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 Finance Committee Paper 2 23/02/07 CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR DECISION Title: RATIFICATION OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS Prepared by: Denby Pettitt, Finance Manager Purpose To summarise expenditure that has been approved by the Finance Committee since their last meeting on 1 December 2006. Recommendations That the Committee formally approve: a) the expenditure detailed in para. 1 ; The grant to the Aviemore and the Cairngorms DMO (see para. 5&6) has already been approved by a quorate meeting of the Committee on 12 January and appears in this paper purely as a matter of public record. Executive Summary a) At the September 2006 meeting the Finance Committee approved a change to the approval process whereby expenditure between �10,000 and �24,999 is approved by its Convener, together with the Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Services outwith the normal quarterly Committee meetings. Any expenditure approved in this way is reported to the next full Committee meeting. b) For expenditure that is �25,000 or over the Finance Committee members meet, outwith the normal quarterly meetings, in order that the merits of the proposed expenditure can be discussed and CNPA staff are available to clarify any questions that may arise. RATIFICATION OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS Proposals Previously Agreed by the Finance Committee Convener, Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Services 1. Since the last report to Finance Committee, the following expenditure plans have been approved by the Finance Committee Convener, the Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Services in line with the two-tier approval process agreed at the September 2006 meeting: Expenditure / Head of Group /Date circulated / ��000 /Approval received (a) Bursaries A Harper 23 Nov 24 Yes (b) Schools Training Liaison Officer A Harper 23 Nov 16 Yes (c) Cairngorms Explorer 3 A. Harper 15 Dec 21 Yes 2. Expenditure on the Bursaries and Schools Training Liaison Officer followed on from the Vocational Training paper that was presented to the Board in August 2006 (Paper 3). Funding is for three years and two years respectively. 3. The Cairngorms Explorer 3 is the third year that the Park is part-funding production and distribution of a timetable of public transport in the Park. Prior to approval, correspondence highlighted the need to review future commitments to all CNPA publications, including the Cairngorms Explorer, and the Expenditure Justification Form had highlighted that a full review of publications was scheduled for 2007/08. 4. All expenditure received unanimous approval. Proposals Agreed by Finance Committee members, outwith their normal quarterly meeting. 5. Members met on January 12 to consider the grant of �25,000 to Aviemore and the Cairngorms DMO (Destination Management Organisation) for 2006-07. Chris Taylor, from the Economic and Social Development Group also attended to give background to the grant and answer members� questions. 6. After discussion, which included consideration of the likely demand from other tourist organisations within the Park area and the fact that the grant was solely in respect of 2006-07 and did not commit the Park Authority to future funding, the proposed expenditure received unanimous approval from the members present. DENBY PETTITT 7 February 2007 denbypettitt@cairngorms.co.uk