MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 14th NOVEMBER 2003
AT RENAISSANCE HOUSE, WARRINGTON
Present: Bryan Gray (Chairman)
Neville Chamberlain
John Dunning
Martin Harris
Clive Jeanes
Rob Johnston
Pauleen Lane
Richard Leese
Alan Manning
Dennis Mendoros
Marie Rimmer
Brenda Smith
Mike Storey
Maureen Williams
Also Present:
Keith Barnes, GO-NW
Steve Broomhead
Nick Gerrard (Secretary)
Geoff Parker (Items 51/05 to 51/07)
Peter White (Items 51/08 to 51/10)
51/01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Anil Ruia
51/02 MINUTES FROM MEETING HELD ON 10th OCTOBER 2003
These were approved as a correct record, with one amendment
to Minute 50/07 (Fourth Grace), where “December 2004” should read
“December 2003”.
51/03 MATTERS ARISING AND ACTION POINTS
There were none.
51/04 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
The report from the Chief Executive covered the following
issues:-
(a) RDA Performance Rating
The Board noted that the DTI were recommending to Ministers that
the Agency received a “good” overall performance rating for the
financial year 2002/03 which, should it be approved, would result
in an additional £10.2M budget allocation; and also the basis upon
which Ministers were being recommended to abandon the performance
fund in future.
(b) Elected Regional Assemblies/Visit by John Prescott,
Deputy Prime Minister, 4th November
The Board noted the policy statement issued to staff by the
Chief Executive, setting out the Agency’s role in relation to
Elected Regional Assemblies, and in particular that, within its
regional catalyst role, the Agency will work with partners and
stakeholders to develop arguments to test the principles set out in
the statement which will ensure there is a thorough and informed
public debate leading up to the referendum.
ACTION: It was agreed that a broader discussion on Elected
Regional Assemblies would take place at the December Board
Meeting.
(c) Financial Delegation in respect of Project Funding
The Board noted that the Agency’s delegation had now been
increased by DTI from £5M to £10M, subject to the completion of an
Action Plan in accordance with the National Audit Office’s
recommendations, with a review of progress against the Action Plan
being undertaken by Government Office by 1st April 2004.
(d) Purpose of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU)
ACTION: The Board noted the purpose of the Regional
Intelligence Unit, set out in the report, which would be
incorporated into the review which would be considered by the Board
at the March 2004 meeting, and that this would include a strategy
for the dissemination of information from the RIU.
(e) Value of Projects for Post-Completion Review
The Board noted the value of projects that would be subject to
the review agreed at the last Board Meeting.
(f) Environment Agency
The Board noted the proposed terms of the Memorandum of
Understanding that was to be signed with the Environment Agency in
January 2004, to establish an agreed relationship for future joint
working, consultation and co-operation between the two
agencies.
ACTION: John Dunning raised the need to review the way in
which the Environment Agency appraises projects, which the Chief
Executive said he would investigate with the Environment Agency
Regional Director.
(g) Haskins Review
The Chief Executive confirmed that the Haskins Review was
published on 11th November, and that the anticipated
recommendations set out in the report had, in fact, been included
in the published version.
ACTION: The Board noted the report, and that a more
detailed report would be presented to the January Board
Meeting.
(h) Brownfield Land
The Board noted the progress that had been made with the
national pilot being led by the Agency in relation to Brownfield
Land Management Action Plans in East Lancashire and part of Greater
Manchester.
(i) Greater Merseyside Enterprise (GME)
The Board noted the progress made to address the financial
difficulties at GME, which had been solved by the Agency in
amending its grant payment profile for the remainder of the current
financial year, but which did not involve any increase in
funding.
(j) Manufacturing Summit
Neville Chamberlain declared an interest in this item
ACTION: The Board noted: the announcement by the Minister
of State for Industry and the Regions regarding the significant
expansion of the Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence
Programme, the total cost of which would be around £18M of Agency,
ERDF and private sector funding: and that the Board would be asked
to approve Agency funding towards the project once the amount is
determined, should it exceed the Chief Executive’s delegation of
£6M: and that a progress report would be given to the Board.
(k)
North West Tourist Board Transitional Plan
The Board approved the action in support of the transfer of the
North West Tourist Board’s assets and liabilities, including the
likely total financial liability for the Agency of £1.6M in meeting
these ongoing liabilities, and that such action would allow the
North West Tourist Board to cease trading from 31st March 2004.
(l) Regional Economic Strategy – Sub-Regional delivery
The Board noted the progress being made on the development of
the sub-regional delivery agenda, and the associated issues, and in
particular that whilst the proposed timetable set out in the report
would be adhered to, the differences in capacity of the sub-regions
meant that it would be very challenging to adhere to the timetable
in some areas.
(m) Regional Accounts 2003
The Board noted the analysis of the regional accounts, and that
the change in the regional economy would need to be taken into
account when the Agency made its submission on the Budget and
Spending Review 2004.
(n) State Aid Rules Seminar
ACTION: The Board noted the arrangements for the State Aid
Rules Seminar on 18th December, and that the Chief Executive would
write confirming detailed arrangements.
(o)
Visit by North West MPs
ACTION: The Board noted that on 7th November over 20 MPs
had attended a well-received briefing event, and that the events
would be repeated twice next year – in Westminster in the spring,
when Board Members would be invited, and in Warrington in the
Autumn, 2004.
51/05 FINANCE REPORT
The Board noted the Agency’s latest financial position, the
results of the mid-year budget review, and noted that with 36% of
the budget spent the Agency’s rate of monthly expenditure needed to
increase from £26M per month to £43M per month for the remainder of
the financial year.
51/06 CORPORATE BUDGET
ACTION: The Board noted the Agency’s revised corporate
budget for 2003/04 to 2006/07, including the assumptions about
income and the planned programme expenditure by committed,
appraised and pipeline projects, and that as a result of all
appraised schemes not being able to be accommodated within the
anticipated resources, a detailed business planning process was to
be undertaken to examine the project portfolio against the resource
available and RES priority, the outcome of which would be presented
to the February Board.
ACTION: The Board noted that the list of projects between
£1M and £5M would be circulated to the Board.
ACTION: Following a detailed discussion, the following key
points were made:
? That the Agency now needs to prioritise projects more
effectively, because of the success in bringing forward an
increasing range of high quality projects
? That the appraisal of a project will no longer automatically
guarantee Agency funding
? That external expectations would need to be managed
? That we are a policy-led organisation
? That the sub-regional partnership delivery approach will not add
to the Agency’s overheads
? That a corporate value for money exercise would be undertaken on
the Agency’s overheads
? That the breakdown of sub-regional spend presented to the Board
was for the Board’s eyes only
? That some Board Members would be engaged in the business planning
process in the New Year prior to the discussion at the February
Board Meeting
? That a core message would be prepared for staff and the Board by
the Chief Executive
51/07 MINUTES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 17TH
OCTOBER 2003
ACTION: The Board noted the draft minutes of the Audit
Committee, and in particular that the report on the roles and
responsibilities of the Chairman, Chief Executive and Board Members
would be re-presented to the Audit Committee to include all the
relevant responsibilities.
51/08 TRANSPORT FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH: A 20-YEAR VISION FOR THE
NORTH OF ENGLAND
The Board noted the interim conclusions of the Northern
Transport Vision Study, including the identification of potential
transport investment proposals, and that this work would be used as
an input into the ongoing national study commissioned by RDAs into
transport needs (Surface Infrastructure of National Economic
Importance – SINEI) as well as assisting and advising the European
Union and the UK Government and its transport agencies, with the
final report to be presented to the Northern RDA Chairs in
January.
The Board noted the key points made in the discussion,
including:
? That this study represents a different approach to transport
as a result of seeking to address the economic impact of
proposals;
? That lobbying by the 3 Northern regions will be of critical
importance in influencing transport spending, but that it is vital
that this lobbying is clear and focused;
? That this study is about transport infrastructure for the 3
Northern regions as a whole, and therefore does not include all of
the North West issues that are of importance;
? That it was vital that the North West receives a proportionate
share of the £180 Bn being invested in the National Transport
Strategy;
? That this issue has an important relationship to the whole debate
about Regional Governance and the powers of regions to influence
resources;
? That the Treasury are very supportive of the approach being taken
by the RDAs
51/09 UK ULTRASPEED PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY
ACTION: The Board noted the conclusions of the Feasibility
Study into a new ultra high-speed ground transport system (MAGLEV),
and agreed that the most appropriate way forward would be to await
the completion of the two RDA transport studies that will identify
future transport needs, after which an evaluation of the various
options, including MAGLEV, would be undertaken.
51/10 THE AGENCY’S ROLE AS A STATUTORY CONSULTEE ON
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
ACTION: The Board approved the draft notification to local
planning authorities as the basis on which the Agency wishes to be
consulted on planning applications; and resolved to delegate
responsibility for responding to statutory consultations to the
Chief Executive, the Executive Director of Operations, and the
Director of Strategy; that a progress report on delegations made
would be included within future Chief Executive’s reports , and
that a formal code of conduct for Board Members and staff would be
presented to a future Board Meeting.
51/11 POLICY ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT ON HEI PROJECTS
Bryan Gray, Rob Johnston, Maureen Williams, Martin Harris and
Pauleen Lane each declared an interest in this item
ACTION: The Board considered the Agency’s draft policy on
the funding of HEI projects, and agreed with the principle of such
a policy, but that it should be presented in a more appropriate
format to enable wider dissemination and should address issues
including:
? Consideration of how the Agency could fund key people to
ensure collaboration within HEIs and industry and protect the
region’s science base
? How the Agency could fund areas of excellence other than
science
? Clarification of the rationale for supporting Project Unity with
the proposed embargo being placed on funding new facililties,
and that the final form of the policy would be agreed by the
Skills Sub-Group and only referred back to the Board should the
Sub-Group have any concerns.
51/12 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
ACTION: The Board noted the report, and in particular that
the Chairman was now to be appointed to the National Learning and
Skills Council in December, and that he would prepare a
consolidated report on Board Members’ feedback for the January
meeting.
51/13
BOARD SUB-GROUPS REPORT
The Board noted the report, and in particular that:-
Rural – John Dunning commented that there was a need for
convergence between the policies of the Cumbria Tourist Board and
that of the Lake District National Park Authority which was being
pursued by the Agency
Skills – ACTION: An update on Higher Education in Cumbria
would be presented to the December Board Meeting
Infrastructure – That the Agency has now withdrawn its
objections to Warrington’s draft UDP in relation to South
Warrington; and that the Agency has supported the outline planning
applications for Phases 1 and 2 of the Omega site
ACTION: A report would be presented to the January Board
on the Agency’s input to the RDA collective response to the
consultation on Regional Spatial Strategy Guidance, PPS11.
51/14 BOARD MEMBERS’ FEEDBACK
The Board noted:
? Neville Chamberlain’s report on the excellent feedback being
given about the Agency’s relationship with the Universities
? That Board Members should avail themselves of the opportunity to
distribute a useful leaflet to encourage future applications for
Board Members
? That the North West Aerospace Alliance, in conjunction with the
Agency had published a book to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of
Powered Flight dealing with the Aerospace industry in the North
West.
51/15 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
9.30 am on 12th December 2003 in the Greater Manchester and
Merseyside Training Rooms at Renaissance House, Warrington.
The meeting finished at 3.55 pm