SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
MINUTES OF THE 78th BOARD MEETING 17 JULY 2006 
Sterling House, Dix's Field, Exeter 
 
Present: 
Juliet Williams - Chairman  
Nick Buckland - Deputy Chairman  
Cathy Bakewell - Board Member 
Alan Courts - Board Member 
Kelvyn Derrick - Board Member 
Duncan Hames - Board Member 
Brian Kemp - Board Member 
Jonathon Porritt - Board Member  
Christine Reid - Board Member  
Judith Reynolds - Board Member 
Colin Skellett - Board Member (via videoconference from Wessex Water) 
Harry Studholme - Board Member 
Eric Thomas - Board Member 
 
In attendance: 
Jane Henderson - Chief Executive 
Suzanne Bond - Executive Director Strategy and Communications 
Nick Lewis - Executive Director Resources 
Colin Molton - Executive Director Operations and Development 
Stephen Peacock - Executive Director Enterprise and Innovation 
Jeff Chinnock - Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs Manager 
Caroline Bloodworth - Board and Policy Advisor 
Ian Knight - Head of Operations, West of England (item 5) 
Stephen Bohane - Head of Operations, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (item 6)  
 
Apologies: 
Christine Channon - Board Member 
Nigel Costley - Board Member  
 
 
1. MINUTES FROM 77th MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING 
 
The minutes of the meeting were agreed as a correct record. There were no matters arising. 
 
2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 
 
The Chairman tabled her report and offered an oral update on a number of other items. 
 
EU Commissioner, Danuta Hubner. The Chairman confirmed she had invited Danuta Hubner to speak at a Learning Summit in Spring 2007. 
 
Creative Industries summit. The Agency had decided to postpone its own regional summit on the creative industries because DCMS are holding a similar meeting in the autumn. The SW summit on creative industries will now take place in spring 2007.  
 
Regional Skills Partnership. Phil Hope (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DfES) was due to attend the RSP Board meeting on 20 July. 
 
3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT 
 
Comprehensive Spending Review. Jane Henderson explained that the collective RDA response to CSR 07 had been submitted on 14 July. The Exec team were discussing the RDA's approach to CSR as part of developing a joint RDA/Assembly response to the CSR. Following a tri-partite meeting (with GOSW and SWRA) a draft paper would come forward to the September Board meeting for Board input. 
 
Regional Funding Allocations. Jane Henderson provided an update on the recent announcement on the Regional Funding Allocations, on which Board members had already received a Q&A briefing. Colin Molton explained that there would be a series of panel review meetings to assess issues around deliverability, involving local authorities, which would be completed by the end of October 2006. In the context of the Bristol sub-region, it was agreed that Jane Henderson, Colin Skellett, Cathy Bakewell and Christine Reid would speak about whether it was appropriate to convene a group focusing on Bristol issues.  
 
Business Links. Jane Henderson confirmed that DTI had re-introduced the Departmental approval process (Central Project Review Group) for the re-contracting of Business Links.  
 
EU funding post 2006. Jane Henderson explained that if Government confirmed a major role for RDAs in the delivery mechanisms, there would be a need to come to the Board with proposals for extra staff appointments, including at Director level. Colin Molton explained that a letter was expected from DCLG before the parliamentary recess, although the final decision was not expected until October. 
 
Imerys job losses. Jane Henderson reported that the Agency was involved in the task force following the announcement of job losses at Imerys, of which we had received no advance warning. Our role was one of a strategic convenor, with both Jobcentre+ and the local LSC most closely involved. The issue of the nature and depth of RDA involvement in cases such as this was debated.  
 
 
4. SOUTH WEST ENGLAND (SWE) MARKETING CAMPAIGN  
Suzanne Bond outlined the background to the new phase of the SWE campaign. Tim Stubbings and Richard Thomas gave a presentation on the outcomes of research studies that had been carried out on the impact of the campaign so far and the key learning that had emerged. They also detailed the format of the new phase of activity planned to run from the autumn.  
 
It was outlined that the Agency was working hand in hand with South West Tourism. On the matter of extending the reach of the campaign internationally, it was agreed that a proposal be developed in the next six months and that, as part of this, opportunities to develop links with the Bristol Airport/Continental Airlines project as a pilot should be explored.  
 
It was agreed that a Board sub group would be established (Chairman, Duncan Hames, Colin Skellett) to help guide the campaign direction and consider evaluation findings. It was further agreed to hold a Board issues meeting on the campaign in 2007. 
 
Board decision 
The Board approved the approach and expenditure of £1.2m for each of the next three years for the national SWE campaign. The Executive would return to the Board in the next six months with a proposal for the development of a highly targeted international dimension to the campaign. In doing so, it would work closely with the Board sub group.  
 
 
5. SWINDON URC - LAND ACQUISITIONS 
Commercial in confidence  
 
 
6. CPR (URC) LAND ASSEMBLY  
Commercial in confidence 
 
 
7. SITES AND PREMISES FRAMEWORK - UPDATE  
Commercial in confidence 
 
8. LIVING COASTS 
Commercial in confidence 
 
 
9. ICT STRATEGY 
Nick Lewis explained the background to the ICT Strategy and the reasons behind the recommendation to provide the ICT service in-house. The Board welcomed the overall strategy outlined in the paper but Nick Buckland agreed to become a member of the ICT Strategy Board. The suggestion of a user group in addition to the ICT Strategy Board was generally accepted.  
 
Board decision 
The Board endorsed the draft ICT Strategy and nominated Nick Buckland to sit on the ICT Strategy Board.  
 
10. QUARTER 4 ACCOUNTS 
 
Board decision 
The Board noted the accounts.  
 
11 EFFICIENCY PLAN 2005/6  
 
Nick Lewis outlined the efficiency savings that had been reported.  
 
Board decision 
The Board noted and approved the report. 
 
12 STANDING ITEMS 
 
a. Projects Approved 
Noted.  
 
b. Policy Consultation Reponses 
Noted. 
 
c. Summary of Board Advisory Group minutes 
None. 
 
d. Decisions taken using Urgency Procedures 
None. 
 
e. Documents Sealed 
Noted. 
 
f. Loan Write Offs 
Noted 
 
g. Audit Committee minutes 
Noted. 
 
h. Remuneration Committee minutes 
None.