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 59th BOARD MEETING 15th NOVEMBER 2004
Sterling House, Exeter
The minutes of the 58th meeting were agreed as a correct record. There were no matters arising.
The Chairman reported that the RDA Chair of Chairs role, which commenced at the beginning of October, had resulted in an increased workload for both herself and the Chief Executive. She explained that there had been useful discussion with other RDAs regarding the cross-RDA mission for the next 2/3 years. The pillars of the RDA mission would be discussed at the next RDA CEOs meeting with RDA Chairs signing off in January.
The situation regarding the Regional Aggregation Body (RAB) was explained. The RAB had been established at the DTI's request for the aggregation of broadband procurement for the public sector (particularly in education and health). This had been over taken by events and the objectives to increase broadband coverage and lower prices had been reached. If, as seemed likely, no alternative role could be found for the RAB then it was likely that it would be wound down. It was not yet clear how the RDA's investment in the SW RAB would be handled in the accounts.
The Chairman congratulated Nick Buckland on his appointment to the national Technology Strategy Board.
South West RDA board appointments had been recently announced by the DTI. Of the four places available Nigel Costley had been appointed for a further year, Alan Courts and Christine Channon had been appointed to the Board as business and local authority nominations respectively and one vacancy remained. The Chairman reminded the Board that the 2005 recruitment process would start early in the New Year. She emphasised the continuing need for the Agency to improve its method of engagement with business and to ensure that high quality business applicants were encouraged to apply for Board membership.
Board members noted the vacant position on the Audit Committee. The Board agreed that the Chief Executive could approach Alan Courts to fill the position and to fill an additional position with a co-opted member (Stella Pirie filled one co-opted position, however the terms of reference allowed for one other).
EMFAB (MST) Commercial in Confidence
London 2012 Olympic bid
The Agency had been working with other partners, including Sport England, in order to generate support for the bid within the region and to prepare for the possible visit of IOC (International Olympic Committee) officials to Portland in February 2005. Banners and other marketing materials had been provided for use in the local area to help raise the profile.
Claire Gibson provided background to the document, part of new planning reforms which would sit alongside the RES as a strategic document.
The Regional Assembly was consulting on three spatial options with the RDA taking the economic lead role. The draft RDA response did not seek to indicate choice for one of the three options. It suggested the need for the results of research currently underway to be analysed before firm conclusions are reached. The Board was reminded that it would have two more opportunities to comment (in March/April and December 2005) at different stages of the consultation process.
The Board raised a number of issues, including the need for a clear perspective from the RDA on those areas outside PUAs and the need to link them to the Sustainable Communities agenda. There was concern that current projections around low wage/low skills should link with the provision of affordable housing and public transport. It was agreed that the possible impact of environmental issues such as climate change should be included in the response and that the strategy should not only enable sustainable economic growth but be in concert with other relevant economic strategies.
Harry Studholme, the RDA Board member on the Regional Assembly's Spatial Planning and Transport Group, repeated that the RDA would be able to comment upon the RSS but not steer. It was important to focus on the key economic issues that were in the Agency's gift to influence.
Board decision
Subject to the comments above, the Board approved the draft response and noted further opportunities for engagement in the process.
Colin Molton explained that the draft submission represented work in progress. The submission had been developed with GOSW and the Regional Assembly, and with engagement from local authority partners across the region.
He explained that in the process of engagement, some emphasis of key themes had been lost. Feedback had been received at a recent meeting with ODPM on the need to address issues including inter-regional connectivity, the needs of the business community and regional prioritisation. Ian Piper had been directly involved in co-ordinating the input from local authorities which had varied in scope and content.
Geoff Wilkinson reported that the paper had been considered at the Full Regional Assembly meeting on Friday 12 November and had received a range of comments. It had been agreed that a revised paper would be considered by the Assembly Executive group at its next meeting on 10 December.
The Board identified the need to target the submission to ODPM, and for the document to be clearer in its definitions.
It was agreed that the Agency had to show strategic leadership and to re-emphasise the key themes linked to the RES. It should offer a well presented document using maps and visuals to ensure the region was able to compete with submissions put forward by other regions.
Board members were encouraged to make further comments direct to Colin Molton within the short time available. The Chairman was due to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister before Christmas.
Nick Lewis explained that staff changes were the main reason for alterations to authorised signatories and that the opportunity had been taken to make other minor adjustments. The overdraft facility of £5 million was now in place.
Board decision
The Board agreed to the changes to the delegations outlined in the paper.
Stephen Peacock explained that the paper was an attempt to bring forward issues following the setting up of the sector groups and included a summary of a review recently undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The importance of the sector groups was accepted and the Board confirmed the need for them to have a clear purpose to ensure effective engagement with industry. It was accepted that the groups operate in different ways and are at different stages of development. Some groups could be in a position to be self sustaining in the future although some would find it very difficult to find investment if the Agency was to cease its funding.
There was general discussion around the appropriate support for all interaction with the Sector Groups. It was accepted that there was a need for flexibility as one model would not suit every situation. Nevertheless the Agency did require staff with sectoral expertise in order to effectively manage sectoral issues and make value judgements.
Board decision
The Board noted the revised approach and that Board member involvement in the Aerospace, Biotechnology and Creative Industries could be of benefit.
Suzanne Bond explained that the deadline for the process had slipped due to the late arrival of the Corporate Planning Guidance. A draft would be discussed by the Corporate Planning sub group on 29 November. It would be tabled at the next full Board meeting.
The two reference points around which RDAs' work would be organised were the RES and the new Tasking Framework which included targets from 13 departmental PSAs.
It was noted that the Corporate Plan Board Sub group had been less involved in the process than last time. It had however been instrumental in defining the corporate strategy that underpins the Corporate Plan.
The number of output indicators had been increased from five to ten. This still required final ratification. Board members expressed concern over the relevance of some of these output indicators to RDAs specifically. For example, there may be some difficulty in specifically measuring the RDA's role in achieving the two skills output indicators.
Commercial in confidence
Colin Molton explained that the paper was to enable the Board to note progress on the project, and to emphasise that the Agency does have an exit strategy in place should the project not be deliverable.
The Board discussed the potential transport issues for the site, considered its potential usage and agreed that the improvement of linkages to the city's transport infrastructure would form a fundamental part of the viability of the site. Colin Molton agreed that commitment to the site by Bristol City Council was key to its development and that the Agency would consider its fallback position should this not be forthcoming.
Ian Piper explained that the paper provided an update on the progress made toward the regional centre of excellence in regeneration. The organisation was to be located in East Reach, Taunton and it was expected that the full Board would be in place by January 2005. It was agreed that there would need to be a differentiated marketing strategy to ensure people become aware of the organisation's various activities.
The Board agreed that its representative on Creating: Excellence should be the Design Champion nominee (currently Mike Leece).
Stephen Peacock explained that the paper was a brief update for the Board prior to a comprehensive presentation by Sir John Taylor at its next meeting.
Nick Lewis reported that the main issue for all RDAs currently was lack of current headroom in the budget, an issue likely to be made more acute if a loan write off is required for the Regional Aggregation Body.
Harry Studholme explained that the recommendation followed an NAO report considered by the Audit Committee and was intended to enable Board members to request training. It was agreed that existing Board members would advise on the process of induction for the two new members.
Board members considered it would be useful to meet with members from other RDAs and it was explained that such a meeting was being planned during the Sustainable Communities Summit in Jan/Feb 2005.
a. Projects Approved
Noted.
b. Policy Consultation Reponses
Noted.
c. Summary of Board Advisory Group minutes
d. Decisions taken using Urgency Procedures
Noted.
e. Documents Sealed
Noted.
f. Loan Write Offs
Noted. Questions were raised about using legal restrictions to protect clawback on grants. Nick Lewis explained that the cases included in the paper were Redundant Building Grant projects (pre-RDA) where legal charges were not taken on grants under £50k. He assured the Board that this was not the current policy taken by the Agency.
g. Audit Committee minutes
Noted.
Website Copyright ©2008 South West of England RDA. | Disclaimer | Privacy | Last Updated: 2nd June 2008