with. 

11. In preparation for the first meeting, the Group recommended that members of the Advisory 
Group be sent a copy of the Authority's Corporate Plan for 2004-07 to illustrate the emerging 
thinking of the Authority, and that each organisation be asked to give a short statement at the 
first meeting as to how they foresee their organisation engaging with the National Park. 

12. The Group also discussed the possibility of asking the Minister to address the Group at some 
stage. 

Identification of External Interests to Join the Group 

13. The Group agreed that external engagement in the Park Plan process was best handled 
through the Advisory Group on Joined Up Government, and through the other emerging 
arrangements to liaise with other sectors, such as the communities, land managers and the 
voluntary sector. It therefore considered that at this stage it would be a duplication to invite 
external interests on to the Working Group. 

AOCB 

14. There was no other competent business. 

Date of Next Meeting 

15. The Group agreed to meet next at 9.00am on 12th March 2004 in Strathdon. 

The meeting finished at 10.25am