April
Minutes of Scottish Enterprise Board: 2 April 2004
Present:
Sir John Ward CBE, Chairman
Jack Perry, Chief Executive
Campbell Christie CBE
Barbara Duffner OBE
Eric Hagman CBE
Janet Lowe CBE
Charlie Morrison
Ian Ritchie CBE
LEC Chairs:
Neil MacDonald, SE Lanarkshire
Fred Bowden, SE Fife
Apologies:
Frank Blin CBE
In attendance:
Roger McClure, Scottish Funding Councils
Iain Carmichael, Senior Director Finance
Graham McKee, Senior Director Operations
Charlie Woods, Senior Director Knowledge Management
Brian Jamieson, SE Secretary
Minutes of board meeting held on 5 March 2004 – SE(M)165
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Chairman’s report
The Chairman reported that he had met a large number of staff members as well as visiting LECs and speaking with Gordon Hewitt of the International Advisory Board. There was a consensus on several issues – more focus in operations, fewer targets and more delegation.
A pack was tabled containing initial views, a presentation made to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Deputy First Minister’s announcement of refreshing a Smart Successful Scotland.
The latter review would have the opportunity to take views from the Board Members Conference and the International Advisory Board.
Chief Executive’s report
Jack Perry reported that he had visited five more LECs with three visits scheduled. Common themes were empowerment and success of account management.
He had attended his first Scottish Co-Investment Advisory Board. The fund had exceeded initial expectations. He had attended the NET conference with LEC Chief Executives.
CMT had re-designed its meeting schedule and processes to allow more time for operations, strategic discussions, business planning and external focus and less time for process. CMT members would take ownership for projects, replacing the CMT Approvals Group.
A decision from the EC on Project Atlas is now expected in May.
External meetings had been held with University Principals, Customers, Scottish Executive, Politicians and with other NDPB Executives.
CMT would undergo Leadership Trust training provided by Harvard’s Leadership Programme.
Project approvals
Clyde waterfront – operating plan 2004/07 - SE(04)52
Jim McIntyre and Steven McGarva, Competitive Place, Colum Halforty, SE Glasgow and Allan McQuade, SE Dunbartonshire joined the meeting for this item.
Jim McIntyre recalled the previous three presentations to the Board during 2003 culminating in the Strategy being approved. This paper was the first three year rolling plan to implement the initiative.
Steven McGarva, the Programme Director, explained that within the Initiative some projects sought detailed approval now and some were for information at this stage. The governance arrangements envisaged Project Packages being approved by the Board as part of the Operating Plans, with individual project approvals delegated to the Chief Executive.
The four projects seeking approval at this stage, including Pacific Quay and Clydebank Re-built were outlined.
The Board gave the approvals sought in the paper. The Initiatives should return to the Board within 12 months indicating the viability of the target set, re-validating the partnership approval and updating on the likely skills mix among the jobs to be created.
Network operating plan 2004/07 - SE(04)54
Performance against operating plan targets - SE(04)55
Julian Taylor and Ed Payne, Knowledge Management, joined the meeting for these two items.
Charlie Woods explained that the first draft Operating Plan was the end of the process, with the Plan published in May. It was intended to continue the practice of employing in year flexibility in allocation in response to the monitoring of progress.
The draft plan was agreed.
On the current year’s targets, the previously reported position was being maintained. Detailed validation of achievements would now take place.
Customer and employee survey results
Lena Wilson, Taylor Stewart and Carri Hall, Customer Relations, joined the meeting for this item.
Lena Wilson explained that the team was presenting these results to all Business Units in the Network.
Taylor Stewart outlined the top level results for the Customer Survey and the Employee Survey with comparisons from the previous year and with MORI’s benchmark results.
It was proposed to re-target the Customer Survey for the future, aiming at 85 – 95 per cent overall satisfaction with a significant proportion of “very satisfied”. The Survey would move to a 2 yearly one, next held in January 2006.
The key issues from the Employee Survey would be addressed by Business Units Action Plans. These plans would be reported back to the Board.
Risk management – SE(04)56
This item was introduced by Brian Jamieson in the absence of Averil MacLachlan, Network Risk Manager.
The operating of the Risk Management Policy and the current Corporate Risk Register was to be reviewed by the Board annually. The Audit Committee also receives a twice-yearly report and CMT see the Register monthly and review it quarterly.
The Board approved the process and the Register, suggesting that the Board’s focus should be on the six or so most significant risks.
Supporting out of work adults – SE(04)57
Alan Sinclair and Sue Baldwin, Skills and Learning, joined the meeting for this item.
Sue Baldwin explained the context for the way forward being proposed in the paper for the two work streams – the New Futures Fund Mainstreaming Plan and the re-engineering of Training for Work.
Janet Lowe declared an interest through her involvement as a lead partner for a NFF Project and as a Training Provider. She pointed out that the benefits of a NFF project may extend to the participant’s family and community which may not be reflected in the measurements.
The Board endorsed the proposal for mainstreaming NFF but was concerned that arrangements are put in place to monitor its continued effective delivery across the relevant agencies.
On Training for Work, the Board again endorsed the proposals as representing the focus which SE should have.
Information papers
The Board noted the following information papers:
Ministerial Review of Tourism Support SE(04)58
Monthly Update – International Operations SE(04)59
Monthly Update – Customer Relations SE(04)60
Monthly Update – Network Operations SE(04)61
Monthly Update – Competitive Business and Clusters SE(04)62
Monthly Update – Skills and Learning SE(04)63
Finance Report SE(04)64
Briefing on Global, UK and Scottish Economic Trends SE(04)65
Declaration of Interest SE(04)66
Calendar of Forward Events SE(04)67
The Structure and composition of Board Committees would be reviewed when new Board Members were appointed. Meanwhile, the Board confirmed Charlie Morrison as the Chairman of the Audit Committee with effect from the next meeting. The Board also confirmed the composition of the Urgent Approvals Committee as the Chairman, Chief Executive, Campbell Christie and Frank Blin.
Brian Jamieson
S.E. Secretary
April 2004