MINUTES OF THE NWDA BOARD MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 10th OCTOBER
2003 HELD AT RENAISSANCE HOUSE, WARRINGTON
Present: Bryan Gray (Chairman)
Neville Chamberlain
John Dunning (from Item 50/04c)
Martin Harris
Rob Johnston
Pauline Lane
Richard Leese
Alan Manning
Marie Rimmer
Anil Ruia
Brenda Smith
Mike Storey
Maureen Williams
Also Present: David Higham, GO-NW
Steve Broomhead
Nick Gerrard (Secretary)
Geoff Parker (Item 50/05)
Peter White (Items 50/06 to 50/12)
Helen France (Items 50/7 to 50/12)
Gabrielle Cox (Item 50/11)
John Burrows (Item 50/13)
Peter Mearns (Item 50/13 to 50/14)
50/01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Dennis Mendoros, Clive Jeanes
50/02 MINUTES FROM MEETING HELD ON 5TH SEPTEMBER 2003
These were approved as a correct record.
50/03 MATTERS ARISING AND ACTION POINTS
There were none.
50/04 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
The report from the Chief Executive, NWDA 50/04 covered
the following issues:-
(a) Renovo
Pauleen Lane and Richard Leese declared an interest in this item
and left the meeting. Martin Harris declared an interest in
this item.
The Board noted the Chief Executive had approved interim funding
of £4,895,000 to allow the purchase of the land to go ahead and to
continue design of this major project to support the Bio-Technology
and Pharmaceutical Cluster in the Manchester sub-region, subject to
the completion of a formal appraisal.
(b) Lancaster University Management School (LUMS)
Bryan Gray declared an interest in this item.
The Board noted that the Chief Executive had approved a £4.5M
capital investment in LUMS, matching a £5M investment from the
University to support a significant increase in outreach support
work to the region’s SMEs.
(c) Trade Partners UK
Anil Ruia declared an interest in this item.
The Board noted that the Chief Executive had approved £4.1M
funding towards the joint NWDA/TPUK Pilot which aims to deliver a
better, broader and deeper
international trade service to the full range of businesses
across the North West region.
(d) Post Completion Review of Projects
The Board noted the arrangements to ensure that the Board
receives reports from post completion reviews of those projects
over £5M which were subject to Board approval prior to
implementation, which would commence in June 2004, with a single
composite report being prepared for the evaluation reports prepared
by SRB partnerships.
(e) Single Programme Performance Standard
ACTION: The Board noted the performance standard which had
been introduced for the processing of all projects through detailed
appraisal and approval, the monitoring of which had started on 1st
September for a trial period of 3 months with the outcome to be
reported back to the Board in February 2004 before being promoted
externally.
(f) Post-SRB
ACTION: The Board noted the work currently being
undertaken fully to assess the financial performance and
operational implications of the wind-down of SRB with the findings
to be presented to the Board before March 2004.
(g) Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU)
ACTION: The Board noted the recently commissioned work to
undertake a review of the effectiveness of the RIU operation and
that following consideration of a number of options it was agreed
that the option to outsource some of the functions of the RIU would
be tested. The Chief Executive would present a report on the
findings of the exercise in March 2004, which would include
consideration of the Terms of Reference of the RIU.
(h) Updating the English Indices of Deprivation
ACTION: The Board noted the consultation exercise being
undertaken by ODPM to review the Index of Multiple Deprivation
2000, and the Agency’s role in co-ordinating the collective RDA
response through the Regional Intelligence Unit, with copies of the
submission to be provided to the Board once it is completed.
(i) Pennine Edge Forest
ACTION: The Board noted that the Pennine Edge Forest
project with a potential lifetime cost to the Agency of £4.7M to
establish a new strategic vehicle for community forestry in Greater
Manchester, would shortly be proceeding to detailed appraisal.
(j) Unforeseen Threats
ACTION: The Board noted the outcome of the second meeting
of the Unforeseen Threats Steering Group chaired by the Chief
Executive, with the next meeting to take place in January 2004, and
that the Board Members would be updated on developments as
appropriate.
(k)
DTI’s Prosperity for All Strategy
The Board noted the Strategy which was launched by the Secretary
of State on 18th September 2003.
(l) Organisational Reshaping Update
The Board noted the recent appointments of:
Chris Rogan – Regional Director - Alliance for Skills and
Productivity
Alan Turley – Executive Director – Enterprise and Innovation
Helen France – Executive Director – Development and
Partnerships
Bernice Law – Executive Director - Operations
Caroline Simpson – Head of Partnerships
Sue Henry – Head of Health and Social Inclusion
The Chief Executive thanked Board Members for their involvement
in the process.
(m) Chief Executive’s Holiday Arrangements – October
2003
The Board noted that whilst the Chief Executive was on annual
leave from 23rd October to 6th November, Geoff Parker, Executive
Director of Corporate Resources, would be the Acting Chief
Executive.
50/05 FINANCE REPORT
ACTION: The Board noted the Agency’s latest financial
position, the activity in August, and the increasing levels of
commitments and the action necessary to manage these, and in
particular, that the results of the 3-year Corporate Budget
exercise would be presented to the next Board Meeting.
ACTION: The Board also noted that the Audit Committee
would be looking at the management letter for 2003/04 issued by the
National Audit Office, together with the management’s response, and
the details of the implementation of the new financial system which
would commence on 1st November 2003.
50/06 PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT (PSA) AND BUDGET INPUTS
ACTION: The Board noted the progress being made on a
number of current overlapping initiatives relating to the PSA
target for ODPM, DTI and the Treasury, the 2004 Spending Review,
and the 2004 Budget, and that the collective RDA input into the
Budget would be discussed at the RDA Chairs Meeting and that the
Chairman would give feedback to the next meeting of the Board.
ACTION: The Board also noted the Regional Conference
organised by the Agency and GO-NW on 6th October attended by 200
people and that a feedback report should be provided to all of
those who attended.
50/07 FOURTH GRACE
Mike Storey declared an interest in this item
Prior to the Meeting, the Board had received a presentation from
Sir Joe Dwyer, Chairman of Liverpool Vision, and members of the
team involved in the development of the proposals for the iconic
Fourth Grace on the Liverpool Waterfront.
The issue now before the Board was the need to consider the
basis of further support to enable the proposals to be taken to the
next (detailed design) stage in
order for a planning application to be submitted and the project
appraised. The Chairman proposed an alternative wording for a
recommendation than that set out in the Board Report. Key
points made in the discussion were:
? Several Board Members expressed reservations about the
project, but were reassured by the fact that this next stage was
essential for the development of the concept which already had
Board support and the Board was not making a decision now to commit
to supporting the full project – that would depend on the outcome
of a detailed appraisal which required many issues to be
addressed
? The Board was considering the proposals before it, ie. matters of
overall concept were not being revisited by the Board
? Although the project has the potential to contribute
significantly to the European Capital of Culture in 2008, and this
timetable helps to provide focus, it is not an overriding
consideration
ACTION: The Chairman took a vote, and the Board
unanimously agreed to support the project (with one abstention from
Mike Storey owing to his declaration of an interest) with a
contribution of up to £2M towards project development fees to allow
it to proceed to the next stage of development (ie. detailed design
with a view to a planning application being submitted), and for the
Agency to move to a detailed appraisal of the project as soon as
possible to enable a final decision to be made on whether
additional support is to be provided to enable the project to be
implemented. A further progress report is to be submitted to
the Board in December 2004 or earlier if there are any issues that
arise of which the Chief Executive considers the need to appraise
the Board.
50/08 ST HELENS CITY GROWTH STRATEGY
Marie Rimmer declared an interest in this item
ACTION: The Board approved the continuation of the
development of the concept of the City Growth Strategy National
Regeneration Pilot in St Helens, and that there were currently no
financial implications to the Agency of this work, but that a
presentation would be required at the Board in due course.
50/09 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PLANNING BILL
ACTION: The Board noted the resource implications of the
proposed changes to the planning system through the introduction of
Regional Spatial Strategies, local development documents, and the
establishment of the RDAs as statutory consultees on certain types
of applications, and that the Agency would be issuing its
notification outlining the basis upon which it wished to be
consulted to come into effect from 1st January 2004, the
details of which would be presented to the Board in
November.
ACTION: The Board also noted that in view of these
responsibilities, Board Members and Officers would need to exercise
caution if asked to comment on planning applications or major
development proposals, and that consideration would be given to the
establishment of a formal Code of Practice.
ACTION: With regard to the second phase of consultation
which would determine the basis upon which RDAs were consulted on
applications relating to the quantity
of development, a key issue would be what level of application
the Agency ought to be consulted upon to ensure that we continue to
operate at the strategic level
and we are not inundated with inappropriate applications with these
matters to be considered once a formal consultation is
received.
50/10 EUROPEAN PRIORITIES FOR THE AGENCY
The Board approved the outline priorities as a guide to the
Agency’s expanding engagement with the European Union,
including:
? The delivery of the current North West Structural Funds
Programmes and further alignment with the Regional Economic
Strategy;
? Cross-RDA work on the future of the Structural Funds
post-2006;
? Developing further partnerships with regions in an enlarged
EU;
? The successful delivery of the Innovative Actions Programme
and;
? Progress towards a more appropriate regional representation for
the North West in Brussels
50/11 YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE LABOUR MARKET
The Board noted the update on key areas of progress since their
consideration of these issues at the May 2003 meeting, including in
particular the issues identified by the young peoples report in the
census which would require sustained attention by the Agency.
In discussion it was emphasised that it was important to be
tackle the issue of young people in care, and that the Agency could
access work undertaken in this sphere by others; and that we needed
to understand more fully the relationship between locally based
Higher Education and social inclusion and what type of facilities
ought to be provided to address this.
50/12 REMADE 1
ACTION: The Board approved investment of £21.607M in the
REMADE 1 soft-end land use reclamation programme in Lancashire,
together with delegated grant authority to Lancashire County
Council to appraise and approve individual projects up to £0.5M,
subject to it being agreed by the Urban Regeneration
Sub-Group.
50/13 INWARD INVESTMENT AND INDIGENOUS COMPANY SUPPORT
ACTION: The Board noted developments on the inward
investment agenda, including the Agency’s activity around
indigenous company support and international trade. The Board
approved the proposal for the Executive Director of Enterprise and
Innovation to undertake a fundamental review of the Agency’s
corporate relationship, management and inward investment
requirements to deliver the Regional Economic Strategy including
priorities, structure and staffing by March 2004.
The Board agreed that in terms of joint work with the other two
northern regions, the Agency would work collaboratively where it
could, subject to the effectiveness of these arrangements being
demonstrated, and that greater use should be made of individual
Board Members’ access to collective networks to support this
agenda.
50/14
IMAGE OF THE REGION
Following a presentation by the Director of Marketing, the Board
noted the progress made and the four key areas to be pursued to
enhance and market the Region’s image further including the
development of a significant Tourism Marketing Programme;
maximising the regional benefits of Liverpool as European
Capital of Culture; the development of the Regional Events
Strategy; and marketing associated with Cluster development and
links to inward investment. The Board thanked the Director of
Marketing and his team for the excellent job they are doing.
50/15 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Board noted the Chairman’s Report, and in particular:
a) that the Chairman would soon be in a position publicly to
announce the appointment of new Board Members Joe Dwek – Business,
Dave McCall – Union, and Richard Leese’s appointment to be extended
for a further year as a local authority representative due to the
failure to appoint in this round. In the meantime this item
remained confidential
b) the Board gave very favourable feedback on the format of the
AGM. and it was agreed that a similar format would be pursued in
future years
c) that the Haskins’ Review of DEFRA would shortly be published and
is likely to result in significant additional responsibilities for
the RDAs
d) that John Prescott is to visit the Region on 4th November to
officially open Renaissance House and launch the YES Campaign for
Elected Regional Assemblies
ACTION: As leaders of the
economic development in the Region the
Agency would be making the economic case
for regionalism whilst
avoiding party political issues, with the
report to be presented to the next
meeting clarifying the Agency’s role
ACTION: A report on Affordable Housing also needs to be
presented to
a future meeting of the Board.
50/16 REPORT OF NWDA SUB-GROUPS
The Board noted the report.
50/17 BOARD MEETING DATES 2004
ACTION: These were approved save that the June 11th
meeting would need to be altered.
50/18 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
1.15 pm on 14th November 2003 in the Greater
Manchester/Merseyside Training Rooms at Renaissance House,
Warrington.
The meeting finished at 4.05 pm.