SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
MINUTES OF THE 91st BOARD MEETING 15 OCTOBER 2007 
WILTSHIRE COURT, SWINDON 
 
Present: 
Juliet Williams - Chairman  
Nick Buckland - Deputy Chairman  
Christine Channon - Board Member 
Nigel Costley - Board Member  
Alan Courts - Board Member 
Kelvyn Derrick - Board Member 
Duncan Hames - Board Member 
Jonathon Porritt - Board Member  
Christine Reid - Board Member  
Judith Reynolds - Board Member 
John Savage - Board Member 
Colin Skellett - Board Member 
Harry Studholme - Board Member 
Eric Thomas - Board Member 
 
In attendance: 
Jane Henderson - Chief Executive 
Nick Lewis - Executive Director Resources 
Colin Molton - Executive Director Operations and Development 
Stephen Peacock - Executive Director Enterprise and Innovation 
Jeff Chinnock - Head of Corporate and Government Affairs  
Caroline Bloodworth - Board and Policy Advisor 
Richard Thomas - Director of Marketing and Communications 
 
For specific items: 
Stephen Bohane - Head of Operations, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (item 4) 
Guy Price - Director of Performance and Planning (items 5 and 6) 
Steve Richards - Head of Operations, Wiltshire and Swindon (items 10-12 ) 
 
Guests: (item 10) 
Rod Bluh - Swindon Borough Council 
Gavin Jones - Swindon Borough Council 
Celia Carrington - Swindon Borough Council 
Rikki Hunt - Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership 
Bill Cotton - Swindon Borough Council 
John Cullum - New Swindon Company 
Peter James - New Swindon Company 
Chris Rapley - Science Museum 
Sally Pettipher - Science Museum 
 
Apologies: 
Cathy Bakewell - Board Member 
Suzanne Bond - Executive Director People and Skills 
 
 
1. MINUTES FROM 90th MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING 
 
Subject to a minor change in item 7, universities should consider the gains to be made from providing access to their Intellectual Property, the minutes of the meeting were agreed as a correct record.  
 
Matters arising: 
 
Arms length bodies 
Colin Molton confirmed that this had been considered at Executive team level and it was proposed that a further paper would come to the December board. 
 
 
2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 
 
The Chairman referred to the written report provided and commented on: 
 
Party Conferences 
The Agency's presence at all three Party Conferences had been highly successful, the highlight of which was a reception that showcased South West food prepared by Fifteen, Cornwall with 250 people present. The Chairman offered her thanks to Duncan Hames and Christine Reid together with Jeff Chinnock, Richard Thomas and Sue Handford. 
 
Surf Life Saving Championships 
Cornwall had been successful in its bid to host the championships in 2010. It was reported that the RNLI was a key partner in the project. 
 
 
3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT 
 
Jane Henderson provided an update on the following issues: 
 
CSR 
The expected reductions in RDA funding had been confirmed - 5% pa over the next three years together with a simplified outcomes framework. Mention was also made of alignment with UKTI on overseas investment and on government's intentions in regards its future policy on Regional Infrastructure Funds.  
 
Sainsbury Review 
The review confirmed that the expected £180m of RDA funding would go to the Technology Strategy Board. The recommendations were likely to be accepted although there was expected to be debate around FE and the alignment with skills. 
 
 
4. EDEN PROJECT 
Commercial in confidence 
 
 
5. RESPONSE TO THE SWRA'S SCRUTINY REPORT: QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 
 
Stephen Peacock outlined the Agency's involvement in the Regional Assembly's scrutiny on the quality of employment and explained that the paper sought Board agreement on the formal response to the recommendations. 
 
Board decision 
The Board endorsed the Agency's formal response to the recommendations with the SWRA's Final Report and Recommendations of the Regional Scrutiny and Review Panel on Quality of Employment Opportunity in the South West. 
 
 
6. DEVELOPING A 2008-11 CORPORATE PLAN - CORPORATE STRATEGY 
 
Nick Lewis updated the Board on the work of the Board Sub-group and drew particular attention to the three "planks" suggested for the corporate strategy. 
 
Colin Molton provided a short presentation on place priorities as previously requested by the Board, that would feed into the corporate plan. 
 
The following points were raised: 
- that some of the data might be better presented per head of population. 
- the information may be better understood if there were an explanatory text.  
 
Board decision 
The Board noted and endorsed the development of the corporate strategy as well as the work undertaken on the identification of priority places. 
 
 
7. AIRBUS 
Commercial in confidence 
 
 
8. BOARD FORWARD PLANNER 
 
The paper was noted. 
 
 
9. 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 
Noted. 
 
e. Documents Sealed 
Noted. 
 
f. Loan Write Offs 
Noted. 
 
g. Audit Committee minutes 
Noted. 
 
h. Remuneration Committee minutes 
None 
 
i. Board Sub-group minutes 
Noted. 
 
 
10. SWINDON 
 
The Chairman welcomed the guests from Swindon Borough Council, the New Swindon Company and the Science Museum. 
 
The Board received presentations from the Local Authority on regenerating the town, work underway to improve links between the economy and local community, and plans for a university. A number of challenges were outlined including the plans for housing growth, and the need for both skills uplift and a reduction in inequality in deprived wards.  
 
The framework plan for the town centre was presented by Peter James of the New Swindon Company, including progress to date on the key sites. 
 
Professor Chris Rapley and Sally Pettifer provided information on the Science Museum plans and some examples of recent events held at Wroughton.  
 
The following points were made: 
 
- careful thought would need to be given to the likely economic impact of introducing a university campus into the town. 
- the need to ensure the highest design standards for all buildings in the town centre. 
- where would people living in the planned new homes work and what were the sectors most likely to attract new workers . 
 
The Chairman thanked the guests for their contribution and they then left the meeting. 
 
 
11. THE EXCHANGE PROJECT 
Commercial in confidence 
 
 
12.EXETER SCIENCE PARK 
 
Colin Molton explained that the paper provided a general update on the Agency's involvement on incubation and science parks, following the paper at the January 2007 meeting. Progress was also outlined on plans for Exeter Science Park with a more detailed paper due to come to the December Board.