Home | About Us | South West England | What We Do | Supporting Business | Areas | Publications | Links | News Centre | X
Home |
Site Map |
New Additions |
Contact |
Non-text version
SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MINUTES OF THE 36th BOARD MEETING 21 October 2002
Ebley Mill, Stroud
Present:
Apologies:
Robin Nicoll - Board Member
Jeremy Pope - Deputy Chairman
Jonathon Porritt - Board Member
1. REGIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND SOUTH WEST RDA
CORPORATE PLAN 2003-6
Suzanne Bond and Simon Hooton gave a presentation on the current status of the revised RES. They asked the Board to look at two specific matters - key issues identified through consultation; and initial thoughts for the format, finances and priorities for the Corporate Plan 2003-6.
The majority of RES consultation responses received had been constructive and welcomed the direction and clarity of the new document. The six key issues for further consideration centred around:
The Board agreed a number of changes to the RES to take account of each of these areas.
The discussion went on to raise a number of points. The RDA should be clear that its remit was to prepare a regional economic strategy, not a social or environmental strategy, although the positive effective of a thriving south west economy on social and environmental well-being should be drawn out.
The region needed to agree jointly a set of common priorities to focus its lobbying strength. In turn, the number of RDA priorities should be narrowed to give a strong regional lead on economic issues. The RDA should be more resolute in stating what it would and would not support - and be prepared to disappoint.
The Board agreed that a general statement should be included in the RES emphasising the relationship between an effective infrastructure and a successful economy. Elements essential to an effective infrastructure (such as road, rail, air, sea/water, ICT, information, and education) should be set out.
Suggested changes to Strategic Objective 2 were considered which reflected consultation feedback. However, the Board generally agreed that the original wording reflected better the RDA's responsibility to improve the region's economy which, through working with local communities, businesses and education providers, would in turn address social and environmental issues. It was agreed that the Board sub-group should consider the final wording of the priority actions in the light of the discussion.
The Board also considered an illustrative prioritisation process for allocating financial headroom in the Corporate Plan 2003-6. The sum of moral and aspirational projects far exceeded the headroom and a framework of principles had been applied to filter out projects ineligible for funding. Central or RDA contingency funding would still be available for unplanned situations.
The Board felt that generally the principles set out were an appropriate reflection of priorities but that without more information they could not reach any definitive conclusion. The Board sub-group was asked to look further at this matter. It was emphasised that the Corporate Plan was a planning and prioritisation exercise but that it did not commit actual expenditure which was determined through the normal appraisal process. A further presentation on the Corporate Plan would be made to at the next board meeting on 18 November.
2. SOUTH WEST FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS ACTION (FRESA)
The FRESA was a result of a joint initiative, the objectives of which were incorporated within the revised RES. The document formed an action plan that would constantly evolve and would see new patterns of working and new relationships built between relevant agencies. Workforce development and productivity were two areas where the RDA could usefully concentrate its resources.
The FRESA contained provision for helping in large scale redundancy situations; and access to and equality of opportunity for learning.
The Board endorsed the FRESA as an evolving working document.
3. AIR TRANSPORT CONSULTATION DRAFT RESPONSE
Claire Gibson gave a presentation setting out the issues to be taken into account in formulating a long term (30 years) vision for a sustainable South West airport strategy. This vision was founded on the South West being a region of Europe, with businesses competing successfully in expanding European and international markets. To realise this, an efficient transport network with direct air links to a range of destinations in Europe was essential. South West airports should satisfy most regional demand, thereby reducing the current over-reliance on London airports, but recognising that London Heathrow will continue to be the principal national hub airport. To support this long term vision, either one main regional airport should be identified to serve the region's needs in the long term, complemented by smaller more local airports serving niche roles, or the north and far south west of the region should each be served by one main airport.
A number of points were made in response to the presentation. Newquay airport and its air service to London should be protected. Slots to Heathrow would be an absolute requirement for whichever became the main regional airport(s), but the South West should also be seen as a region of Europe and opportunities to feed into European and American airports were important. Exeter airport was easier to access from the far South West and Dorset than Bristol. Evaluation of the regional demand for air services would help define a regional solution but any solution should equally be about good road and rail access. The role of military airfields and helicopters providing short hopper services was raised. Future plans for Southampton airport could affect any South West regional airport strategy and discussions should therefore be had with SEEDA.
In the main, the Board agreed that the long term vision should be for one main regional airport to serve the South West, with a range of direct links to Europe and beyond. Recognising that this could take some time, two sub regional airports should be supported in the medium term. Bristol airport had an important role in the north of the region and, taking into account the benefits and disbenefits of both Plymouth and Exeter airports, it was felt that Exeter airport provided the best opportunity to develop as the region's second main airport. Bournemouth, Newquay and Plymouth should continue to serve important niche markets, complementing Bristol and Exeter airports.
The outcome of this discussion would be reflected in the final draft response being prepared for the Board to consider on 18 November.
4. THE COTSWOLDS CANALS
The Board was joined for this item by representatives of British Waterways and Stroud District Council. They received a presentation describing the diverse effects that restoring the Cotswold Canals would achieve, the work required to repair the canals, and the financial situation. The Board then visited Brimscombe Port, Wallbridge and Ebley to see at first hand the dereliction in the area.
A Heritage Lottery Fund bid was being prepared by the Cotswold Canal Trust which needed to detail how match funding would be raised. A number of sources had been identified including the RDA, to which the Trust would be submitting a bid which would be evaluated through the RDA's appraisal process. Colin Molton advised the Board that it may be appropriate to undertake some advance site acquisitions to help facilitate the eventual canal restoration.
5. RDA SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Brian Kemp declared an interest in this item and did not participate in the following discussion or decision.
A presentation on renewable energy was given by Claire Gibson and Simon Hooton, reflecting the revised RES, Strategic Framework for Renewable Energy in the South West, and the RDA's commitment to promoting sustainable construction. The Board was informed that Regen SW, the South West Renewable Energy Agency, was now an established company and a chief executive was currently being appointed.
The Board was specifically asked to agree to the development of demonstration projects in three renewable energy technologies: wave, tidal and biomass (including combined heat and power, waste to energy and biofuels). These had been selected because they were developing technologies that needed support now to make their application commercially viable, and because they satisfied a range of key criteria (market advantage, innovation, replicable, range of scale, available funding, and contribution to the RES).
Some board members felt that the South West should look further into exploiting offshore wind energy given the physical aspects of the region. It was suggested that the investment return for offshore wind energy could be greater than either tidal or wave power energies, and the South West's expertise in the aerospace industry gave the region potential to develop offshore wind technologies. It was noted that some of the barriers to delivering renewable energy on the ground were caused by planning, and that biomass could benefit the agricultural industry and help to diversify the rural economy.
The Board agreed that the RDA should promote renewable energy demonstration projects and endorsed the three technologies of biomass, wave and tidal power. However, it was felt that offshore wind energy should be further explored and, in particular, the RDA should establish whether there were opportunities for DTI funding of further pilots.
(DTI has since confirmed that further pilots are not possible as the pre-qualification deadline for bids has passed and the programme is already oversubscribed.)
Website Copyright ©2008 South West of England RDA. | Disclaimer | Privacy | Last Updated: 2nd June 2008