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SUMMARY BOARD MINUTES OF THE TWENTIETH MEETING
HELD
ON THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER 2000 AT SEEDA HEADQUARTERS
Members Present
Allan
Willett CMG (Chairman), Professor Clive Booth, Cllr. Ken Bodfish
OBE, Cllr. Kevin Wilson, Jim Baker, Cllr. Kit Oliver, Caroline
Williams, Janis Kong, Barry Camfield, Bryan Davies, Sarah Ward
OBE
Apologies
for absence
Russ
Nathan CBE, Cllr. David Rogers
Others
in Attendance (for all or part of meeting)
Anthony
Dunnett (Chief Executive, SEEDA), Jeff Alexander (Agency Secretary,
SEEDA), Phil Bailey (SEEDA), David Saunders (Regional Director,
GO-SE)
Summary
of Meeting
1.
The Board :-
Discussed the future relationship between SEEDA and the local
Economic Partnerships;
Reviewed recent developments with the Local Learning and Skills
Councils and Small Business Service
Received a report on the Chairman's recent activities
Discussed a range of issues with David Saunders, Regional Director,
GO-SE
Reviewed SEEDA's first Annual Open Public meeting that had been
held earlier in the day
Agreed a policy on the use of Alternates on SEEDA Board Committees
Reviewed and noted SEEDA regeneration investment
Future
Relationship with Economic Partnerships
2.
Members were reminded that Government was currently considering
mechanisms for the future funding of Local Economic Partnerships
and that this issue had to be seen in the context of the Spending
Review announcements and the proposed Public Service Agreements
that SEEDA would need to negotiate with Government.
3.
Members also acknowledged that Government had very recently
published a consultation document on Local Strategic Partnerships
(LSPs). LSPs are the proposed key vehicle for pulling together
all public sector funding streams to tackle deprivation and
that those areas which had been awarded Neighbourhood Renewal
funding (i.e. in the South East, Hastings, Brighton, Portsmouth
and Southampton) would need to establish LSPs quickly so as
to be able to draw down the Neighbourhood Renewal funding.
4.
It was noted that the consultation document did not set out
predetermined boundaries for the LSPs. They could be coterminous
with County, Unitary, District or Borough areas, a group of
Wards or an Economic Partnership. Local Authorities would generally
be developing the LSPs because they now had a statutory responsibility
for producing Community Plans. It was recognised that Local
Authorities would be able to take a strategic overview of their
area
5.
Members discussed how the proposed LSPs might influence SEEDA's
potential future relationships with Economic Partnerships. They
felt that it was important that Economic Partnerships did not
become distanced from LSPs and, although the relationship between
the two bodies was uncertain, Members believed that the relationship
should be complementary rather than hierachial. It was recognised
that that the role of LSPs would embrace would the full Community
Planning remit including economic development.
Learning
and Skills Councils
6.
It was confirmed that Board Members were now being interviewed
and that the national announcement was expected before the end
of November.
Small
Business Service (SBS) - Berkshire Franchise
7.
It was reported that the Berkshire SBS franchise had been won
by Business Link Wiltshire and Swindon and that the Dorset franchise
had been won by BL Hampshire. Nationally one private sector
company had been awarded three franchises and the Leicestershire
franchise had not yet been awarded.
Liaison
with GO-SE
8.
Members discussed a range of issues with David Saunders, including:-
South
East House
9.
David Saunders had visited South East England House and was
grateful to Ken Bodfish for introducing him to members of UKREP.
He was impressed by the way the partners were coming together
and confirmed that, whilst GO-SE could not locate an officer
within South East England House, they would seek to establish
a constructive relationship with SE England House.
Ten
Year Transport Plan
10.
David Saunders confirmed that there was new money made available
by the 10 year Transport Plan. The next three years' funding
was set and there were undertakings for years beyond those three
years.
Regional
Planning Guidance (RPG)
11.
Members were interested in knowing when the RPG might be published.
David Saunders replied that discussions were continuing with
Ministers on core issues such as affordable housing and that
the Urban and Rural White Papers needed to be published before
RPG. Nevertheless publication was still expected before the
end of the year.
12.
Members also discussed Learning and Skills Councils and Local
Strategic Partnerships with David Saunders.
Annual
Open Public Meeting
13.
The Chairman reported that over 200 people had attended SEEDA's
first Annual Open Public meeting held earlier today. The event
had gone well with a steady stream of questions from the floor.
SEEDA
Policy on Use of Alternates
14.
Members considered the issues concerning use of Alternates at
SEEDA Board Committees by the Regional Assembly representatives.
It was felt that the involvement of the Assembly was particularly
important and it was acknowledged that there might be occasions
when an alternate would be required.
15.
Members agreed that Alternates could be used on an exceptional
basis and subject to:-
The policy being applied only to Regional Assembly members
The agreement of the Chair of that Committee
The Alternate being a named Alternate and prior notice being given
The policy being reviewed in 12 months time
Date
of Next Meeting
16.
Monday 6 November 2000 at SEEDA Headquarters, Guildford.
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