SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
MINUTES OF THE 50TH BOARD MEETING 26 JANUARY 2004 
Sterling House, Exeter 
 

Present:

• Juliet Williams - Chairman
• Cathy Bakewell - Board Member
• Nick Buckland - Board Member
• Nigel Costley - Board Member
• Duncan Hames - Board Member
• Brian Kemp - Board Member
• Mike Leece - Board Member
• Robin Nicoll - Board Member
• Jeremy Pope - Deputy Chairman
• Jonathon Porritt - Board Member
• Christine Reid - Board Member
• Judith Reynolds - Board Member
• Colin Skellett - Board Member
• Eric Thomas - Board Member

• Geoffrey Wilkinson - Chief Executive
• Caroline Bull - Director of Enterprise and Innovation
• Simon Hooton - Acting Director of Strategy and Communications
• Colin Molton - Director of Operations and Development
• Guy Price - Head of Strategy and Performance
• Sue Piper - Head of Strategic Marketing (until item 6)
• Claire Gibson - Head of Planning, Transport and Environment (item 7 only)
• Caroline Bloodworth - Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs

• Jane Henderson - Regional Director, GOSW
• Francis Cornish - Director, South West Tourism (item 6 only)
• Malcolm Bell - Chief Executive, South West Tourism

Apologies:

• Harry Studholme - Board Member
• Nick Lewis - Director of Corporate Services

1. MINUTES FROM 48th and 49th MEETING

The minutes of the 48th and 49th meeting were agreed as a correct record. Matters arising from the December meeting included an update on progress on the audit carried out at the behest of DTI on RDA Board appointments; Jane Henderson agreed to provide more information when available. It was agreed that two Board Members would be invited to join the Cross Directorate Environment group which, as part of its remit, would consider developing an investment strategy to support the Agency's progress on environmental work.

2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman offered her congratulations to Jane Henderson, who had been awarded a CB in the New Years Honours and informed the Board that DTI had confirmed the appointment of Nick Buckland as an SW RDA Deputy Chairman from 1 January 2004.  
 
At the recent RDA Chairs meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) had confirmed that the press launch of the Sustainable Communities Plan would focus on the north of the country. Following the concern expressed by Juliet Williams the DPM said he would give the South West his attention in this matter.

3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

Geoff Wilkinson confirmed the forecast spend was close to plan, although this would depend on the Bristol Science Park project which is being considered by CPRG, and some Objective 2 funding that had not been identified in the original spending programme. He drew attention to the draft Regional Enterprise Strategy attached to his report and asked for comments to be submitted to Caroline Bull by 5 February. He outlined the information that was to be provided for the February Issues meeting - Board Members requested an Executive Overview together with a summary of key issues/options to be considered.  
 
Brian Kemp was interested to know the take-up rate on the recruitment website, Gradsouthwest.com; Caroline Bull agreed to provide the figures.  
 
Jane Henderson provided a round-up of current GOSW/Departmental priorities, including the Spending Review, Regional Emphasis Document, the Lyons Review and a No 10/Treasury review of devolved delivery.

4. RDA BOARD MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Geoff Wilkinson confirmed that since the paper had been written, Duncan Hames had agreed to sit on the Audit Committee, Cathy Bakewell and Christine Reid had agreed to sit on the Somerset and Wiltshire and Swindon LSCs respectively. Nigel Costley had agreed to Chair of the Urban Advisory Group, with Judith Reynolds remaining a member. 
 
He outlined the purpose of a new Standing Committee, the Planning Board Group, about which Colin Molton had recently contacted some Board Members. Doris Ansari had been co-opted to continue on the Brussels Office Joint Committee and the European & International Vision Group. Nick Buckland had recently been appointed Chair of the Regional Aggregation Body. 
 
The Chairman encouraged Board Members to volunteer to become members of the five Cross- Directorate Groups. Currently Jonathon Porritt and Colin Skellett sit on the Environment group, Judith Reynolds on Social Enterprise and Jeremy Pope and Harry Studholme on Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy.

5. 10 YEAR TOURISM SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Sue Piper introduced the item, explaining that agreement was sought for the strategic approach and priority actions of the 10 year plan. Francis Cornish and Malcolm Bell, from South West Tourism, presented the item which focussed on the changing priorities for tourism in the region - around value, quality employment and impact on the environment and communities. The challenges facing the industry were outlined, which included fragmentation and lack of focus, disjointed business support structure and ineffective destination management and the unique elements of the strategy were demonstrated - quality over growth, encouragement of business to work together and including local people in decision making. Priorities for driving up quality were outlined, including the development of brand clusters, information and easy booking and regional profile building. Also covered were priorities for destination management and the need to ensure key people in the region understand the strategy, the provision of regional management and leadership and the development of ten destination partnerships.  
 
Consultation is planned to continue through February and March with a regional business plan scheduled to come to the RDA Board for consideration in May. Brand cluster development and destination partnership pilots are to be developed, together with a communication plan. 
 
Board members welcomed the progress made on the strategy, brand clusters and destination partnerships and looked forward to the identification of RDA investment in the May paper, however the Board recognised the likely degree of difficulty in delivering the strategy.  
 
The Chairman invited Board Members to make any further comments through Sue Piper. 
 
Board Decision 
The Board endorsed the Strategic approach and priority actions outlined in the paper as the basis for further consultation. 

6. REVIEW OF RURAL DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS

Colin Molton explained that a letter had been submitted to the Secretary of State at Defra by Derek Mapp following the RDA Chairs meeting on 21/22 January. The Defra Project Board had begun to meet - with RDAs' represented by David Marlow, CEO of EEDA. Colin Molton would continue to chair the Haskins Task and Finish Group for the time being, working closely with EEDA.  
 
The Chairman noted that there were a huge number of issues to be taken forward against this agenda over the coming months and that she would continue to update the Board on progress.

7. COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES

Mike Leece, as Chair of the Board's Infrastructure Advisory Group (IAG), introduced the background to the four communications infrastructure priorities set out in the paper that had been identified by the group. There was a need to be mindful of the timeframe for other reports, particularly the draft Regional Transport Strategy, which is being produced by the Regional Assembly. Further work included the preparation of a detailed economic justification for each of the four priorities. 
 
Board decision 
The Board endorsed the four communications infrastructure priorities - reducing congestion in the Greater Bristol area, tackling peripherality of the far South West, improving access to UK, European and international markets and providing region-wide access to affordable broadband and agreed that this should be communicated to the Regional Assembly. It was agreed the issue would be discussed again at a future Board meeting prior to an RDA document being published.

8. EUROPEAN POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES

Simon Hooton outlined three issues that face the Agency - the improvement of RDA representation on European programme committees, the identification of sufficient resources to enable the Agency to play a full part in the development of new structural funds, and the need for greater support to Board Members and staff involved in European programmes. 
 
It was agreed that the Agency should not underestimate the importance of the EU and that, while continuing to utilise the great knowledge and expertise of Doris Ansari (who had agreed to continue to represent the Agency), there was a pressing need for another Board member to become engaged in this agenda. The Chairman asked for volunteers for this role. The Board also noted the extra staffing resource proposed in the paper.

9. UNIVERSITY OF BATH

Commercial in confidence

10. RDA OFFICERS' MEMBERSHIP OF OUTSIDE BODIES

The Board noted the paper which outlined the external companies and organisations on which RDA staff held positions.

11. INSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS

The Board noted the paper with a suggestion that the Agency might consider self insuring in certain areas, pooling with other RDAs.

12. STANDING ITEMS

a. Projects Approved 
Noted. 
 
b. Executive Reports 
Noted. 
 
c. Policy Consultation Reponses 
Noted. 
 
d. Summary of Board Advisory Group minutes 
Noted 
 
e. Chairman's Urgent Actions 
None. 
 
f. Documents Sealed 
Noted. 
 
g. Loan Write Offs 
Noted. 
 
h. Audit Committee minutes 
Noted. 
 
i. Remuneration Committee minutes 
Noted.