MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON 19 APRIL 2007 AT RENAISSANCE HOUSE, WARRINGTON

Present: 

Bryan Gray (Chairman)
David Brockbank
Joe Dwek
Sir Martin Harris
Peter Hensman
Pauleen Lane
Dave McCall
John Merry
Vanda Murray
Anil Ruia
Brenda Smith
Mike Storey
Maureen Williams.
 

Also Present: 

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive
Bernice Law, Secretary
Mark Hughes (89/06)
Simon Nokes (89/05)
Ian Haythornthwaite (89/10)
Peter White (89/07)
Phil Robinson (NWRA)

89/00 PRESENTATION: CULTURE NORTHWEST, LOYD GROSSMAN, CHAIRMAN AND LIBBY RAPER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Loyd Grossman and Libby Raper, provided a presentation on the work of Culture Northwest and how it was seeking to address the RES and develop its links with the sub regions.

Culture Northwest’s key priorities were to:

• Establish the Northwest as an international cultural leader.
• Build citizenship through culture.
• Drive health improvement through cultural activity.
• Encourage and enhance partnerships across the region.
• Drive awareness of regional distinctiveness.
• Maximise cultural contributions to life-long learning.
• Build capacity within the cultural sector.

The Board noted the organisations headline achievements for the period 2004 to 2006:

• One international UK EU Presidency Conference: the first national conference of Regional Cultural Consortiums England.
• Six Regional Conferences.
• Over 50 events/ seminars.
• 14 New networks.
• 13 Research papers.
• 10 Star Turns.
• Three innovative partnership posts.
• Northwest Culture observatory launched.
• 37 e-bulletins.
• Over 1,500 decision makers engaged in the region’s agenda.
• Over 1,600 hours of networking.

89/01 INTRODUCTION, APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Apologies were received from Marie Rimmer, John Moverley and Keith Barnes.

Pauleen Lane declared an interest in item 89/09c).

89/02 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 MARCH 2007 AND MATTERS ARISING

The minutes were approved as a correct record.

89/03 ACTION POINTS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 
 
The Board noted the progress made on the action points from previous meetings.

89/04 PRESENTATION; BUSINESS LINK NORTHWEST REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,    PETER WATSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND DAVID SLATER, MARKETING & RELATIONSHIPS DIRECTOR

The Board received a presentation on the purpose and operational principles of Business Link Northwest, which went live on 1 April 2007.  The Board noted the current status of the organisation which was as follows

• People - 181 people in post, 122 vacancies, up to 30 people to be offered posts during April.
• Knowledge Platform - Fully functioning and operational from day one.
• Operating & Grant Funding Agreements signed and all parties satisfied with outcome.

The Board noted the organisation’s service principles, which were to:

• Be Customer Focused.
• Provide primary access point for integrated brokerage.
• Provide a free to use service with no charging or product/service delivery.
• Provide an impartial and independent service and support.
• Focus on IDB only and broker to public and private sector suppliers.
• Deliver a consistent and high quality service.

Business Link  had three key functions:

• Universal Service
  • Based at Operations Centre in Preston.
  • Heavily promoted and marketed.
  • Open to ALL – 8.00am to 8.00pm weekdays & 8.00am to 2.00pm weekends.
  • Telephone, web/email, walk-in.
• Target Service - Proactive and aimed at:
  • The six RES Priority Sectors:  Finance & Professional Services; Digital & Creative; Food & Drink; Advanced Engineering & Materials; Energy & Environmental; and Bio-Medical;
  • Growth/potential for growth operations
• Train To Gain
  • Skills Brokerage Service on behalf of the Learning & Skills Council

Its targets were as follows:

                                     Starting Point              Yr 1        Yr 2    Yr 3
                                        (estimate)
Universal Service             60,000                      85,000     90,000     96,000
Target Service                    4,300                       5,500       7,500       9,600
Train To Gain Referrals     3,500                       7,000       *TBD       *TBD

*To be determined

These would be achieved by:

• Greater use of Marketing or Partnerships.
• Delivery of excellent standards of service.
• 75% of workforce customer facing (235 out of 310).
• Greater measured economic payback.

89/05 NWDA BUSINESS PLAN 2007/08
 
 The Board received an initial draft of the Agency’s Business Plan 2007/08 which set out how the Agency would use its resources to achieve key outputs and outcomes. 

The Board agreed the Plan subject to additional information around:

• City Regions
• Sub Regional arrangements.
• Equality and Diversity.
• Corporate Social Responsibility.

Final approval would be given by the NWDA Chairman and Chief Executive for publication by the end of April 2007.

89/06 AN INTERNATIONALISATION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR ENGLAND’S NORTHWEST

 The Board was reminded that it had received at its January meeting a summary report that highlighted the main elements of the Internationalisation Strategy and Action Plan.  At that meeting the Board had approved in principle the further development and implementation of the action plan subject to the provision of more information.

The Board received a detailed response to the questions it had raised at the January meeting.  It also received reports which explained how activities in respect of Inward Investment, the Agency’s USA operations and UKTI activity had informed the development of the Strategy.

The Board noted that the Strategy and Action Plan had been compiled following extensive consultation, led by the International Business Forum (which had the lead role for this RES Transformational Action).  Consultees included Regional Cluster Organisations; the RES Advisory Group; Universities and the Northwest University Association; Sub Regional Partners; UK Trade and Investment (nationally and regionally); NWREP; Ethnic Minority Business Forum and many other parties who would either benefit from, or help to deliver, the Internationalisation Action Plan.

The final version of the Internationalisation Strategy and Action Plan:

• Set out the central role that the implementation of the action plan would play in helping the region achieve the vision and targets as set out in the RES.
• Identified the important contribution that international trade, investment and wider global connections already make to the Northwest’s prosperity.
• Highlighted the main opportunities and risks that globalisation presents for the Northwest.
• Outlined a detailed, costed action plan with lead roles that will enable the region to maximise international opportunities and adapt to change.
• Identified the respective roles that the Agency, UK Trade and Investment and other key regional partners will play in implementing the main actions.
• Detailed specific targets and outlined the monitoring process.

The Board noted that the Enterprise, Innovation and Skills Sub Committee at its meeting on 15 March 2007 had reviewed in detail the Strategy and Action Plan and had agreed to recommend that the Board approve the document.

The Board agreed that the Agency should increase its resources by 2009/10 to enable successful delivery of the Strategy.   This would include an increase in resources to underpin the Agency’s investment in overseas activities.

The Board approved the Internationalisation Strategy and Action Plan for implementation.

89/07 NEWLANDS 2: LAND REGENERATION PROGRAMME

 The Board noted that the proposals for Newlands 2 had been based upon the successful Newlands 1 delivery model which had been recognised as an exemplar of land regeneration and had delivered demonstrable results in the Mersey Belt.   The Board was advised that Newlands 2 would extend the brand to provide a single, region – wide, delivery mechanism for the soft end land use regeneration of Brownfield sites.  NWDA capital investment from 2007 to 2015 was being sought by the Forestry Commission to deliver the programme.

The Board also noted that Newlands 2 would target key RES Action 84 (new uses for Brownfield Land) and contribute to RES Actions 113, 116, 117 and 119. It would also provide a major mechanism for delivery of the Regional Forestry Framework.  520 hectares of land will be regenerated into community woodland / strategic greenspace.  

The Board was advised that an independent external appraisal had been undertaken, which had defined the proposed cost per hectare delivery model and had concluded that:

• Newlands 2 had a very strong strategic context and would contribute to all the Northwest Sub Regional Action Plans. 
• The projected outputs from Newlands 2 were significant and other outcomes would help the Agency deliver on a number of its Transformational Activities.  
• The success of Newlands 1 clearly demonstrated that the Forestry Commission had the competencies to deliver the aims, objectives and key Performance Indicators identified in the Newlands 2 Business Plan. 
• The proposal for Newlands 2 was the best option for the Agency in terms of the delivery of the Regional Forestry Framework. 
• It offered good value for money through increased efficiency and cost per hectare of Brownfield land regenerated.  

The Board noted that the Environment Sub Committee at its meeting on 18 January 2007 had reviewed in detail the proposals for Newlands 2 and had agreed to recommend that the NWDA Board approved the programme.

The Board:

• Approved an allocation to the Forestry Commission in respect of the Newlands 2 Programme. 
• Agreed that the Forestry Commission should prepare and submit annual performance plans to NWDA, outlining the detailed delivery to be undertaken each year.  This would be subject to an annual funding agreement.    
• Agreed that individual project proposals would be submitted, appraised and approved following standard Agency procedures.

89/08 PRESENTATION: NORTH WEST ERDF PROGRAMME 2007-13 CHRIS MUSSON, NWDA HEAD OF EUROPEAN TRANSITION

 Chris Musson provided a presentation on the implications of the transfer of the European Regional Development Fund to RDAs.  He explained the background to the programme:

• It was introduced in the mid 1980s to address specific weaknesses in the European economy; and primarily address GDP disparities between sub regions.
• It is covered by detailed legislation and covers a significant time period (6 years plus).
• It includes significant resources and allows devolved decision making

The Board noted that 300bn euros were available for the whole of Europe for the period 2007-13.  For the North West key points to note were:

• £520m ERDF
• £210m earmarked for Merseyside.
• Operational Programme – explicitly tied to the new RES.
• Business support, knowledge and innovation, targeted capital investment, accessing employment.
• Commission approval towards the end of this year.
• Programme Monitoring Committee – shadow form from middle of year onwards.
• De-commitment risk.
• Extremely difficult expenditure targets.

89/09 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

a) Consultation on Climate Change      
The Board noted that on 13 March Government had published the proposals that would be included the Climate Change Bill. Views were being sought by 12 June 2007.

Key elements of the proposed Bill included:

• Setting targets in statute for emissions and carbon budgeting.
• Establishing a Committee on Climate Change.
• Creating enabling powers through the introduction of domestic emissions trading schemes.
• Reporting requirements to enhance the overall transparency and accountability of UK action on climate change. The reporting mechanism will be presented to Parliament via the Climate Change Committee.

b) Communities and Local Government Committee     
The Chief Executive reported that on 14 March as a result of its inquiry into the likely direction of Government’s regional policy, the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee published the report “Is there a future for regional government?” 

The Board noted that as part of the inquiry the Committee looked at two issues in particular:

• How the current system of regional governance actually worked?
• The role that city regions would play in the future development of regional policy?

It also questioned whether the existing regional arrangements were the right ones and suggested a number of recommendations, which in conjunction with plans already announced by Government were considered as a way of progressing improvements to existing arrangements.

The Board noted that the Committee’s recommendations focused on improving accountability for the three “pillars” within the regions; and in the short to medium term the view was that further development of the relationship between Government Office, the RDA and the Regional Assembly, coupled with greater willingness by Government to involve these bodies more in strategic decision making (e.g. Regional Funding Allocations) could make a more effective and responsive approach to the specific needs and requirements of each region.

The Committee also commented that the development of City Regions was likely to impact on RDAs most strongly as, in its opinion, any loss of strategic oversight and budgetary control in relation to sub regional economic development could diminish their capacity to support other parts of the region as they do at present.

c) Redesigning Regionalism: Leadership and Accountability in England’s Regions       
The Chief Executive also advised of the report which had been published by Chris Leslie and Owen Dallison of the New Local Government Network which explored options for future regional governance.  The report had been endorsed by HM Treasury Ministers Ed Balls and John Healey, who in their Foreword advised that “RDAs and other regional bodies should constantly explore how best they can work together to affect inward investment, enterprise, innovation, skills development and an improved infrastructure to respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation, all within the most efficient manner possible.”

The Board noted that the report confirmed that successful regional co-ordination of public policy could make a major impact on the conditions for growth; and recognised that RDAs have worked well and made great strides to secure investment for skills, transport priorities and industrial innovation.  However it also recognised that there were remaining constraints that needed to be tackled and that leadership and accountability within each of the English regions still required clarification.

Whilst the overall outcome of the debate was inconclusive there were a number of recommendations contained within the report that the Board agreed provided food for thought:

• There should be greater unity between the RES and RSS and the process for production of both documents should be brought together.
• In many regions RDA leadership could be built upon by enhancing their role and functions.  The report suggested the creation of a single RDA style “Regional Executive Agency” (REA), to pull together more of what were considered to be disparate regional activities presently spread across several separate bodies.  
• There was also a recommendation for the creation of Ministerial portfolios for each English region to help improve focus on regional economic development.  However the preference was for the devolution of Whitehall powers to the RDA-plus Regional Executive Agency.

d) Lyons Inquiry into Local Government     
The Board noted that Sir Michael Lyons’ report on his inquiry into the future role, function and funding of local government had been published on 21 March 2007.  The review looked at changes to the local government system and considered the implications of the Barker, Eddington and Leitch reports. 

The Board received a summary of the key messages from the review, which had been provided by the Agency’s Research Team.

e) Short List of Local Authority Bids for Unitary Status     
The Board noted that on 27 March Local Government Minister Phil Woolas MP announced that 16 out of the 26 councils that had submitted proposals for Unitary Status would go forward for consultation.  The consultation, which would conclude on 22 June 2007, was seeking views of partners and stakeholders in the areas affected by the proposals.

The Board was advised that for the North West the following bids would go forward:

• Cheshire County Council, for a single unitary authority for the county.
• Chester City Council, for two unitary authorities for the county.
• Cumbria County Council, for a single unitary authority for the county.

f) Mind the Gap: Tackling Disparities in Regional Economic Performance    
The Board noted that National Audit Office had recently published a report on tackling economic regional disparities, which had been commissioned by Kitty Ussher MP when she was a member of the Public Accounts Committee.  The report:

• Explained the target Government had set to reduce regional disparities in economic performance
• Set out the data on recent trends in regional economic performance
• Considered the impact of each driver.

The Board was advised that the Public Service Agreement on regional economic performance focused on policies to reduce regional disparities; and this would be a joint target for DTI, DCLG and HM Treasury. 

The Board was also advised that the report conformed that RDA expenditure was skewed in favour of poorer performing regions; and that Government regarded RDAs as important contributors to delivering the economic performance target.  It also acknowledged the Northern Way.

g) Liverpool City Region Prospectus     
The Chief Executive reported hat Liverpool had recently published for consultation its updated business case, suggesting to Government a range of actions which should be taken to improve the performance of the City Region.   Key points within the prospectus that were relevant to the Agency were

• The flexibility to vire across funding pools.
• A range of planning powers to be held at city region level.
• Regional funding allocations being built up from city region analysis.
• Creation of a single Transport plan and Police Authority covering the six districts of Merseyside plus Halton.
• NWDA to develop investment plans to meet specific city region priorities and agree the appropriate devolution of activity.
• Powers to hold regional bodies to account where they impact on priorities.

The Board noted that the Agency had compiled a response to the consultation, for which the deadline was 20 April.

h) Manchester City Region Development Plan     
The Board also received an update on developments with the Manchester City Region Development Plan (CRDP) for which the main priorities were as follows:

• The development of a coherent and effective form of city regional governance.
• The relocation of the BBC.
• The development of Manchester Airport.
• The development of efficient Transport Networks.
• The development of the full potential of the Oxford Road corridor as a centre for knowledge based activity.
• Meeting employer skills needs.
• Fostering more entrepreneurialism.
• Creating the Whitehall of the North.

The Board noted that the Agency was playing a key role in a number of these priorities, including support for the BBC move, Worklessness and the Oxford Road Corridor.

The Board was advised that most progress had been made in the following two areas:

• Governance, where AGMA has made some progress including the creation of an Economic Development, Employment and Skills Commission as part of governance plans and representations to Central Government as part of the Sub National Review (SNR) and CSR.  
• Transport, where road pricing and tackling transport networks remained top of the city region agenda. AGMA was currently well on with putting together a bid for the Transport Infrastructure Fund (TIF). The key premise for the bid was that public transport improvements were an upfront part of any proposal, and that any road pricing scheme would more intelligently tackle congestion on key arterial routes. 

i) Merseyside Economic Review    
The Board noted that on 13 March the NWDA Chief Executive had provided a presentation as part of The Mersey Partnership’s launch of the Merseyside Economic Review.  The Board was advised that the Merseyside Economic Review was an annual health check of the sub region’s economy.  A summary document had been recently issued which showed some notable successes against major economic indicators and stated that that there had been improvement in GVA per capita; employment; activity rates, the business base; population; and school results. 

At the event the NWDA Chief Executive had promulgated that Merseyside was on the “up” but still faced some key challenges and had emphasised that all partners must  continue to work together to identify priorities, objectives and solutions to ensure Merseyside reaches its potential. 

j) Mersey Container Terminal     
The Board welcomed the recent decision by the Department for Transport to approve the first post-Panamax container terminal on the UK’s west coast at the Port of Liverpool.  The Board was advised that the new £90m Seaforth ‘in-river’ terminal would deliver important regional productivity benefits and provide new opportunities for port and logistics activities in Merseyside, helping to achieve RES Transformation Action 73. The new terminal will have an annual capacity of 500,000 TEU’s (almost double what the port currently handles).  Thus enabling new, larger post-Panamax ships which are in increasingly common usage by large shipping lines, to call at the Port of Liverpool. 

The Board noted that the Agency had helped to make the case for approval in its submission to Government’s consultation on the Ports Policy Review and Peel Ports had advised that it greatly valued the Agency’s informed response.

The Agency had also made a strong case for the terminal as part of its written evidence to the Transport Select Committee’s Inquiry into the UK’s Port Industry.

k) Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LAGBI)    
The Board noted that on 27 February 2007 the second round of the LABGI (2006/7) was announced. Nationally, the “pot” total was £316m, and would be shared between 328 Local Authorities.  This was an increase on last year’s figures where 278 Local Authorities shared £126 million.  The Board was advised that the Agency had calculated that £54.4m (c17%) of the total would be received by 40 Local Authorities in the North West.  Last year 29 North West Local Authorities shared £16m.

The Board was advised that the over-arching aim of LABGI was to motivate local authorities to focus on economic growth.  The funding allocation formula sought to reward authorities which exceeded an annual business rate floor target by allocating a proportion of the increase back to the Local Authority.  Although LABGI was a funding reward relating to economic growth there was no stipulation in the guidance that Local Authorities must re-invest the funding in this area.  The Board agreed that the Agency should seek to encourage successful Local Authorities to utilise LAGBI’s additional funding to enhance and improve economic development (the overall objective of the fund).  The Board noted that appropriate use of the fund would help to contribute to the Business Support Simplification agenda, which was a HM Treasury initiative, being led by DTI and which was being implemented by the RDAs.

There was an expectation that there would be a final LAGBI round in 2007/08.

l) The Callcutt Review     
The Chief Executive reported that in 2006 John Callcutt, the former Chief Executive of English Partnerships, had been commissioned by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to undertake a review of house building delivery.  The review would:

• Examine how the supply of new homes was influenced by the nature and structure of the house building industry; its business models and its supply chain, including land, materials and skills
• Consider how these factors influenced the delivery of new homes to achieve Government’s target (200,000 new homes per annum), meeting house buyers’ requirements and aspirations, achieving high standards of energy efficiency and sustainability as set out in the Code for Sustainable Homes, and progressing to a zero carbon standard.

John Callcutt had written to a number of organisations, including the Agency to call for evidence.  The Agency had prepared a response to be submitted within the required deadline of 20 April 2007.
 
m) The Single Regeneration Budget:  Final Evaluation Research Summary 
The Board was advised that an evaluation of the Single Regeneration Budget and its contribution to local area regeneration had been ccmmissioned by Government and had been conducted by Professor Peter Tyler and John Rhodes of the University of Cambridge Land Economy Department.  The evaluation included a comprehensive assessment of the nature of the local area regeneration problems which showed the diversity of causes including a distressed labour market, worn out infrastructure, crime, social disorder or ill health. 

The Board noted the key findings from the report and its main conclusion which was that whilst the evidence on outcomes in the SRB areas examined was considered encouraging, there had been no dramatic change in the relative ranking of the most deprived areas in England over the last thirty years.  The Board also noted that despite the establishment of Local Strategic Partnerships mainstream services were still not being modified to tackle more effectively the needs of these deprived areas. There was also a clear need to enhance the involvement of the private sector in local regeneration; and that local regeneration required all local stakeholders to recognise their role in the future viability and well being of the area concerned.

n) Draft Regional Spatial Strategy    
The Board received an update:

• The Examination in Public of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) had closed on 15 February 2007. 
• RSS policies for transport, casinos and city-regions were amongst the matters debated in the post-Christmas EIP sessions. 

The Board noted that publication of the EIP Panel's report was expected in early April; and the Secretary of State's proposed changes to Draft RSS were expected in Autumn 2007.  The final revised RSS would be issued in late 2007/early 2008 following consultation on the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes.

o) Northern Way Transformational Priorities      
The Board noted that Neville Chamberlain, Chairman of the Northern Way had written to Yvette Cooper MP Minister for Housing and Planning (who had responsibility for the Northern Way Growth Strategy) in response to her challenge that the Northern Way should be more strategic, prioritised and seen to be adding greater value. 

The Board was advised that three key transformational priorities had now been identified, which would form the basis of a revised Business Plan for the Northern Way.  They were as follows:

• Improving Transport Connectivity.
• Transforming Innovation in Industry
• Levering in greater private sector investment.

p) Independent Performance Assessment (IPA)     
The Chief Executive reported that the National Audit Office (NAO) had now completed its Independent Performance Assessments of the eight RDAs.  The Board noted the results which provided a good testimony for the RDA network.   Mary Reilly, RDA Chair of Chairs had written to MPs, MEPs and Local Authorities to notify them of the results.
 
q) Blackpool     
The Board noted that DCMS Ministers had asked the Agency to work with partners to ensure that plans for Blackpool were reviewed in the light of ongoing national uncertainty.  Rather than look for new money, partners were working together to identify the existing commitments that could be brought forward to increase the speed of delivery and underpin local regeneration plans.

r) Evaluation   
The Chief Executive confirmed that implementation of the Agency’s Evaluation policy was progressing.

The Board noted that as part of CSR, DTI and HM Treasury were continuing to push RDAs on the importance of evaluation and the need for RDAs to provide evidence of the impact of their activities.   Nationally RDAs were considering how they could intensify their evaluation effort to produce a consistent approach across the network and to feed into a further impact report in 2009/10.  Fellow Chief Executives had agreed that Steven Broomhead would lead on the national work. 

s) Visit to State of Victoria, Australia 21 to 28 March 2007       
The Chief Executive provided feedback from his visit to the State of Victoria, Australia. He had visited the country as a result of an invitation from John Brumby, the Australian Minister of State for Regional Development. 
 
t) New NWDA Website   
The Board noted that on 23 March 2007 the Agency had launched its newly designed website.  Content was now clearly signposted and the navigation was more intuitive.  In addition, it was more compliant with accessibility standards and had additional accessibility features, including a function that would read pages to a visitor.   The Board was advised that feedback so far had been positive. 

u) Vauxhall Motors    
The Chief Executive advised the Board that on 17 April 2007 General Motors (GM) announced that the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port had been selected, along with Bochum (Germany), Trollhatten (Sweden) and Gliwiche (Poland), to produce the new model Astra,.  This decision was made on the basis of proposals submitted by each of the competing plants, to GM’s European Headquarters.  The full operational implementation details around the announcement were not yet known however production of the new model was expected to commence in 2010. 

Now that it had been confirmed that Ellesmere Port would produce the new Astra, the Agency was planning to provide funding to the Company for workforce development.  This proposed investment had been considered in detail by the Enterprise, Innovation and Skills Sub Committee at its meeting on 15 March and would now be subject to Board approval.

89/10 FINANCE REPORT
 
 The Board noted the Agency’s financial position for the period ending 28 February 2007; and the projected end of year position.

The Board received the quarterly report on the Agency’s Efficiency Savings in respect for the period ending 31 December 2006.

The Executive Director, Corporate Resources and Finance advised the Board of the position in respect of the operation of maintenance and health and safety in the Agency’s retained property portfolio.  The Board noted the maintenance/health and safety budget for the retained portfolio for 2007/08.  The Board also noted that the major focus for maintenance and health and safety was on large assets and/or where health and safety exposure was high. 

The Board noted the delegations for the period 6 February to 5 March 2007.

The Board approved Single Tender Actions in respect of:

• DTI/Small Business Services for the Business Link National Website.
• Media Training North West for the Media Foundation Placement Scheme.
• Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority for the World Firefighter Games 2008.

The Executive Director Corporate Resources also provided the Board with an update on developments with the Derwent Forest project.

89/11 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
 
 The Chairman reported on the following:

• The launch of the revised North West Science Strategy which took place at Astrazeneca’s site in Alderley Edge.  The event, which was well attended, followed Astrazeneca’s celebratory event to mark 50 years at the site.
• Media City – A meeting of the Mediacity:uk Consortium would take place later that day.  The Chairman, John Merry and Brenda Smith would attend.  The meeting would be in preparation of the BBC Trustees signing off the Media City proposals.  John Merry reported that Salford City Council had agreed planning permission for the Media City building.

89/12 MINUTES FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 14 MARCH 2007

 The minutes were noted.

89/13 MINUTES FROM THE ENTERPRISE, INNOVATION AND SKILLS SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 15 MARCH 2007

 The minutes were noted.

89/14 MINUTES FROM THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 15 MARCH 2007

 The minutes were noted.

89/15 NOTES FROM THE NWDA RURAL ADVISORY GROUP HELD ON 15 MARCH 2007

 The notes were noted.

 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place at 12.30pm on Thursday 17 May 2007 at BAE Systems, Salmesbury, Lancashire.