South West Regional Development Agency

SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
MINUTES OF THE 70th BOARD MEETING 14 November 2005 
Sterling House, Exeter 
 
Present: 
 
Juliet Williams - Chairman 
Nick Buckland - Deputy Chairman 
Cathy Bakewell - Board Member 
Christine Channon - Board Member 
Alan Courts - Board Member 
Duncan Hames - Board Member 
Brian Kemp - Board Member 
Jonathon Porritt - Board Member 
Judith Reynolds - Board Member 
Colin Skellett - Board Member 
Harry Studholme - Board Member 
Eric Thomas - Board Member 
 
In attendance: 
 
Geoffrey Wilkinson - Chief Executive 
Suzanne Bond - Director of Strategy and Communications 
Nick Lewis - Director of Corporate Services 
Colin Molton - Director of Operations and Development 
Stephen Peacock - Director of Enterprise and Innovation 
Simon Hooton - Head of Policy (items 8 to 10) 
Nick Harrington - Operations and Development Manager (item 11 only) 
Jeff Chinnock - Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs Manager 
Caroline Bloodworth - Board and Policy Adviser 
 
Guest: 
 
Malcolm Bell - South West Tourism (item 10 only) 
 
Apologies: 
 
Nigel Costley - Board Member 
Christine Reid - Board Member 
 
1. MINUTES FROM 69th MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING 
 
The minutes were agreed as a correct record, subject to an amendment regarding Nick Buckland taking over as Chair of the meeting part way through. There were no matters arising. 
 
2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 
 
Tourism. The Chairman outlined her role in the Partners for England event on 1 December, about which there appeared to be high levels of interest. 
 
2012 Olympics. The structure for the Regional Executive Group should be in place early in 2006 and the Agency would be advertising for someone to lead the team before Christmas. A joint RDA/Sport England event was planned on 22/23 February to ensure maximum stakeholder support.  
 
It was agreed that the Agency should issue a press release to clarify the ways in which local authorities could engage in the process for the Olympics and to ensure there was a level of coherence so that some authorities did not rush ahead. It was suggested that in addition to the Regional Executive Group there should be a wider forum of stakeholders created to promote ownership of the process. 
 
It was agreed that the Board would receive an update on progress at each Board business meeting.  
 
Winkleigh. The Board considered a second letter from David Lausen (Winkleigh Society) circulated to the Board in advance of the meeting (David Lausen's initial letter had been considered at the June meeting). The Board agreed a response. 
 
City Summit. Colin Molton reported on the outcomes of recent meetings with ODPM officials and the Bristol Partnership. A subsequent meeting between the Chairman, Colin Molton, Barbara Janke and Terry Wagstaff had been held to discuss how to take the matter forward.  
 
3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT 
 
Geoff Wilkinson explained that Rod Eddington had not been able to accept the invitation to meet the RDA Board in Exeter and was now visiting Swindon and Bristol. 
 
Independent Performance Assessment (IPA). Suzanne Bond had volunteered to be part of the peer review process for either EEDA or NWDA (the first two RDAs to go through the IPA process).  
 
Management Review. A list of the Directors appointed was circulated. It was confirmed that the remaining posts would be advertised externally. It was agreed that a revised organogram would be circulated to Board members.  
 
Freedom of Information (FOI). It was agreed that those members wishing to attend an FOI session should contact Jeff Chinnock by 21 November. The possibility of another date in the New Year for FOI training was floated.  
 
4. TAMAR SCIENCE PARK (TSP) PHASE 4 
 
Commercial in confidence 
 
5. MARINE SOUTH WEST PROJECTS 
 
Stephen Peacock outlined investments in Marine South West projects to date and likely future costs associated with the Falmouth and Plymouth Marine Training Schools.  
 
Brian Kemp asked if the LSC had been approached for capital funding to support these projects. The Executive team responded that discussions with the local LSC had indicated that they could only provide revenue support but Stephen Peacock would review this.  
 
Board decision  
 
The Board approved an increase in the Marine South West Projects approval to £3.94m now to cover the Falmouth Marine Training School, with further increases up to £5m to cover the Plymouth Marine Training School and projects though to 2007 subject to the Chairman's approval. 
 
6. RISK MANAGEMENT 
 
Nick Lewis explained that the paper provided an update of progress on risk management. It was agreed that an updated version of the attachment on the Risk register would be appended to the minutes. Jonathon Porritt did not agree with the initial assessment of Risk Mitigation measures. It was agreed that a risk management workshop, run by Harry Studholme and Nick Lewis, would be arranged for those Board members who wished to attend on the afternoon of 23 January.  
 
7. BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES/ RDA OFFICERS MEMBERSHIP OF OUTSIDE BODIES 
 
Nick Lewis explained that this was an item usually tabled at each January meeting, however other changes had necessitated a paper at this time. In discussions subsequent to the production of the Board paper it had been agreed to nominate Duncan Hames to the Culture South West board.  
 
Board Decision 
 
The Board agreed Duncan Hames as the Agency's nomination for the CSW Board and that Geoff Wilkinson replace Steve Richards on the Boards of Finance Cornwall and Finance South West. 
 
8. REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGY 
 
Simon Hooton explained that although a number of responses had been received from organisations to the consultation, the process was not closing until 9 December, after the four consultation events to be held jointly with the Regional Assembly, and so it was not yet possible to provide a full summary of responses. It was agreed that there should be a meeting for the whole Board before the December Issues day to discuss the matters that had emerged from the consultation. Simon Hooton would provide the Board with an update on the responses to date in advance of the December meeting. He also welcomed individual responses from Board members.  
 
Board decision 
 
The Board noted progress on the development of the revised strategy. 
 
9. SIX MONTH ACCOUNTS 
 
Nick Lewis introduced the paper. It was suggested that additional narrative information would be useful to support the changes in Project Approvals identified in the report. There was concern about the underspend identified in the training and development budget. Nick Lewis explained that an increasing proportion of training was being provided by short in house seminars/workshops, which were both more effective and less expensive than external courses. 
 
Board decision 
 
The Board noted the paper and the accounts. 
 
10. TOWARDS 2015 
 
Malcolm Bell presented information on the background of Towards 2015 and on progress made since June 2004, including progress on the establishment of 9 brand cluster groups and 9 Destination Management Organisations.  
 
There was general interest in the work underway on impact evaluation systems, particularly to identify any best practice that could help in the preparation for CSR2007.  
 
Board decision 
 
The Board welcomed the progress made to date. 
 
11. WAVE HUB 
 
Nick Harrington presented an overview of the project and an outline of the key challenges for the Agency including gaining consents and environmental assessments, developing an appropriate delivery vehicle, and negotiating with landowners and wave device developers. 
 
It was agreed that the project had come a long way from the initial proposal that had first came to the Board and that although significant issues were still to be resolved, it was potentially an important project for the region. The Board was pleased that the project would be discussed at the next SW Science and Industry Council meeting and also suggested the need to involve the appropriate Higher Education Institutions.  
 
Board decision 
 
The Board noted the current position and agreed to delegate responsibility for monitoring progress on the Wave Hub project to its two members who sit on the Environment Cross Directorate group, Colin Skellett and Jonathon Porritt.  
 
12. SCIENCE CITY BRISTOL 
 
Stephen Peacock explained that the paper provided an update on progress on Science City Bristol. An informal group of stakeholders from Bristol had been established to drive forward the initiative. This group would move to become a formal strategic group early next year and Board members were invited to make suggestions on the composition of the group.  
 
STANDING ITEMS 
 
a. Projects Approved 
 
Noted.  
 
b. Policy Consultation Reponses 
 
Noted. 
 
c. Summary of Board Advisory Group minutes 
 
Noted 
 
d. Decisions taken using Urgency Procedures 
 
None. 
 
e. Documents Sealed 
 
Noted. 
 
f. Loan Write Offs 
 
Noted 
 
g. Audit Committee minutes 
 
None 
 
h. Remuneration Committee minutes 
 
Noted.