Appendix 2
Verbal update for RMB 13 July 2005
Representatives of eight regional management boards attended the meeting, although Yorkshire and the Humber did not give a progress update.
Item 1. Cllr.John Haynes (WMRMB) was nominated to chair the meeting.
A permanent chair would be appointed at the meeting in September.
Item 2. Regional Control Rooms Update.
Marie Winkler from ODPM reported.
There is a further delay on the "Fire link" project.
There is little more to report than is currently general knowledge across the Board, except that the announcement for the South East will now be delayed due to "technical reasons".
Item 3. Update from ODPM.
James Undy- similar lack of information.
JU was highly apologetic.
At this point he consensus from Members was that it would be extremely helpful for a Minister to attend the meeting on 20 September to explain what is the contemporary government thinking on RMB's, what is their purpose, and what is the way forward?
Item 4. Sharing Good Practice on the six work streams.
Time limitation due to late start and over-run of other agenda areas.
· Best practice noted and circulated on attached document
· Most of the areas wee not in fact "Best practice" but in reality business as usual.
· Some areas e.g. "Away days" are obviously matters already considered.
· South East is easily as advanced as other regions in progress terms.
Item 5. Eamonn Barclay gave a brief update on IPDS.
Development and roll out continues via regional teams and a central hub.
Information is available on a website: www.ipds.co.uk
Comments
Other delegates seemed interested in how such a large Region managed to operate collaboratively and cohesively.
The problems were consistent across all RMB's i.e.
· Capacity
· Competing priorities
· Lack of central funding and advice and the implications thereof.
For Information.
The next meeting is scheduled for 1030 hours on Tuesday 20 September
There is a proposed LGA briefing to be held on Wednesday 27 July for new members and officers.
Mike McCarthy
29/06/05