Minutes of the Board meeting held on Friday, 16 April
2004 at Renaissance House, Warrington
Present:
Bryan Gray (Chairman)
Martin Harris
Pauleen Lane
Dennis Mendoros
Marie Rimmer
Anil Ruia
Brenda Smith
Maureen Williams
Joe Dwek CBE
John Dunning
Richard Johnston
Neville Chamberlain
Dave McCall
Richard Leese
Also Present:
Steven Broomhead
Bernice Law (Secretary)
Jayant Mehta (56/00)
Ian Haythornthwaite
(56.00 & 56/05)
Peter White (56/06 & 56/07)
Ian Wray (56/08)
Helen France (56/09 & 56/10)
Peter Mearns (56/11)
56/00 - PRESENTATION: STATE AID
The Board received a presentation from Jayant Mehta, NWDA on State
Aid.
56/01 - APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Mike Storey.
56/02 - MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12 MARCH
2004
The Minutes to include a note that Board members did not declare
any interests at item 55/06 as no individual project was discussed.
With the above amendment, the Minutes were approved as a correct
record.
56/03 MATTERS ARISING AND ACTION POINTS
The Chief Executive updated the Board on the development of Cumbria
Vision. The Board noted that a report on Equal Opportunities
and Diversity would be presented to the meeting in May
2004.
56/04 - CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
The report from the Chief Executive covered the following
issues:-
a)Northern Way
The Board were updated on progress on the Northern Way.It was noted
that a regional consultation event was to be held in May/June
following individual meetings with Stakeholders. An interim
report is to be submitted to ODPM in April with the final report in
July 2004.
b)HM Treasury Budget 2004
The Board were advised of the key implications for RDA’s from the
recent budget announcement and of the reviews which accompanied the
Budget, the Barker Review, the Miles Review, the Gershon Review and
the Lyons Review.
c)The Lyons Review
The Board noted that Alan Turley, Executive Director Enterprise and
Innovation was taking the corporate lead on the Lyons Review.
d)The Barker Review
The Board were updated on
the Barker Review which considered the issues underlying the lack
of supply and responsiveness of housing in the UK. The
recommendations on housing supply, finance, planning and skills
will have implications for all regions. The Board noted that
the Agency will respond to the Government on this document.
e)Devolved Decision Making
The Board noted the report which sets out the Government’s response
to the RDA’s input to the Devolving Decision Making Review analysis
trends in regional economic performance and sets out the
Government’s next steps.
f) NWDA Business Plan and Tier 3 Target
The Board were advised that the Agency’s Business Plan for 2004/5
will be published at the end of April 2004. The Board noted
the Tier 3 targets that the Agency will include in the Plan.
Indicator
Target
04/05
Target 03/04
Jobs created or
safeguarded
8,978
6,76
0Job opportunities from Foreign Direct
Investments
2,000
1,350
Job opportunities from RSA
Grants
5,000
4,350
New businesses created or
attracted
725
604
Brownfield land remediated or recycled
(Ha) 344
314
Learning opportunities
created 15,462
11,610
Private sector investment in deprived areas
(£m)
208
119
New/refurbished commercial or industrial floorspace (Sq
m) 112,308
120,744
Businesses receiving specialist
advice
6,455
3,175
Businesses assisted with their
skills
1,820
1,169
Woodland created
(Ha)
141
143
g)RENEW (The Northwest Regeneration Centre of
Excellence)
The Board received an update on the RENEW initiative and noted the
funding for the project.
RENEW will focus on:
·Signposting
·Piloting new ways of working
·Lobbying and promoting good practice
·Networking between regeneration
professionals
h)Regional Skills Partnership
The Board were updated on the progress made in establishing the
Regional Skills Partnership and noted that the first meeting of the
RSP, chaired by David Pickering, had taken place on 2 April
2004.
i)Aerospace Innovation Centre
The Board noted the progress made towards establishing the AIC,
which fits into the National and North West Strategies. A
property search is in process to find the most suitable location
for the Centre and a tender document for an operator for the Centre
is in progress.
j)Blackpool URC
The Board noted progress made on the establishment of a URC for
Blackpool. Recruitment of the Chair and Board are in progress
and Blackpool Borough Council has produced a draft Business Plan to
support the master plan, which is in development.
k)North West Coastal Resorts
The Board endorsed the Agency’s approach to the delivery of the NW
Coastal Strategy which sets out a long term vision and strategy for
each of the region’s resorts.
l)Strategic Health Authorities and NWDA Action
Plans
The Chief Executive reported on meetings with the Chairs of the
Strategic Health Authorities where it has been agreed that
collaborative working on the NHS Capital planning, skills and
workforce development, procurement and R&D would be
advantageous.The Board noted that an action plan had been produced
to take forward these discussions.
m)Referendum Guidance
The Board received and noted the Cabinet Office Guidance for Civil
Servants and NDPB Board Members and staff on their role and conduct
during the referendum campaign for elected Regional Assemblies, as
well as associated referenda on local Government structures, which
are due to take place later this year.
n)Code of Practice on Written Consultation
The Board noted that the Code of Practice on written consultation
(effective from April 2004) and endorsed its use for major
consultation exercises the Agency undertakes.
56/05 - FINANCE REPORT
The Board were updated on the Agency’s expected year-end position
and advised that the Agency will achieve its budget. The
Board noted that specific technical issues were being pursued with
the relevant Government Departments.They also noted the detailed
year-end timetable to ensure effective closure and audit.The Chief
Executive updated the Board on discussions with Partners on the
Strategic Investment Plan. He reported that meetings had been
held with NWRA, NW Members of Parliament, URC’s, RRC and
Local Authorities and were continuing. It was noted that the
DTI and GONW are being kept informed.
56/06 - ROLE AND PURPOSE OF REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE
UNIT
The Board approved the revised arrangements for the operation of
the Research and Intelligence Unit, which had been developed as a
result of a review of the role and purpose of the Unit. The
new arrangements will include procurement of some elements of the
strategic analysis and resource work for which budget provision has
been made.
56/07 - MERSEY BELT POLICY STATEMENT
The Board endorsed the Infrastructure Sub-Group’s recommendations
into the Mersey Belt Policy Statement on Strategic Regional Sites,
Key Sites, the Reserve Site in South Warrington and
transportation.
56/08 - TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Ian Wray, NWDA Chief Planner, gave a presentation on the key
transport and infrastructure issues for the region.The Board noted
the key issues identified in the discussion paper and agreed the
need to set priorities for transportation schemes within the
region. These would be taken forward by the Infrastructure
Sub Group.
56/09 - AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CUMBRIA
The Board were updated on the issues relating to affordable housing
in Cumbria and noted the results of key actions from a research
study on the subject.The Board recommended that Cumbria Vision
takes the lead in implementing the key actions identified in the
report.
56/10 - LEA GREEN EMPLOYMENT SITE
Councillor Marie Rimmer declared an interest in this item and took
no part in the discussions.The Board approved in principle an NWDA
in-year refundable investment into this project, which will provide
infrastructure and access to the vacant site to enable its
redevelopment for employment uses.
56/11 - PERCEPTIONS OF ENGLAND’S NORTH WEST MORI
RESULTS
The Board received a presentation on the results of a MORI survey
conducted in October 2003 on attitude and perceptions of the region
amongst the general public, businesses, opinion leaders in the
North West and across the UK, compared with a similar study carried
out in 2001. The Board noted that perception of the region
and the Agency were very positive and showed improvement since
2001. The Board also noted that the findings of the research
would be used to shape the Agency’s future activities to further
improve the image of the region.
56/12 - REPORT OF NWDA SUB GROUPS
Rural
The Chair of the Rural Sub-Group thanked members for their
attendance at the meeting with the Lake District National Park,
which had proved very useful.
Marketing
The Chair of the Marketing Sub-Group reported on the visit of
Barbara Cassani to the Marketing Forum where she acknowledged the
North West’s ability to embrace the Commonwealth Games and the
Capital of Culture 2008.
Congratulations were also expressed to the team who had secured the
Annual Conference of the Society of American Travel Writers to
Manchester in October 2007.
56/13 - Board Members’ Feedback
The Chairman reported that he had taken over the lead RDA Chair
role from 1 April 2004 and that the next meeting of the RDA Chairs
was to be held in Manchester on 19/20 April 2004. He
explained his objective to continue the development of the RDA
family over the next six months and to contribute to the Northern
Way and Spending Review work.
Dennis Mendoros briefed the Board on the Farnborough Air Show on
20/21 July 2004. Invitations to attend will be extended to
the Board to attend.
Pauleen Lane reported on the Public Health Conference she had
attended. The issues discussed included employment, housing,
educational attainment with which the Agency has close
alignment.
56/14 - DATE AND TIME OF THE NEXT MEETING
1.15 p.m. on Friday, 14 May 2004 in the Greater
Manchester/Merseyside Rooms at Renaissance House, Warrington. The
meeting finished at 4.53 p.m.