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. Page 1 CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Paper 9 21/01/11 Paper 9 21/01/11 CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY FOR INFORMATION Title: National Park Plan 4-Monthly Progress Report 7 Prepared by: Gavin Miles, Strategic Planning and Policy Officer Purpose To provide the Board and all the partners involved in delivering the National Park Plan with regular updates of progress in delivering the National Park Plan. Recommendations That the Board note progress in delivering the National Park Plan. Executive Summary This paper provides a summary of progress in delivering the actions set out in the National Park Plan and an assessment of the likelihood of achieving the 5-year outcomes under each Priority for Action. It shows that: a) By January 2011, nearly 80% of the 5-year outcomes are considered to be likely to be achieved by 2012 with around 20% considered unlikely to be fully achieved by 2012. b) One 5-year outcome, linked to the ability of the SRDP to target funding at the public benefits most appropriate to the Cairngorms National Park, is now considered to be unachievable by 2012. However, a range of partners are trying to ensure that the next rural development programme from 2013 will allow for a more tailored approach to targeting, particularly in National Parks. c) By September 2010, about 75% of the actions in the National Park Plan were considered to be on track to be delivered. About 20% of the actions within the Park Plan require more work to be delivered by 2012. A few actions will not be delivered by 2012, either because of unforeseen delays, or because they have been superseded by events and are no longer priorities for delivery. It is not considered that these actions are critical to the delivery of any outcomes in the National Park Plan. NATIONAL PARK PLAN 4-MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT 7 FOR INFORMATION Background 1. This is the seventh 4-monthly report on delivery of the National Park Plan. The last 4-monthly progress update was given to the board on 3 September 2010. Achievement of Outcomes and Delivery of Actions 2. The assessment of progress towards 5-year outcomes is summarised using 5 classes associated with a specific definition: 1 Will not be achieved 2 Unlikely to be achieved 3 Needs more work/resource to be achieved 4 Should be achieved with existing work/resource 5 Achieved 3. The assessment of progress in delivering actions for each priority for action is based on a simpler Ôtraffic lightÕ system of green-amber-red to provide a simple visual summary where: a) Green = Progress towards the outcome or action is on track and there is confidence that the outcome or action will be achieved by, or before 2012; b) Amber = There is uncertainty about whether the outcome or action will be achieved, or there may be delays in achieving it. c) Red = The outcome or action will not, or is unlikely to be achieved. 4. The assessment is undertaken by the respective CNPA officers managing each Priority for Action. Further detail on the reasoning behind the assessment of individual outcomes is provided in the tables of Annex 1. 5. Figures 1 and 2 show the assessment of progress in delivering the National Park PlanÕs outcomes and actions for each priority for action at January 2011. 6. The CNPA estimates in Figure 1 that nearly 80% of the 5-year outcomes will be achieved by 2012 with existing work and resources and that around 20% of the outcomes require more work to be achieved by 2012. No outcomes have been fully achieved yet, but one outcome is considered to be unachievable by 2012. 7. That outcome that will not be achieved relates to the integration of support for land management to deliver public benefits in the Park. Although work has been done to try to influence that outcome, it has always relied on the ability of SRDP funding to CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Paper 9 21/01/11 be targeted at the particular requirements of the National Park. That targeting of resources for particular outcomes has not been possible within the current SRDP programme and it has been decided to focus efforts on influencing the ways that SRDP funding is targeted in the new programme from 2013. 8. It is expected that by the monitoring update of May 2011there will be further change to some outcomes as they are either considered unachievable, or have been fully achieved. 9. Figure 2 shows that around 75% of the actions in the Park Plan are considered to be green and on track to be delivered, with around 20% considered to be amber and requiring more attention or alternative action. Eight actions (5% of the total) are considered to be red (not achievable by 2012) at this time. One of those relates to the extension of the Speyside Way to Newtonmore, and is programmed to be completed by March 2013. The other five red actions relate to work that has been superseded or to changed priorities since the National Park Plan was prepared. They are not considered to have a significant effect the delivery of any outcomes in the National Park Plan. Policy Context 10. This paper is concerned with the delivery of the National Park Plan. It is therefore also central to the themes of the CNPA Corporate Plan, and to the ability of the National Park Plan and its delivery partners to deliver the Scottish GovernmentÕs National Outcomes. Implications Financial Implications 11. The National Park Plan has been used by the CNPA and partners to help focus work in the National Park since 2007. Although more work is required to achieve its outcomes by 2012, the mid-term ÔHealth CheckÕ in 2009 refocused priorities to 2012. Presentational Implications 12. This paper does not raise any particular presentational issues. There has been clear progress in delivering the National Park Plan over its first three years, and notable examples of delivery will be reported the National Park Plan annual progress report for 2009/10. Implications for Stakeholders 13. The implications for other organisations, stakeholders and communities are all tied to the partnersÕ ability to deliver the Park PlanÕs outcomes over the next 18 months. They will all face financial constraints and will feel the effects of any significant changes to expenditure or effort by others. The National Park Plan continues to offer a focus for partners to be more creative and efficient in delivering their own and the National Park PlanÕs outcomes within the National Park. CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Paper 9 21/01/11 Next Report 14. The next report on delivery of the current National Park Plan will be in May 2011. Gavin Miles 21 January 2011 gavinmiles@cairngorms.co.uk