 SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MINUTES OF THE 43rd BOARD MEETING 2 June 2003
Sterling House, Exeter
Present
- Juliet Williams - Chairman
- Doris Ansari - Board Member
- Nick Buckland - Board Member
- Peter Chalke - Board Member
- Nigel Costley - Board Member
- Brian Kemp - Board Member
- Helen Holland - Board Member
- Mike Leece - Board Member
- Jeremy Pope - Deputy Chairman
- Jonathon Porritt - Board Member
- Judith Reynolds - Board Member
- Colin Skellett -Board Member
- Harry Studholme - Board Member
- Eric Thomas - Board Member
- Geoffrey Wilkinson - Chief Executive
- Suzanne Bond - Director of Strategy and Communications
- Caroline Bull - Director of Enterprise and Innovation
- Nick Lewis - Director of Corporate Services
- Colin Molton - Director of Development
- Anne Bulleid - Executive Office
- Melanie Farrant - Executive Office
Apologies
- Robin Nicoll - Board Member
1. MINUTES FROM 41st and 42nd MEETINGS
The minutes of the 41st and 42nd meetings were agreed as a correct record. 2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Juliet Williams thanked board members for submitting details about their RDA activities and highlighted the main activities included in her own report.
A number of board members expressed concern about the limited time available at board meetings to discuss and debate significant issues at a strategic level. Juliet Williams asked the Executive Team to look at board members' concerns and suggest changes to the format of board business and issues meetings. An annual programme of board business. 3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Geoffrey Wilkinson drew out some of the key issues in his board report. These included:
a. Tier 3 targets and outputs - slow performance at the start of the year had been attributable to the need to establish collection methods. These had been improved during the year and Geoffrey was pleased to report that, by the year end, the RDA had exceeded its four Tier 3 targets. Case studies would be available for use by the press and media, which would also be available to the Board.
b. Far South West Air Transport Study - early indications were that the study was unlikely to support proposals for a new airport in the South Hams. A full report would be made at the board meeting on 23 June.
c. Receipts - creating a delegation to align disposal of assets with project expenditure limits was proposed. It was also suggested that the £3m limit for projects should be revisited for projects that were not anticipated in the Corporate Plan.
Board Decision
Agreed that disposals in excess of £3m should be subject to Board approval.
d. Staffing levels and structure - the increasing remit for RDAs was noted and the resultant pressures on resources. The RDA was focusing on recruiting quality staff to fill vacancies which was often difficult in the current climate. It was suggested that staffing levels should not be governed by total numbers but by achieving required outputs within an agreed budget.
Internal restructuring to give increased focus on sector development was welcomed. Cross-directorate working groups had been established for important issues which cut across several directorates in order to corporately decide priorities and direct resources efficiently.
e. HMS Scylla - a report on the economic impact of acquiring HMS Scylla indicated significant benefits to its acquisition. However, there were some problems to overcome and the bid would therefore be conditional. If the project were to go ahead it would be considered novel and contentious and would therefore require departmental approval.
(Mike Leece declared an interest in this item and did not participate in the discussion.)
4. BUDGET 2003-04
Nick Lewis introduced the report and budget for 2003-04. He explained that like-for-like comparisons of staffing levels and costs across RDAs were misleading because of differing structures and workloads.
Board decision
The Board agreed to adopt the budget for 2003-04. 5. APPRAISAL PROCESS
Nick Lewis explained that the RDA's appraisal system was designed for the public sector to ensure its decisions on funding were made appropriately. The full appraisal process was explained in the paper circulated.
Brian Kemp, who had attended an Appraisal Group meeting, commented that it was a very comprehensive and well managed process but suggested that it should incorporate revenue projects better and ensure their linkages to the RES. 6. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
The Government's Sustainable Communities Plan had been launched in February 2003 and identified a number of specific roles for RDAs including development of brownfield land and an increased role in housing and planning.
The Rural Advisory Group had identified that affordable housing was a critical rural issue. In response to a question about how the RDAs' new planning and housing role would be delivered, Colin Molton explained that it was for the Regional Housing Board to identify the role of each of the agencies involved in delivering affordable housing and to co-ordinate all resources for maximum impact. He agreed to provide board members with a briefing on affordable housing in the south west.
7. PRIORITY SECTORS UPDATE
Changes had been made across the RDA to increase support to the region's priority sectors. The new sector development team would champion each of the region's priority sectors both within and outside the RDA.
Research was being carried out to evaluate sector support progress to date and findings would be taken into account in future work. It was hoped that the research would give hard data on the relationship between sector spending and achievement of Corporate Plan themes and RDA targets. The outcomes of the research would be reported to the Board.
The methodology for supporting priority sectors needed to be flexible so that the RDA could be involved in the most efficient way for each sector. Demonstrable benefits to businesses through engagement in sector support initiatives were needed to ensure wider participation.
The south west was in a strong position to be at the leading edge of the creative industries sector and it was suggested that RDA support should be offered to develop and draw in new technology to complement and use alongside more traditional aspects. 8. BRISTOL SCIENCE PARK UPDATE
9. ROYAL WILLIAM YARD UPDATE
Colin Molton updated the Board on the current situation regarding development of Royal William Yard and its impact on the region. The show flat due to open shortly was expected to generate significant interest and, since becoming involved in RWY, Urban Splash (the architects) had expanded its activities into other parts of the south west. Additional funding was now needed to allow development at RWY to continue, but it was proving very difficult to broker additional funding from central government, English Heritage or DCMS. Unless funding became available to develop Mills Bakery, RWY would lose skilled technical workers. It was generally recognised that, as a publicly owned building, funding issues needed to be resolved. 10. STANDING ITEMS
a. Projects Approved
Noted. Board members were invited to raise queries about particular projects or types of projects with the relevant director prior to board meetings.
b. Executive Reports
Noted. The RDA and GOSW were likely to support a proposal to move civil servants out of London where a particular department or function could benefit a region.
c. Policy Consultation Responses
Noted. Jonathon Porritt asked for details of the response to the Haskins review.
d. Summary of Board Advisory Group minutes
Noted.
e. Chairman's Urgent Actions
Noted.
f. Documents Sealed
Noted.
g. Loan Write Offs
Noted.
h. Audit Committee Minutes
Noted.
i. Any Other Business
St Columb Major Business Park
A paper was tabled seeking the Board's approval of additional expenditure on the St Columb Major Business Park to allow this project to proceed. The Investment Group gave approval for £2,746,950 in October 2002 but increased costs required Board approval of £3,121,950 gross costs. It was noted that a reduction in ERDF receivable on Phase I would mean an increase in net cost but the gross cost would be well within the £3,514,831 existing approval.
Board Decision
The Board approved gross RDA investment of £3,121,950 for development of St Columb Major Business Park Phase II thus allowing this project to proceed.
11. CULTURE SOUTH WEST
As part of strengthening the relationship between the RDA and Culture South West, Mike Leece had been appointed to the board of CSW. The small team of CSW staff was co-located with the RDA at Sterling House and staffing costs were met in part by the RDA as part of its support to the cultural sector.
Juliet Williams welcomed Adrian Vinken, the chair of Culture South West, and Sue Kay, the Executive Director, to the meeting. They gave a presentation describing the role and purpose of Culture South West, and explained the strategic themes and aspirations of the region's cultural strategy.
On finishing their presentation, Adrian and Sue were thanked for attending the meeting and the Board went on to attend the launch of the new RDA cultural exhibition in Sterling House.
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