SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
MINUTES OF THE 67th BOARD MEETING 18 July 2005 
Sterling House, Exeter 
 
Present: 
 
Juliet Williams - Chairman 
Nick Buckland - Deputy Chairman 
Cathy Bakewell - Board Member 
Christine Channon - Board Member 
Nigel Costley - Board Member (from item 6) 
Alan Courts - Board Member 
Duncan Hames - Board Member 
Brian Kemp - Board Member 
Jonathon Porritt - Board Member 
Christine Reid - Board Member (from item 4) 
Judith Reynolds - Board Member 
Colin Skellett - Board Member 
Harry Studholme - 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 
Jeff Chinnock - Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs Manager 
Ian Piper - Head of Regeneration (for items 4, 5) 
Miles Carden - Development Manager (for items 4, 5) 
Chris Slamon - Consultant Architect (for item 4) 
 
Apologies: 
 
Eric Thomas - Board Member 
Stephen Peacock - Director of Enterprise and Innovation 
 
1. MINUTES FROM 65th MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING 
 
The minutes of the 65th meeting were amended to reflect the fact that Duncan Hames was not present at the May meeting. No other changes were made and they were agreed as a correct record. 
 
The Chairman wished to put on record her thanks to all those involved in the successful bid by London to host the Olympic Games in 2012. The important role the Nations and Regions Group had played in supporting the bid was recognised by the bid team and this was underlined by Lord Coe who had personally thanked the Group for its support. London would now be the principal driver for the Games but there would be opportunities for businesses in the South West to compete for contracts through the usual procurement processes. The Chairman suggested the need for a South West task group to encourage business in the region to take up these opportunities. She also confirmed that RDAs would have new powers to support the Olympics when the Olympics Bill received Royal Consent. Discussion focused on the extent that the Olympics could help lever wider improvements particularly in transport infrastructure in Dorset.  
 
2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 
 
The Chairman explained that the Way Ahead Advisory Group had been strengthened through two nominations: Richard Cresswell on environmental matters and Dominic Murphy on community issues. 
 
The Board discussed the relaunched Ambassadors Programme. It was agreed that Board members should be included as part of the programme.  
 
3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT 
 
Geoff Wilkinson reported that the reception area in Sterling House was in the process of being improved now that outstanding issues with the landlord had been resolved. The works should be completed in the next 8 weeks. 
 
The Board had been sent a draft of a letter to the Winkleigh Society in response to the correspondence received by the Board and as a result of the discussion at the June Board meeting. Some minor amendments to the letter were proposed and it was agreed that the letter would be sent following the Board meeting. 
 
The Board discussed Bovine TB and the RDAs' work on the evidence base to better understand the consequences of the disease, working in close partnership with DEFRA.  
 
Board decision 
 
The Board confirmed that the SIRE programme to co-sponsor PhD students with businesses should go ahead despite some changes in the funding mix with most of the potential shortfall in HEFIE funding met by the Universities. 
 
4. St AUSTELL TOWN REGENERATION 
 
Commercial in Confidence 
 
 
5. BRUNEL BUSINESS PARK, St AUSTELL 
 
Commercial in confidence  
 
6. JURASSIC COAST - WORLD HERITAGE SITE  
 
Colin Molton outlined the proposals for the sustainable economic development of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and east Devon. The project would be handled under a Framework Agreement analogous to Rural Renaissance where stakeholders agree the major outcomes and then partners undertake specific aspects of the overall project. The RDA had been asked to contribute 28% of the overall budget. The overall framework had been agreed and initial funding had been given for the preparatory phase. Board approval was sought for an investment of up to £6.7m over five years.  
 
The discussion focused on some of the risks associated with the project particularly in delivering to the agreed timescale and the inevitable delays associated with decision making within the context of the Framework Agreement. It was confirmed that the project would have an annual delivery plan which would enable the Agency to ensure that partners were delivering. Concern was expressed about the ratio of funding allocated to community engagement and capacity building. It was felt that this needed to be substantially increased to ensure that the project was high quality. Questions were also raised about the sequencing of marketing activities and also on the expected benefits - in terms of jobs, business growth etc - that might accrue from the investment. Some Board members suggested that it might be beneficial to have a broader overview of the project and how it would fit into the broader region/coastline and also into the sustainable tourism agenda. 
 
Board decision 
 
The Board supported the project in principle and agreed to Year 1 expenditure on the basis that there was an agreed annual delivery plan. Consideration of the project should be undertaken by a new Board sub group made up of Judith Reynolds, Cathy Bakewell, and Nick Buckland. The Board would need to consider this project again in the future once the sub group had met to consider the issues raised by the Board.  
 
7. 12 MONTH ACCOUNTS 
 
Nick Lewis introduced the paper which the Board noted.  
 
8. EFFICIENCY PLAN 
 
Nick Lewis reported on the Agency's Efficiency Plan which had been submitted to DTI.  
 
Discussions focused on whether the DTI intended to publish league tables, the importance of improving efficiency and on some of the specific figures relating to the transfer of Business Links. A suggestion was made on peer reviewing different parts of the Agency by staff from other division. This was felt to be a good idea. Emphasis was also placed on the need to reduce waste and on whether focusing on web based recruitment advertising had the potential to restrict diversity.  
 
Board decision 
 
The Board endorsed the Efficiency Plan. 
 
9. STAKEHOLDER SURVEY 
 
Suzanne Bond reported on the outcome of the stakeholder survey conducted at the end of 2004. The 2004 survey was designed to allow comparisons with the DTI/MORI survey conducted in 2003 and the RDA's 2002 stakeholder survey. Overall satisfaction with the RDA's performance has increased although our delivery partners were the least satisfied. The main issue identified concerned funding/decision making processes, bureaucracy and issues concerned with corporate behaviour. Some of the actions taken over the last 18 months or so - such as the Task and Finish Groups on organisational development and the work undertaken on business and delivery planning processes, had sought to address some of these issues. Other issues - such as the level of empowered representation at external meetings - need to be addressed in other ways. There would be further drilling down to improve the Agency's understanding of some of the issues identified in the stakeholder survey. The Board were reminded of on the progress made on moving the Agency to becoming a planning-led rather than an appraisal-led organisation.  
 
On the issue of relationship management, it was noted that the Agency had over 700 live projects at any one time, which meant that it was difficult to provide the level of senior management input into stakeholder management that was sometimes necessary. The Executive team had developed some proposals to strengthen senior management capacity and to improve administrative support. Geoffrey Wilkinson outlined the proposed changes. The Board discussed the issue of how best to locate responsibilities for human resources, the need to strengthen marketing, and the merits of different forms of organisational structure and how this impacted on Agency culture. The issue of handling representation of the sub regions was discussed at some length. It was confirmed that the current proposals included 5 additional senior posts and these had already been factored into the current budget. Staff would be sent the consultative document on the improvement of management capacity as soon as possible. 
 
Board decision 
 
The Board would receive a copy of the proposals for improved management capacity in advance of the proposals being sent for consultation with the RDA staff and respond through the chairman. The final results of the stakeholder survey would come to a future Board meeting. 
 
10. HEALTH AND SAFETY  
 
Colin Molton updated the Board on progress and activities on the Agency's Health and Safety agenda.  
 
11. SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY COUNCIL (VERBAL UPDATE)  
 
In Confidence 
 
12. 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 
 
None. 
 
g. Audit Committee minutes 
 
Noted. Harry Studholme sought the views of the Board on the effectiveness of the Audit Committee as part of its own self assessment process. General satisfaction with the performance of the Committee was expressed by all Board members. The issue of individual appraisals was deferred to item 13. Clarification was sought on item 12 in the Audit Committee minutes.  
 
h. Remuneration Committee minutes 
 
None. 
 
Following consideration of the Standing Items the Chairman asked that all executive staff should retire from the Board's meeting. The Chief Executive had earlier requested that he should remain when his staff withdrew that he might deliver a statement to the Board. 
 
13. BOARD SELF ASSESSMENT 
 
In Confidence