South West Regional Development Agency

Minutes of the 15th Board Meeting 4th September 2000 Sterling House, Exeter 
 
 
 
 
Present:

• Sir Michael Lickiss Chairman
• Doris Ansari (DA)
• Cairns Boston
• Peter Chalke
• Nigel Costley
• Helen Holland Deputy Chairman
• Michael Leece
• Alf Morris
• Stella Pirie
• Jeremy Pope Deputy Chairman
• Jonathon Porritt
• Jill Barrow Chief Executive
• Suzanne Bond Director of Strategy and Performance
• Caroline Bull Director Enterpirse and Innovation
• Nick Lewis Director of Corporate Services
• Colin Molton Director of Development
• Michael Roberts Director of Marketing
• Simon Hodgson Head of Corporate Affairs
• Caroline Bloodworth Board Administrator

Apologies: 
Tim Parket (TP) 
 
 
1. Minutes of previous meetings 
The Minutes of the 13th meeting (5th June) and 14th meeting (31st July) were agreed. 
 
2. Matters arising  
 
Spending Review 2000 
 
It was announced that the Agency had been allocated £8m of the additional £60m Direct Development funding for 2000/01 announced under the Spending Review 2000. 
 
Infrastructure Sub Group 
 
Jeremy Pope and Mike Leece agreed to act as joint Chairs of the Infrastructure Sub Group. 
 
South Crofty 
 
Following discussions at the last Board meeting the Agency has issued a press briefing setting out its position on South Crofty.  
 
Development Advisory Panel 
 
Jeremy Pope, Mike Leece, Peter Chalke and Nigel Costley have agreed to become members of the Panel. (Note - Helen Holland and Tim Parker have also agreed to become members subsequently).  
 
Local LSC Representation 
 
Agency Board representation on the Local Learning and Skills Council was agreed as follows:- 
 
Former Avon Alf Morris 
Devon and Cornwall Jill Barrow 
Dorset Jeremy Pope 
Gloucestershire Nigel Costley 
Somerset Doris Ansari 
Wiltshire Peter Chalke 
 
It was agreed that a senior officer would be nominated for each LLSC to attend meetings as an observer in the Board members absence (see Annex 1). 
 
3. Chief Executive's Performance Report (SWRDA (00) 41)  
 
Jill Barrow introduced the paper noting that the report set out the first quarters performance against the Performance Management Framework agreed at the June Board Meeting. It was noted that the report would become more streamlined by April 2002 with the implementation of integrated funding and a requirement to report against outcomes agreed with government. 
 
Points Raised:

• The Chairman noted that the £8.5m nationally that DfEE announced as part of Spending Review 2000, is intended as replacement funding for the TEC discretionary funds which currently provide support for economic partnerships and projects.
• The change in the methodology used by the Office for National Statistics to calculate GDP figures was explained. The effect of the change had been to move the SW from fourth to fifth in the regional rankings, but it was clarified that this was the result of a methodology rather than any deterioration in the SW's performance.

Board Decision 
It was agreed that revised targets for the Performance Report for next year should be discussed by the Board before April. 
 
 
4. June 2000 Accounts (SWRDA (00) 42) 
Nick Lewis introduced the June accounts. 
 
Points Raised:

• It was confirmed that projects agreed under officer delegation would continue to be reported in the relevant Directorate Executive report (as in the Development Directorate) or in specific papers on funds (SRB, Skills Development Fund).
• A correction to the expenditure figures for the Falmouth Maritime project was noted.
• Two Skills Development projects, which had been agreed in principle at the April 2000 Board Meeting had since been approved:-

- Fixing the Future - Solution for IT Services Skills - £220k 
 
- A Model for a 'Virtual' Centre of Excellence in Coastal Zone Management Training - £176,438

• Members requested that future reports of programme expenditure include phased budgets as was already the case with the running costs budget.

Board Decision 
The Board agreed the June 2000 Accounts. 
 
 
5. St Austell Town Centre (SWRDA (00) 43) 
Colin Molton introduced the project setting out proposals for land assembly to enable a comprehensive regeneration scheme for the centre of St Austell.  
 
Points Raised:

• Members agreed that the town needed a quality development project, and that Objective 1 funding should be identified for eligible elements of the project.
• The importance of ensuring that St Austell both benefited from and enhanced the success of the Eden project was noted.
• Members requested that Board Papers in the future gave more weight to environmental, sustainability and social exclusion issues in addition to economic considerations. It was noted that the appraisal procedure included an assessment of the effect on these issues and the work being carried out on the appraisal process by Sustainability SW would further improve this aspect of project appraisal (minute 8/13 refers).

Board Decision:  
To approve the initial land assembly for the St Austell Town Centre project at a gross cost of £4.8m. To receive a further report before considering a comprehensive development scheme for the site.  
 
 
6. Powers Reserved to the Board (SWRDA (00) 44) 
Nick Lewis presented the paper detailing those decisions and powers that are solely the preserve of the Board. 
 
Board Decision: 
The paper detailing the powers reserved to the Board was approved as presented.  
 
 
Improving the Image of the Region Framework for Action  
 
Michael Roberts reported on progress with the Framework for Action.

• Members noted the branding ideas for the Region and were keen to see the Region's distinctiveness applied to these branding ideas.
• It was considered important that encouragement should be given to other regional organisations to adopt the emerging the regional identity and branding. The Chairman suggested that using the S W theme (as in "Success Works") could provide a useful tool in this process.

Board Decision:  
The Board noted the paper on the progress of the Image of the Region Framework for Action.  
 
 
8. International Trade Strategy (SWRDA (00) 45)  
 
Caroline Bull informed the Board that Neil Blakeman would be taking up the post of the British Trade International Regional Director on 18 September and will be based in the Agency's Exeter office, with the main team based in Bristol.  
 
Board Decision:  
The Board noted the paper and endorsed the approach outlined. 
 
 
9. Skills and Learning (SWRDA (00) 46)  
 
The Board received a presentation from James Harris about the work of the Skills Team and the delivery of the Skills and Learning Framework for Action.

• Alf Morris requested that the Board have opportunity to debate the issues more thoroughly and it was agreed that sufficient time for this discussion would be allocated at the 6th November Board Meeting.

Board Decision: 
A discussion on skills issues would be included in the Agenda for the November 6th Board Meeting. 
 
 
10.Regional Cultural Consortium (RCC)  
 
The Board received a presentation from Adrian Vinken, Chair of the Regional Cultural Consortium, and Barry Cornish, Department of Culture and Media Studies on the Regional Cultural Strategy. 
 
Board Decision:  
Members expressed support for the proposal that the RDA should work more closely with RCC on projects and issues of joint interest in the future. 
 
11. Board Members Responsibility Matrix  
 
The Board noted the matrix as an accurate summary, however the links between Area Managers and Board Members will need to be reviewed in the NE part of the region where the geographical interest areas of Board Members do not match area team boundaries. 
 
12. Annual Report/Annual Review  
 
Michael Roberts reported on progress with the preparation of the Annual Report and Annual Review. 
 
Points Raised:

• It was agreed that a discrepancy in the wording of the Annual Report (page 2 of the Chief Executive's Review) would be amended to read "can help to deliver the Strategy" in copies of the document issued in future.
• It was noted there would be a sub-regional breakdown of project information in the Annual Review.

Board Decision: 
The progress with the Annual Report and Annual Review was noted. 
 
 
8. AOB  
 
Board Papers - Standing Items 
A concern was raised that important items could be missed within the "Standing Items" papers at the back of the set of Board papers. Members were assured that any items that they considered controversial could be brought back to next meeting under matters arising or if necessary a Board paper. There were no such items on this occasion. 
 
Regional Assembly/RDA Concordat 
Members were concerned that they had not yet seen the Concordat between the RDA and the Regional Assembly. It was explained that a Concordat is still under discussion and that it will be brought to the Board for approval when a draft document has been prepared. 
 
Consultation Responses 
Concern was raised that Board members were not copied responses to external consultation documents that had been handled by officers. Due to the large number and range of responses which the RDA is required to make, it was noted that it would be impractical to copy all responses to the Board, but that a better procedure for keeping the Board briefed on consultation responses should be developed. Significant regional (e.g. Regional Planning Guidance) and national consultation documents (e.g Rural White Paper) would still be considered at Board Meetings. 
 
Board Papers via e:mail  
The possibility of reducing the amount of paper issued to Board Members and making more use of laptops and email for Board papers and meetings was raised. It was agreed that a short report on this would be prepared for the November meeting. 
 
Next meeting: 2nd October 2000, Plymouth Hoe Moat House, Armada Way, Plymouth

Next Meeting 
2nd October 2000, Plymouth Hoe Moat House, Armada Way, Plymouth  
 
APPENDIX 1 
Issues listed for future action in foregoing minutes