Minutes of the Board meeting held on Friday 8th April 2005
at Renaissance House, Warrington
Present:
Bryan Gray (Chairman)
David Brockbank
Joe Dwek
Martin Harris
Peter Hensman
Robert Johnston
Pauleen Lane
Dave McCall
John Merry
John Moverley
Marie Rimmer
Anil Ruia
Brenda Smith
Mike Storey
Maureen Williams
Also Present:
Steven Broomhead
Bernice Law (Secretary)
David Higham (GONW)
Peter White/Steve Nicol (67/00)
Ian Haythornthwaite (67/04)(67/08)
Peter White/Phil Southward (67/05)
Helen France (67/06)
Peter Mearns (67/09)
Adam Jackson DTI
67/00 Presentation: Regional Economic
Strategy (RES)
The Board received a presentation from Steve Nicol of Regeneris
Consulting on the issues paper on the region’s economy, which they
had produced and which would be used to inform the RES
review. The key messages were as follows: · The Region
has made much progress, to show clear positive links between
economic success and regeneration.· There have been important
and generally positive shifts in sub-regional performance,
especially Merseyside and Greater Manchester.· Large
challenges remain overall across the region, but are not evenly
distributed e.g. uncertain future for Cumbria. The Board emphasised
that the RES was for this Region but were anxious that strategic
dialogue with the other two Northern RDA’s took place.
67/01 Introduction and apologies for
absence
There were no apologies for
absence.
67/02 Minutes of the meeting held on 11th
March 2005
These were approved as a correct record.
67/03 Action points from last meeting and matters
arising
Anil Ruia updated the Board on the current position on the Air
Services Development Fund (ASDF).
Items which require a decision
67/04 NWDA Budget 2005/06 and Strategic Investment
Plan
The Board received a report on the Agency’s
Strategic Investment Plan for 2005/06 to 2007/08 and noted the
feedback from each Sub Committee’s detailed review of the
SIP. The Board approved the budget for 2005/2006 and
noted the indicative allocations for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, but
did not approve any individual schemes or projects. In approving
the budget, the Board emphasised the importance of strong project
and performance management of the Agency’s investments. The Board
requested the Marketing Sub Committee to look at a communications
strategy for the SIP on behalf of the Board.
67/05 ICT Strategy and Business
Plan
The Board approved the Business Plan to deliver the Regional ICT
Strategy, 2005/2008. The Board were informed that the
Business Plan will be reviewed annually against delivery of the ICT
Strategy, achievement of the activities outlined in the plan and
the changing economic circumstances within the region.
Implementation of the Plan will begin in 2005/06 and the Agency
will seek to ensure that the Private Sector play a role in funding
delivery of the ICT Strategy. The Board thanked Joe Dwek and Phil
Southward and his team for their diligent work on this
project.
67/06 Project Stanley
Mike Storey declared an interest in this item.
The Board received a report, which updated them on the current
position in respect of proposals for New Anfield. The Board
endorsed the Agency’s aims to seek to maximise the economic and
regeneration outcomes of any investment in North
Liverpool.
67/07 Chief Executive's Report
The report from the Chief Executive covered the following
issues:
1. Announcements Re Science and
Innovation
The Board noted recent Government
announcements that had been made concerning Science and Innovation,
including: · DTIs detailed announcement on the science budget,
which had been agreed as part of SR2004. Investment will rise
to over £3.4bn per annum by 2008 and will be used to develop stem
cell research; increase HEIF funding; provide investment in new
laboratories; attract engineers to the UK, improve scientists’
skills and increase Government investment in Research to match OECD
best levels.· The RDAs collective response to the Chancellors
Budget Statement which announced that the combined investment in
Science and Innovation for 2005/06 would be £360m and will be used
for schemes to improve access for SMEs to the University base;
develop new sources of knowledge; and investment in new Science
Parks. (NWDA investment was highest of all the RDAs, at
around £80m.)The Board agreed that the announcements provided very
welcome news for the Agency and for the region.
2. Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme
(LABGIS)
The Chief Executive reported that the Local
Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme (LABGIS) came into force
on 1 April 2005. The scheme aims to reward Local Authorities
(LA’s) for encouraging business growth in their area and will allow
LA’s to retain some of the business rate revenues, where there is
increased business growth, rather than be returned to a central
pool and distributed on a per capita basis. Estimates suggest
that LA’s could gain up to £1bn nationally over the next three
years. LABGIS also aims to address the mismatch between the costs
of economic development and the benefits that accrue from it.
The Board agreed that the Agency should hold a regional event in
the summer, for all LA’s to help them explore the opportunities
that the scheme provides and the way in which benefits can be
maximised.
3. Women in Enterprise
The Chief
Executive advised the Board of the work the Agency has done to date
to take forward its new responsibilities on Women’s
Enterprise. This includes: · Helping to ensure survival
of three gender specific support organisations.· Establishment
of a NW Women’s Enterprise Steering Group.· Progressing the
appointment of a Women’s Enterprise Development
Officer.· Seeking to respond to the new Government targets
that 20% of SME’s to be majority owned or significantly owned by
women by 2006.
4. Proposed Second Mersey Crossing
The Board noted that Bernice Law had attended a meeting of the
Mersey Crossing Group on 15 March 2005. Following a meeting
with the Department of Transport, the Group were optimistic of
securing Government support, however issues remain to be resolved
with the Mersey Conservator over the impact of the supporting
pillars on the river.
5. North West Regional Assembly – Agency
Relationships
The Chief Executive reminded the Board
of the continuing close working relationship with the NWRA in
respect of the Regional Spatial Strategy and its alignment to the
RES and Regional Housing Strategy. He pointed out that there
is also a monthly dialogue between the Agency, GONW and NWRA on
employment, skills and environmental matters. The Board
were also advised that the Chief Executive had recently presented
the NWDA Corporate Plan to a combined meeting of the Assembly’s
Regional Review Group and its Policy Committee. The Board
heard that the Assembly had made a formal request for observer
status at NWDA Board meetings and to receive copies of NWDA Board
papers at the same time as the NWDA Board. The Board
agreed to keep this request under review. The Board noted that
Councillor Marie Rimmer no longer acted as a link between the
Assembly and the Agency.
6. Responding To The Board’s Strategic Issues (February
2005)
The Chief Executive reported on a number of
issues in response to the points raised in the Board discussion at
their February residential meeting; as follows:·
SIP
The Board had agreed that the Agency should increasingly be a
strategic organisation charged with the economic leadership of the
region, rather than as a funding body. Over the next few months the
Chief Executive reported that he would, through the Agency’s
communication processes, emphasise its strategic and facilitation
role.·
Organisation
Over the past 18 months there had been considerable change within
the Agency and in overall terms there is more of a “can do”
approach and performance culture. This change process will
continue and in future the emphasis will be on outcomes; and
greater clarity for staff deployment and accountability. A
full report in respect of the Agency’s organisation, taking into
account the increased responsibilities of the Agency and partner
expectations will be presented to the Board in the Autumn.
·
External Organisation and
Capacity
A key priority for 2005/06 will be the review of the Agency’s
relationships with external organisations and the capacity of sub
regional regeneration bodies as well as the Agency’s relationship
with Local Authorities. The Agency will also continue to
develop its relationship with Sub Regional Partnerships in line
with the agreed Board policy and consequently there will be
increased performance monitoring of SRP’s and reporting to the
Board.·
RES
The Agency will review the balance of spend between the current
five RES priorities and a report will be presented to the Board in
summer 2005 on this matter. The Board agreed that issues such as
housing, transport, environment and skills would require more
detailed policy attention in the development of the RES. The
new RES should be bold and challenging and the Agency must now rise
to the expectation of partners in respect of its catalytic
role.·
Review of Projects
The Chief Executive confirmed that he would ensure that Board Sub
Committees regularly review project/ programme achievements to
enable the sharing of best practice and to identify areas for
improvements.
7. Regional Business
Forum
The Chief Executive reported that he would be holding a meeting
with key private sector boards (CBI, IOD, the Chambers, Federation
of Small Businesses, Private Sector Partners) to discuss the format
of a Regional Economic Forum that can meet regularly to share
ideas/ issues regarding economic policy and strategy.
8. Staffing Update
The Board noted that Mark Hughes, Executive Director Enterprise and
Innovation and Steven Zdolony, Head of Legal Services both took up
post in March 2005.
67/08 Finance report
The Board noted the financial position for the period ending 28
February 2005 and that the Agency would meet its financial targets
for 2004/05. The Board also noted the delegations schedule
for the period 18 February 2005 to 4 March 2005. The Board noted
that the Development Assets valuation exercise had now been
completed and that there were no significant adjustments
required. The Board were also advised that Executive
Directors would take personal responsibility to ensure that the
budget profiles for 2005/06 were more accurately determined to
provide a more precise picture of spend activity throughout the
budget year.
67/09 NWDA Promotional Strategy
The Board noted the progress the Agency had made to deliver its
promotional strategy (known as Project Credit). The Board
also noted the work that had been done to develop the Agency’s
signage policy and in particular that all partners who receive
Agency funding are required to promote the Agency’s role /
involvement in the scheme or programme for which it is providing
funding. The Board agreed that to ensure maximum credit for
the Agency’s work in the region:
· All Agency acquired sites would be required to have initial
temporary Agency signage within eight weeks of land being acquired,
even if this is before formal partnership agreements have been
signed.
· Where property is sold on to end users, a clause will be
included in the contract, which stipulates that permanent
recognition of Agency investment should be displayed.
· The Agency will continue to seek new opportunities to
maximise its profile through bespoke signage opportunities.
· NWDA Project Champions, as part of their project monitoring
activity, will review current Agency profile on projects led by
other partners.
67/10 Minutes of the Enterprise and Innovation sub
committee held on 11th
March 2005
The Board noted the minutes of the Enterprise and Innovation Sub
Committee held on 11 March 2005.
67/11 Minutes of the Urban sub committee held
on 11th March 2005
The Board noted the minutes of the Urban Sub Committee held on 11
March 2005.
67/12 Minutes of the Infrastructure sub
committeeextraordinary meeting held on 3rd March
2005
The Board noted the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the
Infrastructure Sub Committee held on 3 March 2005.
67/13 Minutes of the Rural sub committee extraordinary
meeting held on 11the March 2005
The Board noted the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the
Rural Sub Committee held on 11 March 2005.
67/14 Minutes of the Marketing and Communications sub
committee extraordinary meeting held on 15th March
2005
The Board noted the minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of the
Marketing and Communications Sub Committee held on 15 March
2005.
67/16 Chairman's report
The Board noted
the Chairman’s report. The Chairman reported that the first
meeting to look at regional transport issues was to be held on 14
April. This would be a joint event with the NWRA.
67/17 Board members feedback
Brenda Smith reported that the Tourism Forum had held a good
discussion on the RES at its meeting earlier in the day. One
particular issue that had been raised was the use of our marketing
expertise to improve the uptake of skills initiatives.
The Board congratulated Pauleen Lane on the birth of her new baby
and on hew new appointment at the University of Salford.
Date and time of the next Board meeting
The next meeting will take place on 12/13 May 2005 and will include
a sub regional visit to Liverpool.
The meeting finished at 15.40