MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 8 JULY 2005 AT RENAISSANCE HOUSE, WARRINGTON

Present: 
Bryan Gray (Chairman)
David Brockbank
Joseph Dwek
Sir Martin Harris
Peter Hensman
Robert Johnston
Pauleen Lane
John Merry
John Moverley
Marie Rimmer
Brenda Smith
Mike Storey
Maureen Williams 

In attendance: 
Steven Broomhead
Bernice Law (Secretary)
Ian Haythornthwaite (70/08)(70/11)
Helen France (70/06)
Linda Magee (70/07)
Peter White (70/05)
Judith Long (GONW)
 
70/00 PRESENTATION: REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORECASTING PANEL
The Board received a presentation from David Coates, Chair of NW Economic Forecasting Panel.  David outlined the role of the Regional Economic Forecasting Panel, which was to provide a service to the region giving:

• business forecasts looking three years ahead
• state of the regional economy assessments at regional and sub regional level
• long term forecasts over the next twenty years.

He explained how the panel achieve long term forecasting using population and productivity information.  The main points he brought to the Board’s attention on the region’s economic performance were:

• the North West has grown more slowly than the UK
• the growth gap has narrowed since the late 1990’s
• there was faster growth in the UK in 2003 and 2004

He talked particularly about the role of cities in the North West economy and the recent GVA performance of Greater Manchester and Liverpool, which performed better than the North West generally.David gave his views on the implications of economic forecasting on the RES review, particularly in terms of

• Connectivity
• Improvement in skill levels, particularly for older workers
• Spatial policies to retain and attract key workers
• Image, culture and leisure to support the retention of key workers
• Enabling firms to engage more with HEIs
• Best practice and start up help for businesses
• Engaging excluded, especially young men
• Accepting growth across the region is likely to be uneven

70/01 INTRODUCTION AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Anil Ruia and Dave McCall.

70/02 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10 JUNE 2005
These were approved as a correct record.
 
70/03 ACTION POINTS FROM LAST MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING
The Board noted the action points from previous meetings.

ITEMS WHICH REQUIRE A DECISION
 
70/04 MANN ISLAND / LIVERPOOL WATERFRONT
Bryan Gray and Mike Storey declared an interest and Sir Martin Harris took the Chair for this item.

The Board noted the deliberations of the Marketing and Communications Sub Committee at its meeting on 24 June 2005 when it received a full report on the proposals for the Mann Island site, including the Canal Link.  The report addressed a number of detailed questions which the Agency Board had asked to be considered at its meeting in November 2004.

At the Sub Committee meeting, the full Economic Appraisal conducted for the Agency by a team comprising of Amnion Consulting, Locum Destination Consulting, Turner and Townsend and GVA Grimley was presented.  This report included a full options appraisal and a full risk assessment.

70/05 CASINOS IN ENGLAND’S NORTHWEST 
Marie Rimmer and John Merry declared an interest in this matter.

The Board received a report on the findings of the “Casinos in Englands Northwest: Assessment of Market Demand Study”.  The Board noted that interim findings of the Study had been considered by the Infrastructure Sub Committee at its meeting on 11 May 2005.  The Board endorsed the findings of the Study and agreed to its publication.

The Board supported Blackpool as the North West’s preferred candidate location for the regional casino’s pilot.  The Board agreed that the Agency should keep the situation under review and consider supporting another North West candidate location should the Government introduce secondary legislation to increase the number of regional casino pilots.

The Board requested Officers to discuss with GONW and NWRA how this position can be reflected in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Casino’s policy.

70/06 FORMER RNAD SITE BROUGHTON MOOR (DERWENT FOREST) 
The Board considered a report on a proposed remediation scheme for the former Royal Naval Armament’s Depot site at Broughton Moor; a 425 hectares brownfield site in Cumbria.

The Board noted that both the Urban and Environment Sub Committees had considered this issue.  The Board agreed in principle to support the remediation of this site and to work with Partners to define a phased approach to this work. 

The Board requested that a further report be provided to the meeting in September 2005 on this matter after consultation with Cumbria Vision and other Cumbria Partners.

70/07 LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE CENTRE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (LSTM)
The Board considered a report seeking funding for the development of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Centre for Infectious Diseases (LSTM).  The proposal was to build a state of the art building for major R & D work on human pathogens. 

The Board noted that if the LSTM can develop the Centre for Tropical and Infectious Diseases (CITD), they hoped to secure significant research funding from the Gates Foundation of $50m (£27.7m) for a five year research programme in vector biology, vaccine development and insecticides and a further five year consortia programme of Euro 17.5m (£11.7m).  Linda McGee reported on a fruitful visit she had made to the United States to meet representatives of the Gates Foundation regarding this potential funding.

The Board agreed to approve a contribution towards the CITD project, subject to confirmation of $50m of Gates Foundation funding (or total equivalent funding from other bodies) to the LSTM, prior to the offer letter and contract.

The Board agreed that if the research funding was not provided to the level expected, this matter should be referred back.
 
70/08 ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2004/05 
Following detailed consideration by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 8 July 2005, the Board approved the NWDA Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2004/05 for submission to Ministers, prior to laying before Parliament.

The Board asked that all staff involved in the production of the Annual Report and Financial Statements be thanked for their work.
 
70/09 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT 2004/05
 
The Board noted the Agency’s Annual Performance Monitoring Report for 2004/05, which was submitted to GONW and DTI in June 2005.
 
70/10 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
 
1 Lake District National Park 
 
The Board noted that the Lake District National Park had undergone a performance assessment as part of the process of performance assessment within which the National Park Authority had agreed (with support from DEFRA) to participate.  The Board noted the findings from the LDNPA assessment, which had identified a number of weaknesses. The Board supported the Chief Executive’s decision to provide assistance to the National Park Officer towards taking forward the recommendations from the assessment and noted that the Chief Executive had already written confirming such support.
 
2 Emergency Planning 
 
The Board noted that a Regional Resilience Forum had been established by GONW to support them in their role in maintaining the region’s emergency planning response.  Consequently, the Agency had reviewed with GONW the process to ensure that the Agency’s remit and expertise is fully involved in the process and that the Agency is therefore fully involved in the Government’s assessment of the major risk to the region.  In the event of an incident that would have economic and business implications for the region, the Agency would be involved in both the impact analysis and the business support response.
 
3 Local Area Agreements 
 
The Board noted that on 22 June the Government had announced the successful areas chosen to pilot the second phase of Local Area Agreements (LAAs). For the North West, the areas are Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Lancashire, Manchester, Oldham, St Helens, Stockport and Wirral.

LAAs form part of the Government’s 10-year vision for Local Authorities and are agreements between Government, the individual Local Authority’s and its major delivery partners through a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

The Board noted that the latest draft of the LAA Guidance advises that the Government has identified RDA funding for potential inclusion in LAAs.  Between July and October, local areas (in discussion with Government Office) will establish priorities as well as key outcomes and indicators for the four blocks of work which are:

• Children and young people.
• Safer and stronger communities
• Health and older people
• Economic development and enterprise.

The final second phase LAA pilot sign off is expected in March 2006.

A collective RDA response to the LAA draft Guidance was sent to Government last week.  In summary, the response recommends that

• RDAs are involved in the sign off and approval of LAAs
• Government Offices should consult RDAs on LAA performance
• Local area action plans should underpin the LAA Outcome Framework
• The LAA economic development and enterprise block outcomes and indicators should refer to the RDA Tasking Framework and regional and sub regional outcomes.

4 Northern Way Business Plan
The Board noted that the Deputy Prime Minister had launched the Northern Way Business Plan 2005/08 at Gateshead on 20 June 2005.  The Plan sets out how the £100m Growth Fund will be allocated over the three years on 10 investment priorities.The Board also noted that the North West Business Leadership Team had arranged a Northern Way Business Consultation event at United Utilities in July to which MPs, MEPs, Business representatives and Government Officials will be invited.
 
5 Government Office North West Corporate Plan  
The Board noted that GONW had recently issued their Corporate Plan and that the Agency and GONW would now discuss the Plan in the context of ensuring alignment and strategic fit with the RES.

6 Discussions with Scottish Enterprises
The Board noted that the Chief Executive had recently started discussions with Scottish Enterprise regarding the two Agencies’ respective economic plans and priorities, including Northern Way matters. The Chief Executive also reported that he intended to hold similar discussions with the Welsh Development Agency in the autumn.
 
7 Organisational Issues
The Board were pleased to note that the Agency had been accredited with Investor in People status.  The Board noted the recent changes within the HR Department.
 
8 North West Regional Assembly
The Board noted that the Agency had been involved in detailed discussions with the Regional Assembly concerning its recent decision to review its purpose and the deployment and number of staff employed. The Chief Executive reported that this was taking place at the same time as the Government is considering the establishment of Regional Investment Boards to provide advice on how funding for Economic Development, Housing and Transport should be deployed in the regions.

The Board noted that in the future, the Assembly was likely to focus on the Regional Spatial Strategy and Scrutiny of NWDA as well as acting as a regional focal point for Housing and Transport.  An outcome would be that the Assembly was also likely to become a leaner organisation with more streamlined governance arrangements and would be built upon representation from each of the five sub regions.   A new draft constitution was expected to be agreed in mid July.
 
70/11 FINANCE REPORT
The Board noted

• The Agency’s financial position for the period ending 31May 2005
• The delegations over £100,000 and the single tender actions made in the month.

The Board also noted that NAO had completed the statutory audit on 22 June and that initial feedback had been encouraging.

70/12 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Chairman reported on the following issues

• Olympic Games 2012.  The Challenge for the NWDA is to get value and benefit from the event and in particular he asked the Marketing Sub Committee to look at this
• A meeting with the Prince of Wales on rural matters, particularly food and the Prince’s strong support for what has been happening on the Agenda in Cumbria
• Corus Working Group, which met on 1 July where a number of exciting opportunities were identified for action
• Public recognition.  The Board were requested to give consideration to individuals who they felt should receive public recognition of their work or services.  The Chairman pointed out that criteria and guidance on this was available from his office.

70/13 MINUTES FROM THE SOCIAL INCLUSION SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 9 JUNE 2005
The Board noted the minutes of the Social Inclusion Sub Committee held on 9 June 2005.

70/14 MINUTES FROM THE ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 10 JUNE 2005
The Board noted the minutes of the Enterprise and Innovation Sub Committee held on 10 June 2005.

70/15 MINUTES FROM THE URBAN SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 10 JUNE 2005
The Board noted the minutes of the Urban Sub Committee held on 10 June 2005.
 
70/16 BOARD MEMBERS FEEDBACK
Brenda Smith reported that the Marketing Forum Terms of Reference were currently under review.Peter Hensman reported information on the Kendal Festival.

DATE AND TIME OF THE NEXT BOARD MEETING
The next meeting will be a residential meeting in Cumbria on 14/15 September 2005.
 
The meeting finished at 15.20.