Minutes of the Board Meeting held on Friday, 14th January 2005 at Renaissance House, Warrington.

Present:
Bryan Gray (Chairman)
Martin Harris
David Brockbank
John Merry
Anil Ruia
Brenda Smith
Mike Storey
Maureen Williams
Joe Dwek CBE
Robert Johnston
Dave McCall
Marie Rimmer
Pauleen Lane 

Also Present: 
Steven Broomhead
Bernice Law (Secretary)
George Baxter (64/04)
Tim Sheward (64/05)
Alan Bury (64/05)
Ian Haythornthwaite (64/08)
David Higham (GONW) (64/06)
Nick Gerrard (64/09)
 
64/00 Presentation: Partnership working with the Environment Agency.
The Board received a presentation on Partnership Working with the Environment Agency from Robert Runcie, Chief Executive, Environment Agency and Mark Atherton, Head of Environment and Sustainable Development, NWDA.  This was followed by a discussion with Sir John Harman, Chairman, Environment Agency.

64/01 Introductions and apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from John Moverley and Peter Hensman.

64/02 Minutes of the meeting held 10th December 2004
These were approved as a correct record.
 
64/03 Action Points from the last meeting and matters arising.
The Chief Executive was requested to keep the Board informed on the Agency’s work with Halton Borough Council on the second Mersey Crossing.

ITEMS WHICH REQUIRE A DECISION
 
64/04 Daresbury Science Park
Pauleen Lane declared an interest in this item. The Board received a presentation on the vision for the Daresbury International Science and Technology Park, which will incorporate the Daresbury Innovation Centre, CCLRC land and buildings and the Cockcroft Institute.The Board then considered the progress and spend on the project and the additional funding requirements to incorporate the Cockcroft Institute and cover project cost expenditure and non-cash costs.

The Board received the comments of the Audit Committee, who had met earlier on 14 January and considered a PWC Report on the Daresbury project.  The Audit Committee received a presentation on the Agency Change Management Programme, which has 6 themes.  The Committee were reassured that plans were in place to address the issues raised in 2 above.  The project management work stream is being implemented and project management methodology and systems will be in place by 1 April 2005.The Audit Committee will, on behalf of the Board, monitor the development and implementation of the change programme and keep the Board informed.

The issues and questions raised were addressed by Officers at the meeting.The Board:-
a) Supported the vision for the Daresbury International Science and Technology Park with the inclusion of the Cockcroft Institute for Accelerator Science as a key component of this project.
b) Approved the revised forecast expenditure for this project.
c) Endorsed the submission of a revised approval request for the project to DTI/HMT on completion of the formal appraisal.
d) Agreed that the Audit Committee will, on behalf of the Board, monitor the development and implementation of the Change Management Programme and keep the Board informed of progress.
e) Agreed that a communication statement outlining the vision for the overall Daresbury International Science and Technology Park should be issued.

64/05 Agenda for Change
The Board considered a report on the Agenda for Change Project, which provides support for North West Manufacturing.The project aims to improve processes, increase innovation and investment, improve leadership, management and the image of manufacturing.The Board requested that Officers look at the environmental issues associated with this project.The Board supported the Agenda for Change Project for submission to CPRG.

64/06 Corporate Plan 05/06 - 07/08 (final version)
The Board considered the first draft Corporate Plan at its meeting on 10 December and received a presentation on the changes made since that date following consultation responses.The Board noted that the issues raised by GONW had also been addressed in the final draft of the document.The Board were informed that final guidance from DTI on the document was still awaited, but that the final draft document must be submitted by 25 January 2005 and the final document by 1 March 2005.The Board approved the final draft document for submission to the DTI and gave the Chief Executive authority to make any required amendments before that date.

64/07 Chief Executive's Report
The report from the Chief Executive covered the following issues:- 

1 Review of the ICT Strategy and the ICT Regional Structure
The Board noted that a presentation will be made to the February Board to explain the progress made in terms of the evidence based ICT Strategy development.

2 Regional Economic Panel December 2004: Business Forecasts North West Region
The Board were informed that the Agency had, in December 2004, published Business Forecasts Northwest, a document produced by SQW and Cambridge Econometrics on behalf of the NW Economic Forecasting Panel.The Board noted the key findings of the report.

3 NAO Success in the Region
The Board were reminded that in May last year the Chief Executive gave evidence on behalf of all RDA’s to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing into “Success in the Regions”, the National Audit Office report on how relationships between the RDA’s and Government Departments might be improved.The PAC Report had now been produced and included eight conclusions and recommendations.The Board noted these recommendations and the Agency’s response on each one.
 
4 Creating the Wealth from Knowledge
The Chief Executive reported on the DTI Strategy “Creating Wealth from Knowledge” on which RDA’s had been asked to provide views through the National Secretariat.The Board noted the report and agreed to make any individual comments to the Chief Executive.
 
5 The North West’s Regional Skills Partnership - Business Skills Northwest
The Board noted that from 1 January 2005, the NW Regional Skills Partnership Board and the Business Skills North West Board will combine into a single Business Skills North West Board.  The new Board will consist of 16-18 members and will retain a majority of private sector/business members.The Chief Executive reported that this move was to address the perception of duplication and apparent confusion in respect of the two previous Boards.The Chief Executive also reported that in parallel, the National LSC has agreed six national objectives that are congruent with regional priorities and that at regional level, a statement of priorities is being finalised which will bring the imperatives for skills and business support together.The Board noted the update.

6 Regional Casinos
John Merry declared an interest in this item.The Chief Executive informed the Board that following the December Board Meeting, the Agency, in partnership with NWRA and GONW had commissioned a study to assess the economic potential of casino development in the North West, to assist the NWRA in the development of a casino policy.It was also reported that further to an earlier announcement by the Department of Culture Media and Sport, the number of regional casinos will initially be limited to eight pilot schemes.  On 16 December, the Department announced it had decided to extend the pilot concept so that there will be eight casinos piloted nationally in each category of casino proposed under the draft Gambling Bill, i.e. regional, large and small.The Board noted that the Government had appointed an independent Advisory Panel to recommend the areas in which each casino type should be located.
 
7 Government Office Northwest (GONW) 6 month performance monitoring report
The Chief Executive reported that following submission of the Agency’s Performance Report to GONW in December, the Government Office had submitted its report to the Government.The Board noted that there were no major issues in the report.

8 Executive Director Enterprise Policy
The Chief Executive reported that Mark Hughes, the new Executive Director of Enterprise Policy would commence duties on 28 March 2005, but will be spending two days a week at the Agency from February 2005.

64/08 Finance Report
Marie Rimmer declared an interest in this item.The Director of Finance and Corporate Resources reported on the Agency’s financial position at 30 November 2004 and gave an analysis of spend against major projects, URC and SRB programme.The Board noted the current financial situation on resources and programme spend.The Board noted the delegation decision taken by the Chief Executive and Executive Directors to 8 December 2004.

64/09 NORTHERN WAY GROWTH STRATEGY : PROGRESS REPORT
The Board received a progress report on the Northern Way Growth Strategy.  It was noted that an Action Plan would be presented to the Sustainable Communities Summit in Manchester at the end of January 2005.  The Action Plan will outline progress and include a summary of the city regional development programme, process and progress.The Board noted that details of the £100m growth fund are being negotiated with ODPM and that RDA’s have agreed to contribute their equal share of the £50m.   The NWDA’s share being £666,000 in 2004/5, £5m in 2005/6, £5m in 2006/7 and £6m in 2007/8.The Board approved this allocation, which they noted was included in the Strategic Investment Plan.
 
64/10 Chairman's Report
The Board noted the Chairman’s report.The Board were requested to let the Chairman know of  any issues they wished to discuss at the Board visit to Greater Manchester in February.
 
64/11 MINUTES FROM THE ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION SUB-COMMITTEE HELD ON 10 DECEMBER 2004
The Board noted the Minutes of the Enterprise and Innovation Sub-Committee meeting held on 10 December.The Chief Executive updated the Board on correspondence with the DTI regarding transfer of the GRAND Scheme to the Agency.

64/12 Report of the NWDA Subgroups
Brenda Smith updated the Board on the region’s successes at the World Travel Market and congratulated staff on the quality of the “Gardens” publication.
 
64/13 Board Members Feedback
Joe Dwek reported that on 13 April, Tim Smitt will be guest speaker at the launch of the Environment  Committee.
 
Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting will take place on 10/11 February 2005 and will include a sub regional visit to Greater Manchester. The meeting finished at 15.40.