April
Minutes of Scottish Enterprise Board : 1 April 2005
Present:
Sir John Ward CBE, Chairman
Jack Perry, Chief Executive
Frank Blin CBE
Pat Denzler
Barbara Duffner OBE
Fred Hallsworth
Douglas Lamb
Donald MacRae
Colin McClatchie
Charlie Morrison
Ray Perman
Ian Ritchie CBE
LEC Chairs:
Colin Birrell, SE Dumfries and Galloway
Amanda Boyle, SE Tayside
In Attendance:
Roger McClure, Scottish Funding Councils
Iain Carmichael, Senior Director Finance
Graham McKee, Senior Director Operations
Martin Togneri, Senior Director International Operations
Charlie Woods, Senior Director Strategy and Chief Economist
Brian Jamieson, SE Secretary
Minutes of Board meeting held on 4 march 2005 – SE(M)177
The minutes of the previous Meeting and the Outstanding Action Points SE(05)61 were approved.
Chairman’s report
The Scottish Executive was offering Training Courses for NDPB Non-Executive Board Members on 20 June and 3 October. Members interested in attending were asked to contact Imelda Molloy.
The Chairman had held three contact meetings with a cross-section of Network staff with another scheduled. He would then seek views on their usefulness. The Chairman had also attended two of the all staff meetings.
Meetings had been held with:
- Newsquest and News International
- University Principals as a follow up to the International Advisory Board
- Fred Goodwin, Royal Bank of Scotland
Chief Executive’s report
The Operating Plan launch was scheduled for 5 April. Copies of the Plan were tabled. This would be supplemented with a two-sided graphic summary. The Board would receive quarterly reviews of progress against the Plan.
Ten Staff Events had been held covering the entire Network. The Chief Executive had addressed all but two – these missed through illness.
In addition to the Meetings detailed by the Chairman, other follow ups from the International Advisory Board had been in the field of Life Sciences potential investments.
China and India were among the areas where additional SDI resources would be deployed. Any opportunity to brainstorm with other participants in these markets would be welcomed.
The Scottish Investment Fund, a larger scale counterpart to the Co-Investment Fund, was progressing through its market consultation. A full paper was targeted at the May Board.
As advised to the Board earlier, industrial action was being implemented in the dispute over the performance pay system.
Loch Lomond Shores – SE(05)50
Dave Anderson and David McGregor, SE Dunbartonshire, joined the Meeting for this item.
Dave Anderson summarised the background to this project and its objectives and then outlined the proposed way forward.
The Board approved the paper subject to the terms of the final deal being approved by the Chief Executive to ensure that there was a satisfactory sharing of risk and reward between the operator and the Network. It was noted that no challenge was anticipated from any rival operator.
Intervention framework – SE(05)51
Liz Connolly and David Quinn joined the Meeting for this item.
Liz Connolly outlined the background to the proposal as a Change Agenda project to reduce the number of projects, to accelerate the sharing of good practice and to remove obsolete or duplicated products.
The Board approved the paper and asked for a return to the Board reporting progress in a year’s time.
Tourism co-ordination agreement – SE(05)53
Eddie Brogan, Director, Tourism Cluster, joined the Meeting for this item.
The Tourism Cluster was working to a strategy approved in 2001 which had three operational objectives:
- Innovation
- Development of key destinations
- Attraction and development of skills
This strategy was being reviewed and a comprehensive paper would come to the Board in the autumn. Meanwhile, the changes to the Area Tourist Boards and the revised role of VisitScotland had resulted in this paper.
The Board accepted that SE had a clear role in business development and in skills and careers guidance. However, the paper lacked clarity in relation to other tourism activities. It was remitted to the Chairman, Chief Executive and Director Tourism Cluster to achieve that clarity and report back to the Board.
Clyde Waterfront – Operating Plan 2005 – 2008 – SE(05)52
Steven McGarva and Jean Curran joined the Meeting for this item.
Steven McGarva set the context for the proposal which was the second three-year rolling Operating Plan to deliver this major strategic regeneration project.
Jean Curran described the first year’s activities within the project and what would be put in place in the currency of the next three-year plan.
The Board approved the paper, noting that the Board Investment Committee had on its forward agenda an examination of progress against economic milestones.
Finance report – SE(05)54
Iain Carmichael reported on the latest position estimated at the year-end. It would take up to three weeks to establish the precise position but the Network’s allocation from Scottish Executive would be fully drawn down. Income receipts had been higher than budgeted and it may be possible to carry forward some or all of this.
The profile of expenditure would be a focus in the coming year, with forecasting linked to performance objectives. The new budget allocation system should encourage a healthy pipeline of projects.
Committee updates
Nomination Committee Minutes – 4 March 2005
Colin McClatchie highlighted the discussion on LEC Board Membership in the Minutes.
Investment Committee Minutes – 11 March 2005
Frank Blin referred to a tabled paper which had formed the basis for their discussion. An initial work programme had been agreed. The first detailed review would be of ITI Scotland.
Urgent Approvals Committee Minutes – 11 March 2005
The Minutes recorded one conditional investment approval and a welcome for the Scottish Investment Fund.
Operations Committee Minutes - 23 March 2005
Charlie Morrison reported that the Committee would monitor the expenditure profile quarterly and report to the Board. In relation to the monitoring of CRM benefits, the Committee was satisfied that the apparatus was in place to do this.
Audit Committee Minutes – 23 March 2005
Charlie Morrison reported that a major issue related to the risks identified in the business start-up grants. A more general concern was whether there was sufficient financial expertise located within operational business units.
Information papers
The Board noted the following Information Papers.
Monthly Update – International Operations – SE(05)55
Monthly Update – Customer Relations – SE(05)56
Monthly Update – Network Operations – SE(05)57
Monthly Update – Competitive Business and Clusters – SE(05)58
Monthly Update – Skills and Learning – SE(05)59
Global, UK and Scottish Economic Commentary – SE(05)60
Outstanding Action Points from SE Board – SE(05)61
Approvals Within Delegated Authority – SE(05)62
Calendar of Forward Events – SE(05)63
Brian Jamieson
SE Secretary
April 2005