South West Regional Development Agency

MINUTES OF THE 21st BOARD MEETING 23rd April 2001, 
Gloucester City Council, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester  
 
 
 
Present:

• Sir Michael Lickiss Chairman
• Doris Ansari (DA)
• Cairns Boston
• Nigel Costley
• Peter Chalke
• Helen Holland Deputy Chair
• Michael Leece
• Alf Morris
• Stella Pirie
• Jeremy Pope Deputy Chair
• 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
• Michael Roberts Director of Marketing
• Colin Molton Director of Development
• Simon Hodgson Head of Corporate Affairs

Apologies Received: 
Tim Parker  
 
 
1. Chairman's Update 
 
SML gave an update on the foot and mouth crisis, the work of the national Task Force and the measures that have been announced by government. Board Members particular concern was expressed at the slow progress of carcass removal in Devon.  
The establishment and terms of operation of the of the RDA Emergency Fund was reported. The case for longer term regeneration measures is still being made to the government early indications are that the longer term impact of foot and mouth could be up to £12bn nationally.  
 
Jeremy Pope gave an up date on the progress with regional RDA Task Force noting that the RDA was working closely with GOSW and the Regional Assembly. It was particularly emphasised that the impact on rural businesses had been underestimated by government. It was reported that the research programme aimed at underpinning the case for additional support was rather slow and action had been taken to speed things up. 
 
Points Raised

• Board Members highlighted instances of problems businesses, farmers and communities in their areas that had encountered. JP noted that the Task Force was raising these issues with Local Authority Leaders and agencies dealing with the crisis.
• Concern was expressed at the general approach and response of governments departments to the problems of business. It was felt that too many areas of government did not understand the needs and operation of businesses.
• Board Members were please that the RDA had gained credibility for its work in the crisis and considered it important that the work of the RDA focused on ensuring that the response from all agencies was better co-ordinated and that there were clear contact points for businesses suffering problems.
• Board Members noted the way in which the environmental impact of the crisis had come to the fore during the crisis and that so little thought had been given to the longer term consequences of the disposal policy at an earlier stage in the outbreak.

2. Budget 2001/2002 
 
CEO introduced the Budget 2001/2002 noting that the structure was largely determined by the way the budget is given to the RDA. This budget is the final year the inherited funding system and the CEO proposed that we build up a new zero base budget for next year. CEO invited Board Members to contribute to the new budgeting process. Michael Leece offered to assist.

• Board Members inquired as to the progress with securing comparative financial performance data from other RDAs. This information has proved rather difficult to obtain from other RDAs but the CEO and Chairman were still pressing the issue through the national RDA liaison meetings.
• Cairns Boston declared an interest in point 5.2 the assignment of the balance of Prospers lease of part of Sterling House to the RDA.

Board Decision: 
The Budget was agreed. 
 
 
3. Gloucester Docks 
 
COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE 
 
 
4. South West RDA Priorities 2002/2005 
 
Jill Barrow introduced the paper explaining the proposed priorities and the new targeting regime for all RDAs. 
 
Points Raised in Discussion

• Board Members agreed that points 3.1-3.3 in the paper were correct as the underpinning for the determination of the Board's preferred priorities.
• Board Members felt that the connection between the targetry framework and the RDA's statutory purposes was not clear. There was a particularly concern in the area of sustainable development where the purpose is more broadly drawn than the objective. It was felt that the RDA purposes are still the guiding principles for the RDA as they are set in statute. It was agreed that this discrepancy should be bought to the attention of the Department through the Chief Executives Group.
• It was clarified that Tier 1 and 2 Targets had been agreed by Ministers and appeared not to be negotiable. The RDA has more flexibility with the setting of targets under Tier 3.
• Board Members had considerable discussion about the application of the targets to our priorities and whether these are appropriate guides for the future development of the RDAs work. There was some concern that they are not.
• Board Members felt that financial impact information should be prepared to enable the Board to assess what the cost of meeting the proposed targets might be. Board Members felt that the RDA needs to work out where its financial investment will be best placed to achieve agreed targets.
• The RDA needs to work out how the other players in the region are to be integrated into meeting these targets and what resources are needed by them from us and other UK government and EU funding streams.
• The importance of our influencing role was emphasised in the longer term goals that we are setting or being set by government. This is not necessarily an expensive process, but is not best measured by the targetry framework being proposed. Our Corporate Plan needs to take full account of this area of our work both in terms of resources and impact. A better analysis of where we should invest our funds to achieve these influencing outcomes is needed.
• A leadership role for the RDA should be to ensure that we have an effective sub-structure in the Region to deliver the high-level outcomes for the SW.
• Four themes were suggested to concentrate the RDA's work:
• To secure maximum funding for the Region (from all sources).
• To lead on true 'regional' issues.
• Provide a strategic and facilitating role for key players in the Region such as the LSCs and SBS.
• Narrow down the range of activities undertaken by the RDA.
• It was proposed that the RDA should focus on those issues which it is most able to influence. These might include key sectors /rural economy /urban renaissance /sustainable development but the list would need to be kept under review. Regional coherence, integrated business development, innovation and transport are regional priorities but more as crosscutting themes supporting the first four issues. This proposal will be worked up in more detail for the May 21st/22nd Board Meeting.
• Board Members requested that the proposed analysis of sector interventions be progressed to enable a more critical analysis of successes and failures in the policy to be undertaken.
• Board Members felt that the impact of the further evolution of the Regional Assembly may need more attention in the preparation of the RDA's forward strategy.
• In conclusion the Board agreed that it should spend more time in the future on strategic thinking and a further discussion on priorities is to be scheduled for the 21st/22nd May Meeting in Bath.

5. PRESENTATION BY GREG SMITH - GLOSCAT 
 
The Board received a presentation from GLOSCAT on their proposed new campus on Gloucester Docks. 
 
Points Raised:

• The scope for rural outreach was discussed and it was explained that GLOSCAT already has a very distributed network of college access points and remote learning and that rural outreach was very much a part of their plans. The problems with rural transport in Gloucestershire were noted.
• Board Members asked about the future of the college buildings that would close when the new buildings open. Many of the current buildings are no longer suitable for the colleges use, (access is poor and the maintenance costS are high), it was reported that these buildings will be suitable for re-use or redevelopment.
• Board Members queried the scope for developing sustainable transport links and building construction techniques. GLOSCAT confirmed that both these issues were part of the development proposal.

6. PRESENTATION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY  
 
The Board received a presentation from the South West Renewable Energy Group setting out progress on promoting renewable energy uses and sources in the region. 
 
Points Raised

• Board Members felt that through the Renewables Group, (chaired by Helen Holland), the RDA was in a position to provide leadership on this issue in the Region. The Board noted progress already made with a number of initiatives but indentified the scope for further work. Although it was a priority sector for the RDA, the SW was not in the forefront of renewable energy thinking or developments.
• The role of venture capital funding in supporting the renewable energy business sector was discussed and it was agreed that this was an area for investment that should be looked at in more detail. Renewable energy businesses in the region were still small and it was not yet a significant sector in the South West.
• The role of the Higher Education (HE) institutions was discussed. Board Members noted that there are no colleges providing a renewables course and that there were no noted HE experts on the subject in the SW.

Board Members thanked SW Renewable Energy for their thorough and interesting presentation. 
 
 
Next Meeting 
 
21st /22nd May 2001 Hilton Hotel (Waterside) Bath