 SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MINUTES OF THE 54th BOARD MEETING 24th MAY 2004
Sterling House, Exeter
Present:
- Juliet Williams - Chairman
- Cathy Bakewell - Board Member
- Nick Buckland - Deputy Chairman
- 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
- Harry Studholme - Board Member
- Eric Thomas - Board Member
- Geoffrey Wilkinson - Chief Executive
- Caroline Bull - Director of Enterprise and Innovation
- Suzanne Bond - Director of Strategy and Communications
- Nick Lewis - Director of Corporate Services
- Colin Molton - Director of Operations and Development
- Guy Price - Head of Strategy and Performance
- Caroline Bloodworth - Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs
Apologies
- Colin Skellett - Board Member
1. MINUTES FROM 54th MEETING
The minutes of the 53rd meeting were agreed. The matter arising about the South West Enterprise and Skills Alliance was to be discussed as part of the present meeting. 2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
The report was noted. Juliet Williams provided a verbal update of the visit to the region by Lord Coe, Chairman of London 2012, on 20/21 May. She reported that the visit had been a success with good media interest throughout and thanked Nigel Costley, Jeremy Pope and Nick Buckland for their involvement. Following the Nations and Regions Support Group meeting on 12 May, SWRDA were commissioned to develop a template that all regions could use to audit sporting and ancillary facilities; this information would be provided in support of the formal bid which London 2012 would submit to the IOC in November 2004. 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Geoff Wilkinson reported that he had received a letter from DTI that confirmed a 2% increase in Board members' remuneration with effect from 1 April 2004.
He outlined the 2003/4 end of year spend figures, which had not yet been signed off by the auditors and should not be regarded as final. He also appraised the Board of the initial output figures, all of which had met or exceeded targets. Verification work continued.
Regarding Caroline Bull's departure at the end of May, Geoff explained the arrangements that had been put in place to cover her work. Nick Lewis would be acting Director of Enterprise and Innovation (E&I), with assistance from Ray Warren (Hewlett Packard) for six months. Simon Hooton would chair the Appraisal Group and manage the Best Practice function. Regarding membership of external bodies, Nick Buckland would take Caroline Bull's place on Finance Cornwall Ltd and Ian Piper take on her role on the New Swindon Company.
Interviews had taken place on 20 May for the post of Director of E&I, but an appointment had not yet been made. Board members debated whether remuneration for the post had resulted in applicants with the requisite background and experience not being attracted to it.
Robin Nicoll raised a concern about the factual accuracy of the letter sent by the Agency to the Secretary of State for Transport on the A303/A358 decision. He had written to Juliet Williams about his concerns. Juliet Williams explained that his letter had been received on Friday 21 May and that it would not be appropriate to comment with so little time having elapsed with which to appraise its content. Each point made in Robin Nicoll's letter would be addressed. Jonathon Porritt considered that the way in which the Agency's position was articulated on this matter was important to the reputation of the Board.
Board decision
The Board agreed that Nick Buckland would become a member of Finance Cornwall and Ian Piper a member of the New Swindon Company.
4. SOUTH WEST MICROSYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY (MST) CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
5 SOUTH WEST ENTERPRISE AND SKILLS ALLIANCE
Brian Kemp updated the Board on amendments made since last month's meeting, and assured members that the complexity issue raised at that meeting had been taken on board. The Executive Summary had been revised.
Board decision
The Board endorsed the final draft of the proposal.
6 BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
7 SW RDA BOARD ADVISORY GROUPS
Suzanne Bond introduced the paper which had been produced following discussion at the November 2003 Board meeting. A number of methods of strengthening engagement between the main Board and its Advisory Groups were suggested in the paper, including each Advisory Group preparing an annual work plan and regular reports to the Board being made by Advisory Group Chairs.
Judith Reynolds (Chair, Partnership SW) welcomed the paper. Jonathon Porritt raised concern that, whilst the paper offered an approach to take forward, more analysis would be welcome on successful and less successful outcomes from these groups. He considered the reputation of the Board to be enhanced by the effective management of the Advisory Groups.
Board decision
It was agreed that the Chairs of the Advisory Groups should meet Jonathon Porritt to discuss his ideas further. It was recognised that not all the suggestions in the paper would work for all Groups.
8 WRITE OFF OF BAD DEBT
Nick Lewis introduced a paper which was seeking Board approval for the write-off of a specific debt relating to rent arrears which exceeded the Executive level of delegation. He explained that the debt arose from the failure of a company that had been renting premises from one of the RDA's predecessor bodies. The debt had been provided for in full in previous years' accounts. The liquidation of the company had now been completed and there were no proceeds available to meet the debt, which should therefore be written off against the existing provision.
Board decision
The Board approved the debt write off of £52,138.82.
9 10 YEAR TOURISM SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Suzanne Bond updated the Board on progress since the January meeting. Consultation had now taken place in a variety of ways and the main issues raised during this process were outlined in the Board paper. The Tourism Board Sub-group was due to meet after the main Board meeting to discuss an Action Plan, which would be brought to the June meeting.
Geoff Wilkinson noted that a meeting had been arranged between South West Tourism and Wiltshire County Council following specific concerns about the proposed designation of Salisbury and Stonehenge as a single destination.
Board decision
The Board noted the paper.
10. NEW SWINDON COMPANY (NSC)
Caroline Bull, a member of the NSC Board, made a presentation on the progress to date of the NSC, the reasons why the centre of Swindon suffered from poor performance and perception and an outline of the recently published Regeneration Framework. The Framework, approved by Swindon Borough Council at the end of April, identified four "zones" - the heritage quarter, the station gateway, the retail core and the commercial and cultural quarter.
Jonathon Porritt raised concerns over the lack of reference within the NSC papers to sustainability and the need to ensure that sustainable development was a principle embedded within the entire regeneration framework.
Board members were keen to highlight the message that the Agency supports development in the Swindon town centre area and that it should be sustainable.
Colin Molton assured the Board that URCs aimed to deliver sustainable urban communities offering residential, commercial and leisure developments in town centres. He also noted that Ultra light transport system, currently undergoing Department of Transport trials was being explored in respect of Swindon. A possible route could be from the Factory Outlet centre to the town centre.
Board decision
The Board noted the paper.
11. FALMOUTH DOCKS
12. RISK MANAGEMENT
Nick Lewis introduced a paper which updated the item discussed at the March meeting and included the top ten risk suggestions made by members of the Board. He noted that the Audit Committee had suggested buying in assistance from PWC. The Board agreed that a paper should come back to the September meeting following PWC input. 13 PENSION SCHEMES
Nick Lewis provided the Board with the background to his paper. 14 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.
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