Reappointments to Yorkshire Forward Board

01/05/2009

Pat McFadden, Minister of State for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs, today announced the reappointments of two existing members to the Board of Yorkshire Forward Regional Development Agency.

Professor Michael Arthur has been appointed for a further 2 years and Cllr John Weighell has been appointed for a further three year term.

Pat McFadden said: 

“I am pleased to be reappointing Michael Arthur and John Weighell to the Board of Yorkshire Forward.  Their experience and leadership is extremely important during these difficult economic times.

The RDA's work providing real help for families in Yorkshire and The Humber region and the businesses on which they depend for their jobs has never been more vital. They are on the frontline of our response to the global downturn and must make the right interventions and investments to help us emerge stronger."

Terry Hodgkinson, Chair of Yorkshire Forward said:

“I am delighted at the reappointment of Michael Arthur and John Weighell to the Yorkshire Forward Board.  Since joining the Board they have both contributed significantly to the work of Yorkshire Forward.  Their knowledge and expertise is greatly valued, and their dedication to the region and to the forward direction in which it is heading, even in these tough economic times, is recognised through these reappointments.”

Notes to Editors

1 Regional Development Agency Board member appointments attract a remuneration of £8,538 per year for a time commitment of a minimum of 2 days per month.

2 Professor Michael Arthur has been appointed for a further 2 years and Cllr John Weighell has been appointed for a further three year term.

3 RDAs are business-led organisations, and provide strategic leadership to promote and co-ordinate economic growth and development, enterprise and regeneration, tackling economic differences within their regions as well as driving up the performance of the regions as a whole.
 
RDAs and Local Authorities, through the new Leaders' Boards, will have joint responsibility for developing and delivering new regional strategies, which integrate the current Regional Economic and Regional Spatial strategies.  New guidance for the single regional strategy will be issued later this year and will be an opportunity to set out a clear national framework for how RDAs, with regional and local partners, will work together to deliver sustainable regional economic growth.

4 These re- appointments were made following a vigorous appraisal of the Board member’s performance together with a recommendation to the Minister, in accordance with guidelines set down in the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public.

5 A brief summary of the reappointees’ career and experience

Professor Michael Arthur
Professor Arthur is the vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds and champions inclusion and skills issues on behalf of Yorkshire Forward. Throughout his distinguished career in medical research, scholarship and education, Professor Arthur received an array of accolades for his studies of the liver and he is now a trustee of the British Liver Trust.  He is also on the boards of Leeds Chamber of Commerce, the White Rose University Consortium, the Worldwide Universities Network and Opera North.   He chairs for Yorkshire Universities and the steering group for the National Student Survey.

Councillor John Weighell 
John is the leader of North Yorkshire County Council and a member of Hambleton District Council.  He is co - chair of the Joint Regional Board, Local Government Yorkshire & the Humber (LGYH).   He is also vice-chair of the Association of North Yorkshire Councils; chairman of the North Yorkshire Local Government Pension Fund; a member of the County Councils Network executive; and a partner in a family farming business in the Vale of York, which grows arable crops and rears beef cattle.

6 Within the last five years Michael Arthur has not undertaken any political activities.  John Weighell is a member of the Conservative party and is Leader of North Yorkshire County Council 

7 Cllr Weighell currently holds no other ministerial appointments.  Michael Arthur holds ministerial appointments in the Medical Research Council which has a remuneration of £6740 per annum, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority which is unpaid, apart from travelling and subsistence expenses, and he is also a Fulbright Commissioner which is a ministerial appointment but attracts no remuneration.