Freedom of Information Requests - Board Minutes
Date: 17 July 2025
Our ref: SIR180688/A5279903
Information Request – Board Minutes
Your Request
Please provide a copy of the minutes of the Board Meetings held on 17 and 28 April 2025 and on 2 May 2025. It is inappropriate that these should be treated as confidential because:
a) your advice as Reporter on the proposal for a Galloway National Park has been published and the Minister has given her statement,
b) the deliberations of the NatureScot Board on the proposals for the Cairngorms were held in an open session in Inverness, and
c} it is inappropriate for the discussions which lead to the recommendations as Reporter and as the Adviser on the natural environment, and on which the Minister based her statement on 29 May, be kept out of sight.
It is necessary to consider the issues arising from the Ministers decision without delay. I will be pleased to receive a prompt reply.
Our Response
We have discussed your request with NatureScot staff within our Executive Office and copies of the confirmed minutes for the dates you have requested are now available.
The following links will take you to the individual minutes:
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
