MINUTES OF MTSPs SUB-GROUP MEETING – 7 FEBRUARY 2007

 

Present:

 

Seamus McAleavey (Chair)

NICVA

Nigel Smyth

CBI

Michael Brennan

DFP

Peter Jakobsen

DFP

William Dickson

DFP

Graeme Hutchinson

DETI

Edel Lamb

DETI
   

Apologies:

 

Jim McCusker

NIC/ICTU

John Gilliland

UFU

Bob Barbour

CforC

 

Minutes of Sub-Group meetings

 

1.              Members were informed that Raymond Mullan had retired from his post and that the new representative from the FE sector was still to be confirmed.

 

2.              Members were advised that the minutes of the 30 October 2006 meeting had been agreed by email.

 

RES Targets

 

3.              Michael Brennan informed members that the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) had been published by Minister David Hanson the previous week for the 12 week consultation period until 20 April 2007.  He noted that the outstanding issue in relation to the RES was that of targets, which had been raised by EDF and by others.  It was noted that EDF had previously discussed the appropriateness of setting targets for NI in relation to the UK or in relation to the other 12 UK regions.  It had been agreed that the latter might be more useful.

 

4.              DFP are continuing to review the robustness of indicators and targets.  They met with Neil Gibson, Regional Forecasts, the previous week to discuss Regional Forecasts undertaking work to look at the indicators and targets that might be employed in the RES.

 

5.              Members noted their earlier discussions on targets, during which they had agreed that it would be wise to omit London and the South East if comparing NI with UK regions.  It was highlighted, however, that it was necessary to continue to try to close the gap between NI and London / SE.  Members were reminded that Treasury has a differing opinion and instead has decided to focus on growth rates.  It was agreed that while it is interesting to see the extent to which there has been convergence and divergence between NI and London / SE, comparisons against other UK regions will be a better toolkit for RES targets.  Comparisons with ROI were also discussed, but members agreed that the UK was a better comparator as it used the same policy levers.  Members questioned how other regions set targets.  It was noted that Scotland is using similar processes to NI and that DFP were meeting with representatives the following day to discuss this.  Members agreed that while the indicators should be realistic they should also be challenging.

 

6.              It was agreed that indicators need to clearly demonstrate NI’s performance in relation to other regions in order to illustrate how NI has improved.  It was agreed that no models to date have been able to forecast anything other than the UK average and Regional Forecasts previous research demonstrates other possibilities.  Members agreed that further work by Regional Forecasts would be a useful tool and that this should be taken forward.  It was noted that this work would be finished by late March / early April.

 

Annual Statement

 

7.              Members discussed EDF’s Annual Statement and agreed that they would await the outcome of the RES before deciding on the format and content of their statement.

 

          ACTION:             MTSPs Sub-group to report on RES targets at the next plenary meeting (March 2007) and to report on their Annual Statement at the following plenary (June 2007).

 

Any Other Business

 

8.              Members discussed the systems of reporting to plenary meetings.  It was suggested that it would be useful if the sub-groups could liaise in advance of the next plenary on priorities for the EDF meeting. It was suggested that the development of an agreed EDF position on the CSR could be a valuable and timely input over the next few months.

 

ACTION:           EDF Sub-group Chairs to agree priorities for the EDF plenary in advance of the next meeting, and to consider merits of developing an EDF position on the CSR.