SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY  
MINUTES OF THE 48th BOARD MEETING 10 NOVEMBER 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
• Robin Nicoll - Board Member
• Jeremy Pope - Deputy Chairman
• Judith Reynolds - Board Member
• Colin Skellett - Board Member
• Harry Studholme - Board Member

• Geoffrey Wilkinson - Chief Executive
• Suzanne Bond - Director of Strategy and Communications
• Nick Lewis - Director of Corporate Services
• Colin Molton - Director of Development and Operations
• Guy Price - Head of Strategy and Performance
• Caroline Bloodworth - Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs

Apologies

• Jonathon Porritt - Board Member
• Eric Thomas - Board Member
• Caroline Bull - Director of Enterprise and Innovation

1. MINUTES FROM 46th and 47th MEETING

The minutes of the 46th and 47th meeting were agreed as a correct record. Suzanne Bond provided an update on the internal communication project which will include a meeting with all senior Agency staff on 11 November. Geoff Wilkinson confirmed that formal notification had now been received from DTI of the Board's delegation increase to £10m.

2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman outlined the progress of the Haskins Review. A press conference by the Secretary of State is due to take place on 11 November, when DEFRA is expected to issue its formal response to the review 
 
It was agreed that the press release (in SWRDA's DEFRA lead role capacity) should support the principle of the review. Board members will be sent a copy of the press release, the Q and A briefing and a copy of the report on 11 November. It was suggested that the Board should formally discuss the contents of the report at the December Board Issues day. 
 
The Chairman confirmed that names of new Board Members were due to be announced w/c 10 November.

3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

Geoff Wilkinson reported on the outcome for the Agency of the Performance Fund Review. Subject to ministerial approval, SWRDA is likely to be awarded approx £2.5m from the performance fund. It was noted that RDAs and GOs have recommended that DTI do not hold back a performance reserve for 2004/05.

4. BRISTOL SCIENCE PARK (COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)

5. INSPIRE SOUTH WEST

Nick Lewis introduced the item (in Caroline Bull's absence on overseas business).  
 
Board Decision  
The Board approved an investment of a further £800k subject to requirement that any applications to Inspire South West by private sector organisations must have private sector funding within its funding package.

6. ICT AND VIDEO CONFERENCING

The Board were concerned that the costs involved appeared high and it was agreed that Nick Lewis would provide a report to the Board on the savings (both travelling costs and time) made by introducing the equipment in 6/12 months time. 
 
Board Decision 
The Board approved the use of Single Tender Action and expenditure of £144,500. 

7. SEPTEMBER 2003 ACCOUNTS

The Board agreed that the information, provided by Strategic Objective, was useful. 
Board members were content to receive specific information on significant variations in project costs and for the approved value to change if a new budget is approved.  
 
Nick Lewis responded to some specific points, including an additional £403k funding for SW Tourism, which had been received from DCMS as ring fenced funds. 
 
The Board approved the £6k overspend on the Eden Project Phase 3 and the cost increase on the SW Marketing campaign (from £3,448k to £3,518k).  
 
Nick Lewis said that it should be possible to produce separate reports for revenue and for capital expenditure in future reports.  

8. STRATEGY, PRIORITIES AND THE CORPORATE PLAN

Geoff Wilkinson provided the background to the process leading to the production of the RES and the Corporate Plan, particularly the shift towards integrated activity. He explained that this paper was intended to prepare Members for the full discussion due at the February 2004 Board Issues day. In addition to the tables within the paper, graphs showing summary indicative allocations and commitment information by Strategic Objective were provided. These illustrated the Agency's progress in achieving the directional shift of emphasis outlined in the Corporate Plan. 
 
The Board confirmed its commitment to the continuing delivery against the Corporate Plan noting that it was too early in the implementation and delivery of the Corporate Plan to make fundamental changes. 
 
Juliet Williams stressed that Board Members must be equipped to engage fully in February's discussions, and asked them to consider what further information they might need beforehand. It was agreed that an outline of key information and data would be provided at the next Board meeting.

9. THE ROLE OF SUB REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS (SRPs)

Suzanne Bond provided an overview of the background to SRPs and Local Strategic Partnerships in the South West and the different approaches taken in other regions.  
 
Board Members generally welcomed this paper, noting that it provided a clear statement of the RDA's pragmatic approach to working with SRPs. The key strategic role of SRPs within the Regional Economic Strategy was reiterated by the Board. The RDA does not require SRPs to have delivery capacity. It was noted that SRPs with higher levels of capacity should, as with sector groups and thematic partnerships, be able to make applications for funding to take on appropriate operational delivery responsibilities, as well as to identify appropriate delivery mechanisms in their sub-region. 
 
The Board appreciated that a single approach for SRPs is not effective for each sub- region in the South West and was keen to ensure that the normal pre-conditions for delivery were agreed before RDA funding was provided.

10. URBAN REGENERATION COMPANIES (URCs)

Colin Molton updated the Board on the progress of the URCs in the region - including that of Gloucester, which is currently under consideration by the DTI.

11. DESIGN INITIATIVES/CREATING EXCELLENCE

Colin Molton introduced the paper which provided the Board with information on the various design and sustainability initiatives currently in progress.

12. STANDING ITEMS

a. Projects Approved 
Noted. 
 
b. Executive Reports 
Noted. 
 
c. Policy Consultation Reponses 
Noted. 
 
d. Summary of Board Advisory Group minutes 
 
Judith Reynolds (as Chair of the Partnership South West Board Advisory Group) raised the issue of engaging and integrating the work of the advisory groups into the work of the Board.  
 
It was agreed that a review of engagement between the Advisory Groups and the Board over the last 12 months would be carried out, of all Board Advisory groups with a report back to the Board in due course.  
 
e. Chairman's Urgent Actions  
None. 
 
f. Documents Sealed 
Noted. 
 
g. Loan Write Offs 
Noted. 
 
h. Audit Committee minutes 
Noted.