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SUMMARY BOARD MINUTES OF THIRTIETH MEETING
SOUTH EAST ENGLAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
HELD ON THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER 2001 AT SUSSEX
INNOVATION CENTRE
Members Present
Allan Willett CMG (Chairman), Cllr. Ken Bodfish OBE (Deputy Chairman),
Professor Clive Booth (Deputy Chairman), Sarah Ward OBE, Cllr.
Kit Oliver (OBE), Caroline Williams, Dr Peter Read CBE, Russ Nathan
CBE, Janis Kong, Barry Camfield
Apologies for absence
Cllr. David Rogers, Cllr. Kevin Wilson, Bryan Davies, Jim Baker,
Mary McAnally
Others in Attendance (for all or part of meeting)
Anthony Dunnett (Chief Executive), Jeff Alexander (Agency Secretary),
Phil Bailey (SEEDA, Head of Secretariat), Marianne Neville-Rolfe
(SEEDA, Director, Business and International Division), John Parsonage
(SEEDA, Director Learning and Skills)
Summary of Meeting
1. The Board :-
- Thanked the Sussex Innovation Centre for hosting the SEEDA
Board meeting on this occasion;
- Congratulated Janis Kong on her recent appointment;
- Received an update on the Regional Outcome Targets and Assumptions
and the Regional Economic Strategy Consultation Events;
- Considered proposals on the principles and priorities underpinning
the Corporate Plan;
- Received a report on the Chairman's recent activities;
- Approved, in principle, three Enterprise Hub proposals;
- Received an update on Local Learning and Skills Councils;
- Discussed the SEEDA's Business Recover Plan;
- Received a report from the Chief Executive on the recovery
plan for Hastings;
- Reviewed and noted the Finance Report and various SEEDA programme
investments.
Janis Kong
2. The Chairman and Board congratulated Janis Kong on
her appointment as the Executive Chairman of Heathrow Airport
Ltd. They noted that the appointment would commence formally on
1 November 2001.
Regional Outcome Targets and Assumptions - Update
3. Jeff Alexander confirmed that the proposed Targets
Outcomes and Assumptions paper had been submitted to DTI on 21
September. The covering letter to the Secretary of State stressed
that the submission had the full support of the region's key partners,
including the Regional Assembly, County and Unitary authorities
and the Economic Partnerships in the South East. The Government
Office had also been kept advised throughout the process. The
letter also stressed that the assumptions underpinning the work
were not intended to lock the Government or anybody else into
guarantees. They were intended to create a framework whereby SEEDA
can enter into a partnership with Government to deliver a globally
competitive region.
4. The Board noted the update and looked forward to the
response from Government.
Regional Economic Strategy (RES) - Consultation Events
5. Jeff Alexander introduced this item by noting that
the Economic Partnerships had been invited to suggest possible
groupings of partnership areas for the consultation events. It
was hoped that each event would be preceded by a Dinner to which
Chairs and Chief Executives of key businesses in that area would
be invited. The consultation event would, in effect, be two events,
with the morning focussing on the area and the afternoon focussing
on a selected region-wide theme. Themes had been chosen that had
some relevance to the area in which the event was being held.
6. Members were grateful for the update. They recognised
that these events were extremely important and high profile. In
addition they acknowledged that there were three conferences planned
on Workforce Development, Transport and Sustainable Development.
Members asked that an outline plan for the events should be developed
and submitted for consideration at the next Board meeting.
Corporate Plan 2002/2004 - Principles and Priorities
7. The Chief Executive reminded the Board that this was
the first Corporate Plan which set out a proposed strategy which
could be influenced by Members in a meaningful way. This was because
previously future spend had been largely committed whereas SEEDA
was now moving to a position whereby there was significant discretionary
funding available to deploy on SEEDA's priorities.
8. Members agreed to the principles and looked forward
to the draft plan. They noted that the Regional Assembly's Executive
Committee would be presented with a paper at their meeting the
following day.
Chairman's Report
Visit to Surrey County Council - 18 September
9. This visit had gone well. The key message was that
the Surrey economy showed many of the problems of an overheating
economy, such as transport congestion, shortage of labour and
skills, need for key worker housing etc.
Rural Development Committee Review - 19 September
10. The Committee had addressed serious issues during
the past year and would be crucial in considering how to approach
the rural dimension of the Regional Strategy.
Future Think Committee - 10 October
11. The Chairman reported that the Committee was developing
a paper on those factors that might influence the South East in
the future. The paper should be ready in about two months.
Dinner with Business Link Chairs and Chief Executives - 10
October
12. This Dinner had followed a request from Patricia Hewitt
that RDA Chairs meet their Business Links to discuss how best
to develop relationships within their region. The meeting was
constructive and would lead to detailed proposals being developed.
Enterprise Hub Proposals
Reading Enterprise Hub
13. Marianne Neville-Rolfe introduced the proposal to
establish an Enterprise Hub in Reading to serve the Thames Valley
and wider area, enabling high technology growth. This enterprise
hub is considered to be a significant component in SEEDA's work
in the Thames Valley in collaboration with an important University,
in addition to providing vital incubation support to the environmental
technology sector. There was also, not surprisingly, a focus on
the ICT sector.
14. The Board approved, in principle, the Reading Enterprise
Hub proposal subject to full appraisal.
Portsmouth Enterprise Hub
15. The Board heard that the Portsmouth Enterprise Hub
proposal was based across the whole Harbour Region, consisting
of the local authorities of Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham and Gosport.
There were 3 incubator units (Broadmarsh Business and Innovation
Centre Havant, Portsmouth Technopole and QintetiQ Science Park,
Haslar) and 1 move-on accommodation centre (Carnac Place, Fareham).
All accommodation included in this proposal is either built, near
completion or has full planning permission. All four local authorities
are members of the Harbour Economic Development Forum. Oxford
Innovation is developing the Portsmouth Technopole site, and Basepoint
are the developers behind Broadmarsh Innovation and Business Centre.
16. The Board approved, in principle, the Portsmouth Enterprise
Hub proposal subject to full appraisal.
Sittingbourne Enterprise Hub
17. The Board noted that the proposal was for a project
to create an enterprise hub centred on theSittingbourne Research
Centre, in Kent. It was previously Shell's research centre. The
applicant, Ashtenne Sittingbourne Ltd, had purchased the 116 acre
site from Dencora, in 1996. The Enterprise Hub Innovation Centre
will be accommodated in five buildings, with a planned total net
floorspace of 85,000 sq. ft. It was considered that this enterprise
hub is an important component in SEEDA's efforts to create an
infrastructure for innovation in the Thames Gateway.
18. The Board approved, in principle, the Sittingbourne
Enterprise Hub proposal subject to full appraisal.
Local Learning and Skills Councils
19. The Board discussed progress by the region's six Local
Learning and Skills Councils. They noted that they had only been
operational for six months but that a good and growing relationship
had been established between SEEDA and the Councils. For instance
SEEDA has played a key role in the settling-in period, running
several induction style events including the South East Village
day at SEEDA in July. Regular meetings are held with Executive
Directors. A SEEDA sponsored joint event for LLSCs and NTOs -
Skills for Success - helped cement some productive relationships.
Business Recovery Fund
20. Members noted that, in response to the Foot and Mouth
(FMD) crisis, SEEDA established a Business Recovery Fund - £1
million budget - for grants to individual businesses affected
by FMD. The grant supported SMEs across the region and the emphasis
was placed on helping the smaller businesses - with less than
£250,000 turnover. The grants were delivered by the six
Business Links in the region on behalf of SEEDA to 133 individual
businesses.
21. Members noted that the Fund had proved extremely successful
and there existed considerable unsatisfied demand. The Chief Executive
proposed to extend the Fund by up to an additional £500,000
to cover the unsatisfied demand. This was agreed.
The Hastings Recovery Plan
22. The Chief Executive noted that the Hastings and Rother
Task Force had established a framework for a regeneration strategy
which had a five point plan at its core. A presentation had been
made to Lord Falconer, who was very supportive, has asked the
Task Force to work with his officials to firm up details of the
proposed package.
23. Members welcomed these developments and congratulated
the Chief Executive on his efforts in leading the Task Force.
Date of Next Meeting
24. Thursday 15 November 2001, at the Maltings, Farnham.
Start time to be 13.30hrs.
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