News Release : 21 December 2001

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESSES DTI ON DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FUNDING

Members of the South East England Regional Assembly are backing SEEDA's call for increased funding from the Department of Trade of Industry, following a recent meeting of their Executive Committee.

Committee members were discussing SEEDA's draft Corporate Plan as part of the Assembly's scrutiny role. Although the members were in support of the plan, they raised concerns about the level of funding required to fulfil the commitments laid out in the plan.

The SEEDA budget for 2002-2004 has been capped at the 2001- 2002 budget rate of £102 m per annum. This, in effect, is cutting SEEDA's budget by 3% after inflation is taken into consideration. Added to this, the Partnership Investment Programme has ceased which could result in SEEDA having to fully fund future development projects.

Paul Bevan, Chief Executive, South East England Regional Assembly: "The Assembly is very concerned that the capping of SEEDA's budget and cessation of the Partnership Investment Programme will stretch their budget more than they can cope with. The Assembly supported SEEDA's setting of ambitious targets in the skills, physical development and business development areas of their business and we believe that capping their budget will result in them being unable to deliver on these targets. We will be appealing to the DTI to review their budget allocations and ensure that SEEDA's allocation does not reduce."

The Regional Assembly will be sending a letter to the Department of Trade and Industry highlighting its concerns about the SEEDA budget.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:

1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.

2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.

3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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