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Orkney Marine Planning Advisory Group

OMPAG: AG3 Minutes: 19 November 2021: 13.30 – 15.00

Action Point summary

  • AP1: ALL MEMBERS: Anyone wishing to participate in individual policy sub-group meeting to contact ST by 26 Nov 2021. Focus will be on Section 2 General Polices in the first instance.

  • AP2: Copy of Eileen’s slides to be sent out with minutes. [Enclosed 22 Nov 2021]

  • AP3: Copy of SPP timetable to JP [Done 22/11/21]

  • AP4: ST: policies participation nudge to be sent out 24 Nov 2021

Present

Shona Turnbull; Eileen Summers; James Green; Daniel Morris; David Sawkins; Graham Sinclair; Brian Kynoch; Roddy MacKay; Kate Rydzkowski; Craig Smith; Kim McEwen; Cheryl Chapman; Gavin Barr; Victoria Clements; Peter Watson; Janet Davies; Mark Steward; Josephine Wells; Penny Coles; Joanne Porter; Dave Thomson

ITEM 1: Welcome

GS welcomed everyone to the meeting and checked for agreement that the minutes of the previous OMPAG meeting (held 9th June, 2021) were a true record. No further points were raised, so the minutes were formally agreed.

ITEM 2: Update on progress by ST

  • a) Final draft policy list was agreed, based on OMPAG feedback and a Plans, Polices and Strategies (PPS) integration process to ensure the RMP aligns with e.g. the National Marine Plan, Good Environmental Status etc. This will enable the General Policies to be drafted on this basis. MS queried why there are two new policies and considered there could be significant overlap in topic areas. ST explained they were as a consequence of the PPS exercise and feedback received.

  • b) Formal Statement of Public Participation sign off received from Scottish Minister 1 Nov, 2021.

  • c) Stakeholder update to be send out late Nov or in Dec 2021.

ITEM 3: Scope of the plan discussion

ST outlined:

  • a) Marine team will review Section 1 comments received and aim to feed back in next c.2 weeks.

  • b) Based on feedback, we have used the draft policy list and PPS alignment exercise to base Section 2: General policies text, as outlined above. The Policy Structure will be:

    • Introductory paragraph

    • Why/What special for Orkney e.g. Scapa Flow/ renewables

    • Purpose of policy

    • Policy

    • Spatial information

    • Links to other guidance and indicators

Initial draft of Section 2: General Policies, will be circulated for comment, early spring 2022.

Scope of Section 2: General Policies discussion

  • a) Danny outline his heatmapping approach i.e. a cumulative greater and least constraints mapping and scoring methodology, e.g. Low/Medium/High, with c. 40 constraints so far, for significance level scoring and sensitivity scoring. It is being trialed on the aquaculture sector. MS and DS raised some concerns regarding the process re interpretation and application of data.

    JG explained that the heat mapping is a strategic planning tool to help inform site selection for future development. It is not a zoning tool. It will identify relative levels of constraint, with input from the statutory agencies and sectors as appropriate. It will not identify areas suitable or not suitable for development. It will identify areas of greater and lesser constraints based on values applied to constraint significance and sensitivity to development pressures. OIC are happy to consult on the proposed method once it has been developed to an appropriate stage. DS highlighted the importance of acknowledging the right of navigation/ UNCLOS and had concerns regarding how heat mapping would be applied to these constraints.

  • b) DS also raised a query of where new fuels would fit into the plan. ST/JG explained that low and zero carbon fuels are likely to sit under a number of policy areas including renewable energy, ports and harbours, cables and pipelines etc. This aspect will need to be considered further in the development of these sectoral policies.

  • c) DS queried if the waste policy would take the various marine regulations into account. ST provided an overview of the key policies already taken into consideration and signposted e.g. the Port Waste Management Plan etc.

  • d) Once the first draft of the various General Polices are ready, these will be circulated to the key stakeholders in the first instance, then the collated Section 2 will be circulated to all the OMPAG members in early Spring 2022.

  • e) KM asked if sub-groups or similar would be set up to discuss policies in more detail. ST raised concerns regarding capacity to deliver workshops for all the policies. JD explained that focused meetings to develop the Shetland RMP policies had worked well. Depending on the interest from members, virtual sub-groups may be arranged. ST asked the OMPAG members to state which policies they would wish to participate in a focused sub-meeting about by the end of the next week (Friday 26th November 2021), and she would arrange meetings on that basis. Focus will be on Section 2 polices in the first instance.

    AP1: ALL MEMBERS:

    Anyone wishing to participate in individual policy sub-group meeting to contact ST by 26 Nov 2021

  • f) GS stated that the wellbeing and amenity policy and the tourism policy are significantly interlinked. The wording of the titles appeared a little clumsy. ST explained that wellbeing was coming through strongly in national policy aspirations e.g. NPF4 consultation, but is difficult to define in policy terms.

  • g) PW asked how do we intended to stop contravening any sector specific legislation? And that he would need time and advance warning to participate in meetings on policies. ST explained that the PSS alignment exercise has highlighted legislation compliance requirements, though input from OMPAG specialists will be required. ST stated that as much advance notice as possible will be provided for any sub-group meetings, though due to tight timescale for plan preparation a long lead in time will not always be possible.

ITEM 4: SEA

ES provided a presentation on the SEA.

JP asked what the timescales for the SEA were. ES explained that the Scoping Report will be prepared by Christmas and requires a 5-week consultation period after that. The Environmental Report will be deposited alongside the Draft OIRMP. ST will send the Statement of Public Participation (SPP) timescale section to JP.

AP2: Copy of Eileen’s slides to be sent out with minutes.

AP3: Copy of SPP timetable to JP

ITEM 5: AOCB

  • a) PW had concerns the polices may contravene other legislation e.g. UNCLOS and notes that we need to ensure we keep on track with this risk. ST advised that as well as consulting the OMPAG, the plan would also be out to public consultation, but only following sign off by MS prior to this, which would add a further gate-check.

  • b) GS summarized the next steps as: call for all to share their interest in any sub-groups for any of the general polices by the end of next week (26 Nov, 2021) to get back to ST. ST noted a nudge would be sent mid week (24 Nov, 2021).

AP4: ST: policies participation nudge to be sent out 24 Nov 2021.

MS highlighted that SFF have an Open Doors event on the 23 November at the St Magnus Centre. ST will provide details to interested OMPAG members.

GS clarified the policy sub-group meeting will be set up in the new year and thanked members for their participation and attendance.