MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 5th SEPTEMBER 2003 HELD AT RHEGED, PENRITH

Present: Bryan Gray
Neville Chamberlain
John Dunning
Martin Harris
Clive Jeanes
Rob Johnston
Richard Leese
Alan Manning
Dennis Mendoros
Anil Ruia
Mike Storey
Marie Rimmer
Maureen Williams  

Also Present: Keith Barnes, Regional Director GONW
Steve Broomhead
Nick Gerrard
Geoff Parker (Item 49/05)
Vicki Treadell, TPUK (Item 49/08)
John Burrows (Items 48/08 and 48/09) 
Helen France (Item 48/11 and 48/12)

49/01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 Pauline Lane, Brenda Smith.
 
49/02 MINUTES FROM SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON 11TH JULY 2003 AND MEETING HELD ON 18TH JULY 2003
 
 Both sets of minutes were approved as a correct record.
 
49/03 MATTERS ARISING AND ACTION POINTS
 
 With reference to Minute 48/10 the Chief Executive confirmed that Royal Mills, Ancoats, had now been approved by the Central Projects Review Group.
 
49/04 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

 The report from the Chief Executive, NWDA/49/04 covered the following issues:-

(a) Alliance for Skills and Productivity (ASP)

The Board noted the progress being made with the ASP project, and also the situation with regard to the current difficulties faced by Greater Merseyside Enterprise (GME) and the action being taken by the Agency to support GME’s recovery.

(b) North West Tourism Forum

The Board noted the progress being made. 

(c) Regional Statistics/GDP

The Board noted the position on Regional Accounts for 1989-2001 published in August. 

ACTION:  A more detailed analysis of the statistics would be presented to the Board later in the year.

(d) 
Gambling Legislation in relation to Regeneration

The Board noted the current position on the reform of Gambling Legislation and endorsed the Chief Executive’s action in joining the Cross Industry Group for Gaming Deregulation, noting that the Agency’s position is to understand and to seek to secure the economic benefits of deregulation, particularly in support of the regeneration of Blackpool , and possibly other areas, whilst ensuring that the potential adverse social consequences are dealt with.   

(e) Project update/appraisal

The Board noted the progress made on the Rising Stars Fund Project 2 and Liverpool Digital.  

(f) Lake District National Park Authority

The Board noted the outcome of a recent meeting held between the Chairman, John Dunning and the Chief Executive and members of the Lake District National Park Authority, and the subsequent actions taken including the Agency seeking a representative on the Park Authority’s Board and arrangements made for a further liaison meeting with the Park Authority in November 2003. 

ACTION:  Detailed consideration of the relationship with Lake District National Park Authority to be referred to the Rural Sub-Group.

49/05 FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

The Board noted the current position with regard to commitments and the position with regard to internal delegations which would be further amended in the light of the Agency’s overall delegation being increased to £10M. 

ACTION: A three-year indicative corporate budget is to be presented to the November Board which will map out where the Agency is on major projects; and the Board approved in principle the delegation policy set out in the report with the request that the Audit Committee approve the detail and review the delegations in six months.
 
49/06 QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT
 
The Board noted the report submitted to GO-NW on 22nd August 2003 relating to the Agency’s performance for the first quarter of the 2003/04 financial year.
 
49/07 ELECTED REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES: BOUNDARY COMMITTEE REVIEW

The Board approved the six criteria set out in the report for submission to the Boundary Committee as the basis on which the capacity of the proposed new authorities should be addressed, and to act as the basis upon which the Agency would  review the proposals prepared by the Boundary Committee when they issued them on December 1st 2003.

ACTION:  A further report to assess the Boundary Committee’s proposals against these criteria to be presented to the February 2003 Board Meeting.

 

49/08 

JOINT NWDA/TRADE PARTNERS UK INTERNATIONAL TRADE PILOT

The Board noted the presentation by Vicki Treadell, Director of North West Trade Partners UK, outlining the background to the Joint Pilot between NWDA and TPUK and the various issues which it raised.

49/09 LYONS REVIEW ON CIVIL SERVICE LOCATION

ACTION:  The Board agreed to respond directly to the Lyons Review consultation process by 12th September outlining the best practice approach to corporate relocation exemplified with North West strengths, with the final submission to be approved by the Chairman and copies made available to the Board Members on request.  In discussion the Board considered the priorities were to bring forward people would enhance the Region’s capacity and would build on the Region’s key strengths and attract further investment.
 
49/10 NWDA RESPONSE TO THE SKILLS WHITE PAPER

The Board approved the key points set out in the report as the basis of the Agency’s full response to Government on the Skills White Paper and acknowledged that the FRESA analysis and Alliance for Skills and Productivity Pilot provide a context for substantial future financial commitment by the Agency.
 
49/11 SUB-REGIONAL WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

ACTION:  The Board approved the proposal to develop sub-regional level mini Regional Economic Strategies, with a further report on progress to be presented to the January Board Meeting.

It was acknowledged that not all sub-regional partnerships would be able to move within the preferred timetable set out in the report, but that progress should be made as quickly as possible.
 
49/12 DELIVERING RESORT REGENERATION IN BLACKPOOL

ACTION:  The Board endorsed the Agency’s intention to work closely with partners to establish an Urban Regeneration Company for Blackpool, with a further report on the Business Plan and specific financial implications to be presented to a future Board Meeting.
 
49/13 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The Board noted the Chairman’s report and in particular that with effect from 1st October the Agency would be releasing its National Lead Role on behalf of RDAs for ODPM to One North East and taking on the lead on DfES and DWP; the need to secure a Chair to lead the bid for the UK Energy Research Centre, and the anticipated publication of the Haskins Review of DEFRA in September.
 
49/14 REPORT OF NWDA SUB-GROUPS

The Board noted the report.

ACTION:  A report to be presented to the October meeting outlining the implications of the Agency being made statutory consultees on planning applications.
49/15 BOARD MEMBERS’ FEEDBACK

The Board congratulated Maureen Williams on her being appointed as Professor of Governance at Liverpool John Moores University, and thanked John Dunning for hosting the Board Meeting.
 
49/16 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

1.15 pm on 10th October in the Greater Manchester/Merseyside Training Rooms at Renaissance House, Warrington. 

The meeting finished at 1.55 pm.