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 LOCAL PLAN INQUIRY NOTE OF MATTERS AGREED AT THE THIRD BUSINESS MEETING 23 JULY 2009 QUALITY STATION HOTEL, PERTH Attendance: Jill Moody (Reporter) Hugh M Begg (Reporter) Carol-Anne Redpath (DPEA) Sara Krawczynska (Local Plan Inquiry Programme Officer) Jane Hope (Chief Executive CNPA) Don McKee (Head of Planning CNPA) 1. The purposes of the meeting were: (a) to agree the final format of the report and its appendices; (b) to receive correspondence from CNPA regarding conditionally withdrawn objections, the Dalfaber Action Group (DAG), and the objections database; and (c) to indicate as far as possible at this stage, a delivery date for provision of the final report to CNPA. 2. As far as the general structure of the report is concerned, the Reporters will place the emerging local plan into its context as the first stage in an on-going development planning process towards the impending Local Development Plan and beyond. The report will be divided into 3 linked parts, each prefaced by general introductory comments, and the structure will track the contents of the local plan as follows: . Part 1: Chapters 1-3 (introduction, context, aims and special qualities, including Policy 1). . Part 2: Chapters 4-6 (all other policies, broken down into conserving and enhancing, living and working, enjoying and understanding). . Part 3: Chapter 7 (settlement proposals). A fourth part, comprising report appendices, will be placed on the internet, on the CNPA web site. These appendices will contain objection and document lists, details of inquiry session participants, and the final inquiry timetable. 3. The report will be based on a concise template along the lines of the attached example. Each policy or proposal will be covered by a separate template, with objections grouped accordingly, although the differing settlement topics might generate a need for more templates per settlement. In all cases, the Reporters will accept, use, and attribute CNPA’s maximum list of objectors and their unique objection numbers. That maximum list will be derived from CNPA’s statements of case and the written expansions. PAGE 2 4. For each policy or proposal template, the Reporters will set out their assessment of the main issues to be dealt with and their recommendations, which will be based on the objection cases as they have been summarised by CNPA and the Reporters’ own assessment of matters arising from all of the other inquiry material, including the statements of case and the written expansions. However, the report will not incorporate a summary of the case made by each objector, nor will it deal with minor matters that do not materially affect the policy or proposal at issue. These will be left for CNPA to take into account in moving towards final adoption of the plan. Similarly, the Reporters will make clear that they have considered all other matters drawn to their attention, even where these are not explicit in the reasoning. All of this is because firstly, it is reasonable to assume that each objector and CNPA is aware of its respective position. Secondly, it is now accepted practice, supported by the Scottish Ministers, that a local plan inquiry report need deal only with those main issues that carry weight in influencing the conclusions and recommendations. 5. The advantages of this approach include that it allows the report to focus on the critical issues and the reasoning that supports the Reporters’ conclusions and recommendations, and it assists in delivering the report in a reasonable timescale. 6. Turning to the second agenda item, based on CNPA’s assurances regarding the conditionally withdrawn objections, DAG, and the general comprehensiveness of the information base, the Reporters agreed to proceed with their report. However, CNPA accepted that the Reporters may not support the recommended modifications arising from the conditionally withdrawn objections, and that paragraph 58 of the Local Plan Code of Practice determines the limited circumstances under which those objections can be covered in the next round of publicity. The Reporters will deal only with the objectors as provided and divided into topics by CNPA on its database and they will attribute DAG to Mr Reed (126) and address their objections accordingly. However, the full list of DAG names and objection numbers (196 in total) should be incorporated into the report appendices. 7. In relation to the final agenda item, bearing in mind committed annual leave, the report should be delivered by the end of November. The Reporters will confirm in early October if that deadline remains suitable. In the meantime: . CNPA will focus on preparing supporting material like the supplementary guidance that stems from the local plan, before moving on to the early stages of the next phase of forward planning, i.e. the Local Development Plan; and . Ms Krawczynska will remain available to the Reporters to respond to any occasional matters before she receives their report. 8. The report will take the form of 2 bound and one unbound paper copies, plus one electronic copy. At submission, the report becomes CNPA’s property, so that it decides when and how the various outcomes should be publicised. Jill Moody Hugh M Begg 28 July 2009 PAGE 3 Issue - Policy XX Reporters - Jill Moody & Hugh M Begg Procedure - Hearing Objector - Objection ref - Procedure - Written submissions Objectors - Objection refs - Reasoning Based on the above objections, which we were asked by CNPA to consider, as well as from the evidence provided by way of written submissions, we find that the issues to be addressed are: In accordance with current best practice, we have not considered minor matters which do not materially affect Policy XX. However, CNPA should take these into account in deciding which alterations may be appropriate as the local plan moves forward towards adoption. Conclusions Based on all of the above, We have considered all of the other matters drawn to our attention but find none of such weight that it alters our reasoning or conclusions. Recommendation Accordingly, subject to addressing the above, we recommend that