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SUMMARY BOARD MINUTES OF THE TWENTY SIXTH
MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 26 APRIL
2001 AT SEEDA HEADQUARTERS
Members Present
Allan Willett CMG (Chairman), Professor Clive
Booth, Cllr. Kit Oliver (OBE), Caroline Williams, Janis Kong,
Jim Baker, Dr Peter Read CBE, Cllr. David Rogers, Mary McAnally,
Bryan Davies, Sarah Ward OBE, Russ Nathan CBE, Cllr. Kevin Wilson
Apologies for absence
Barry Camfield, Cllr. Ken Bodfish OBE
Others in Attendance (for all or part of
meeting)
Anthony Dunnett (Chief Executive), Jeff Alexander
(Agency Secretary), Phil Bailey (SEEDA, Head of Secretariat),
Peter Cusdin (SEEDA, Area Director)
Summary of Meeting
1. The Board :-
- Noted the latest position on the Access to
Hastings study;
- Considered and discussed current progress
on the Wired Region;
- Agreed a programme of future Board meetings
at locations outside Guildford;
- Reviewed and considered progress on the Public
Service Agreement Negotiations and funding for 2001/02;
- Noted the latest position on Foot and Mouth;
- Received a report on the Chairman's recent
activities;
- Reviewed and noted the Finance Report and
various SEEDA programme investments.
Access To Hastings Multi-Modal Study
2. Members noted that the Government's recent
announcement of transport improvements had not included a decision
on the Access to Hastings multi-modal study and that the Government
was continuing to review the study and the submissions from
regional partners.
Wired Region
3. The Board discussed current progress on
the Wired Region project and how best the project might be taken
forward. The Board acknowledged that the project, which was
extremely complex, required expertise and specialist requirements
and that there were difficulties in engaging the appropriate
business interests to become actively involved in the project.
Nevertheless progress had been made with the requirements capture
exercise, broadband mapping and work on the portal content.
4. It was agreed to remit the project to a
sub-group of Members and this group would establish a clear
strategic direction for the project.
5. It was agreed that, as and when the Conservatives
hold a conference in the region, SEEDA would hope to arrange
a similar event at that conference.
Future Location of Board Meetings
6. It was agreed that three Board meetings
a year should be held at regional locations outside Guildford.
It was also agreed that the Board should take opportunities
to put a half day aside to visit projects or areas specifically
demonstrating a functional or thematic SEEDA activity. This
could include, for instance, a market town, Enterprise Hub or
SRB project.
"Public Service Agreements" Negotiations
Funding Formula - Update
7. The Chairman reminded the Board that the
Government will be negotiating Public Service targets with each
RDA. He wanted to ensure that SEEDA were in as strong a position
as possible before entering into these negotiations. SEEDA was
undertaking preparatory work for the negotiations.
8. Members were supportive of the overall
strategy, acknowledging that this was the key issue facing SEEDA
at the moment and that it was crucial that SEEDA sought to protect
its budget and secure a positive outcome for the region from
the PSA negotiations.
Foot and Mouth Update
9. Sarah Ward reported that the latest confirmed
case of Foot and Mouth Disease in the region was in Kent - a
second farm on the Isle of Grain on 2 April. However it was
hoped that all the infected Areas designations would be lifted
in the near future as there had been no new cases in these areas
for several weeks. The North Kent Infected zone might have to
wait longer as the last case was only confirmed on 2d April
2001. Sarah Ward also noted that the SEEDA web-site on Foot
and Mouth is now in operation and is updated regularly.
10. The serious downturn in business is affecting
this region in much the same way as the most infected counties
in other regions even though the disease itself is less prevalent
in our region.
11. It was noted that SEEDA has agreed to
provide a total of £500,000 towards the recovery in support
of local marketing campaigns and advice to struggling rural
businesses and other measures to support the rural economy through
the crisis.
Chairman's Report
12. The Chairman informed the Board of some
of the key meetings that he has held since the previous Board
meeting. This included meetings with David Melville, the new
Vice-Chancellor of University of Kent, West Sussex County Council,
Reading Council and West Berkshire Council.
13. The Chairman, in addition, was now fully
involved with the responsibilities associated with being the
current RDA National Chair of Chairs.
Date of Next Meeting
14. Thursday 24 May 2001, at SEEDA Headquarters,
Guildford. Start time to be 10.30hrs.
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