MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON 6 MARCH 2008 AT
RENAISSANCE HOUSE, WARRINGTON
Present:
Bryan Gray (Chair)
Peter Allen
John Brooks
Joe Dwek
Peter Hensman
Dave McCall
Tony McDermott
Sir Martin Harris
Robert Hough
John Merry
Vanda Murray
Marie Rimmer
Brenda Smith
Maureen Williams
Susan Williams
Also Present:
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive
Patrick White, Executive Director of Policy /Secretary
David Higham (GONW)
David Malpass (98/04)
Ian Haythornthwaite (98/05, 98/10, 98/12)
James Berresford (98/07)
Peter White (98/08)
Mark Hughes (98/09)
98/00 PRESENTATION – DAVID COATES, CHAIRMAN,
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORECASTING PANEL
The Board received a presentation from David Coates, Chairman of
the Regional Economic Forecasting Panel on the Panel’s view of the
region’s expected economic progress in the years ahead. The
Board agreed that the presentation provided an important background
to the objectives set out in the RDA’s draft Corporate Plan.
The Board noted the importance of accurate development of future
regional deflators by the Office for National Statistics to ensure
better understanding of economic output, taking into account retail
prices differences.
98/01 INTRODUCTION, APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Apologies were received from Phil Robinson (NWRA).
Declarations of interest were declared by Joe Dwek in respect of
item 98/07 Chetham’s School of Music.
98/02 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17 JANUARY
2008 AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes were approved as a correct record.
98/03 ACTION POINTS FROM PREVIOUS
MEETINGS
The Board noted the progress made on the action points from
previous meetings.
98/04 PRESENTATION – NORTH WEST EUROPEAN REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FUND (ERDF)
The Board received a presentation by David Malpass, Director of
the NW ERDF programme on the aims, structure and management of the
Programme.
The Board noted the importance of the Agency’s effective
management of ERDF and the high reputational and financial risks
involved. A successful programme would deliver strong
economic benefits to the North West and it as vital that ERDF was
prioritised carefully in line with the agreed objectives.
The Board noted that this was likely to be the last large ERDF
programme in the region which meant that it was even more crucial
for the region to use it effectively.
98/05 CORPORATE PLAN/ SIP AND URC BUSINESS
PLANS
Following the Board meeting in December 2007, the Board received
revised versions of the Agency’s draft Corporate Plan and the
Strategic Investment Plan for the period 2008/09 to
2010/11.
The Board noted that 52 responses had been received to the
Corporate Plan Consultation which had taken place from 17 December
2007 to 31 January 2008. The Board noted the summary of
responses and in particular that most were supportive of the
document and welcomed the Agency’s proposed corporate
direction. The Board welcomed the work that had been done to
develop a clear and concise Corporate Plan.
The Board noted the changes that had been made to the Strategic
Investment Plan following the December Board meeting and the
subsequent detailed discussions that had taken place at the series
of Sub Committees throughout January 2008.
The Board considered the proposed NWDA allocations for the
region’s Urban Regeneration Companies for the first year of the
Plan and the proposal for a review of URC funding to take place
early in 2008/09.
The Board approved the Agency’s Corporate Plan 2008/09 to
2010/11 for Ministerial submission, subject to the inclusion of
further detail in respect of the Agency’s approach to capacity
building in sub regions and how arrangements for associated
Delegations would operate.
The Board also approved the Agency’s Strategic Investment Plan
2008/09 to 2010/11 and approved the overall funding for URCs as
well as individual allocations for 2008/09. Allocations for
future years would be decided following a detailed review of the
Agency’s future engagement with URCs to take place in the first
half of 2008/09.
98/06 NEW LIVERPOOL REGENERATION
COMPANY
The Board was reminded that in 2007 Liverpool partners had
approached the Agency to seek its involvement in the development of
a new regeneration company for Liverpool. This would mean the
merger of Liverpool Vision, Liverpool Land Development Company
(LLDC) and Business Liverpool to form one organisation.
The proposed new company was to be established with three founding
members: Liverpool City Council, English Partnerships and NWDA,
with the remit to deliver the future development of Liverpool City
Centre.
The Board had previously agreed that a Task and Finish Group
would be established to review in detail the proposed Business Plan
for the new company. After very detailed reviews of the proposals
and discussions with Liverpool partners, the Task and Finish Group
had concluded that the Plan had been significantly further
developed. The Group welcomed the Plan’s focus on building on
the achievements of LLDC and Liverpool Vision. A number of
issues remained in respect of local capacity to ensure an effective
relationship between the new company and Business Liverpool.
The Group also recommend to the Board the importance of a clear,
defined, timetabled Exit Strategy for the company.
The Board agreed that ongoing Agency support was essential to
enable the continuing regeneration of Liverpool and it approved in
principle the Agency’s. membership of the new company (which would
be known as Liverpool Vision) subject to:
- Further review by the Task and Finish Group to ensure that the
issues raised at the Board meeting were resolved. Formal
resolution would then be sought from the Board at its April
meeting.
- Final BERR consent for the new company.
98/07 CHETHAM’S SCHOOL OF MUSIC/ MANCHESTER
MEDIEVAL QUARTER
The Board was advised that Chetham School of Music was
working with Manchester Cathedral on the development of
Manchester’s Medieval Quarter. This involved School buildings of
national importance, both architecturally and historically,
including a 1645 library of major standing.
Agency investment would be targeted at the first phase of the
project which would include the acquisition of land and
construction of new improved school facilities alongside a 450
seater concert hall. The second and third phases would
involve the transfer of school operations into the new development,
selective demolition of Victorian structures and the opening of the
original 15th century buildings and a new visitor attraction.
The Marketing, Communications and Tourism Sub Committee had
reviewed the project in detail at its meeting on 12 February 2008
and recommended to the main Board that Agency investment should be
approved, subject to the Agency being represented on the Project’s
Steering Group. It was also important that the Tourism
England’s NW (the Tourism Forum) was kept closely informed of
developments.
The Board approved Agency investment towards the project subject
to (without delaying the acquisition of land) a further and more
detailed review by the Marketing, Communications and Tourism Sub
Committee, that would be supported by advice from the Chief
Executive, of the risks involved and the situation in terms of the
Agency’s exposure to risk as the project progressed.
The Board also agreed that a close review of progress should
continue throughout the development of the project. It was
also important that there was close co-ordination with the nearby
Greengate Development.
98/08 LAKE DISTRICT WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The Board approved the Agency’s position in respect of the
development of the UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination for the
Lake District, which was that the Agency would continue to support
the bid at this stage, but in such a way that would safeguard its
interests in respect of economic development and to allow the
Agency to review its position when further evidence was
available. The Board agreed that specifically the Agency
would target its funding at five crucial parts of the process:
- Identifying alternative boundaries for future consideration and
reaching an agreement on a boundary for the WHS.
- Undertaking a programme of public engagement.
- Undertaking further research into the area’s ‘Outstanding
Universal Values’ particularly those of the major settlements.
- Drafting the Management Plan.
The Board noted that the work to develop the UNESCO bid would
conclude in April 2009. The Board agreed at that point the
Agency should take stock of the final boundary proposal and
Management Plan to allow consideration of the Agency’s final
position prior to the bid being presented to DCMS in November
2009.
98/09 FINANCE FOR BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Board approved the Finance for Business Strategy which aimed
to further improve access to finance for businesses in the
North West. The Board noted that the Strategy focused
specifically on finance markets and the role played by private and
public sectors in those markets.
98/10 AGENCY HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY – RECENT
CHANGES IN LEGISLATION
The Board noted the changes in legislation and associated
implications in respect of corporate manslaughter, corporate
homicide and construction regulations.
98/11 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
The Chief Executive reported on the following:
- The document “Expanding Apprenticeships, Developing World Class
Skills, which outlined Government’s strategy for the future of
apprenticeships in England.
- The Future Leaders Survey 2007/08 – results of a jointly
conducted survey by UCAS and the Forum for the Future which asked
every UK University or college about their views for the
future.
- Family Spending 2007 - the Office for National Statistics
Expenditure Food Survey which marked 50 years of results from
household expenditure surveys.
- Nuclear New Build – the results of a recent consultation
exercise on the future of new nuclear build in the UK.
- Debate on North South Divide / Centre for Research on Spatial
Economics – Government’s announcement that a London School of
Economics consortium would lead the Centre for Research on Spatial
Economics.
- The MMU document Changing Professions in NW England which
highlighted the shift in the employment scene and illustrated the
region’s top ten growth figures.
- The Local Authority Comprehensive Performance Assessments and
Use of Resources Assessments 2007.
- The EU Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme.
- The decision by the Secretary of State for Communities and
Local Government to grant planning permission for the proposed
Heysham to M6 Link Road.
- The forthcoming national and regional publicity campaign to
increase public awareness and engagement with the Honours
System.
- The announcement of Pat McFadden as the new Minister for
RDAs.
- The DCMS Regional Infrastructure Review.
He also provided an update on the following:
- Sub National Review.
- Unitary Local Government.
- Partial Review of NW Regional Spatial Strategy.
- Digital Industries NW Ltd.
- Impact Evaluation.
- NAO’s proposed Value for Money assessment of RDAs which would
now concentrate on RDAs’ effectiveness in delivering physical
regeneration.
- The Agency’s accommodation arrangements for which BERR approval
had been received.
He also advised the Board that:
- DEFRA had decided to reduce its contribution to the RDA Single
Pot by £20m nationally.
- NWDA would take responsibility for the RDA Chair of Chairs role
from 1 April 2008 to 31 October 2008.
98/12 FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
The Board noted:
- The Agency’s financial position for the period ending 31January
2008.
- The further improvement in the Agency’s performance in respect
of prompt payment of invoices.
- The Delegations for the period 15 December 2007 to 25 January
2008.
98/13 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Chairman reported on the following:
- Government had produced its response to the Blackpool Task and
Finish Report, which demonstrated Government commitment to support
the town where possible.
- His meeting with Jonathan Porritt of the Sustainable
Development Commission where they discussed joint working with the
Northern Way to evaluate connectivity issues, including a high
speed rail link to London and also how joint working could progress
major energy infrastructure projects.
93/14 MINUTES FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE HELD ON 24
JANUARY 2008.
The minutes were noted.
93/15 MINUTES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT SUB COMMITTEE
HELD ON 24 JANUARY 2008.
The minutes were noted.
93/16 MINUTES FROM THE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY SUB
COMMITTEE HELD ON 24 JANUARY 2008.
The minutes were noted.
93/17 MINUTES FROM THE ENTERPRISE AND SKILLS SUB
COMMITTEE HELD ON 20 FEBRUARY 2008
The minutes were noted.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The next Board meeting would take place at 12.30pm on Thursday 17
April 2008 at Renaissance House, Warrington.