News Release : 04 July 2001

REGIONAL BODIES GIVE PROGRESS REPORTS AT ASSEMBLY AGM

Regional bodies from the South East will be reporting on the work they have done over the last year, and their plans for the future, at the South East England Regional Assembly’s Annual General Meeting on 11 July 2001 in Woking.

Regional Assembly Chair, David Shakespeare OBE and Chief Executive, Paul Bevan; SEEDA Chairman, Allan Willett and Chief Executive, Anthony Dunnett, are amongst the speakers who will be giving presentations during the AGM. They will be outlining the work their organisations have done in the last 12 months and giving their visions for the future of the Regional Assembly, SEEDA, and the South East, in the context of wider regional priorities.

The last year has been a very important one for the Regional Assembly. In April, it took over from SERPLAN as the Regional Planning Body for the South East. The Assembly, like all the regional assemblies in England, has also been tasked by Government with making their local regional development agency, SEEDA, more accountable to the public and ensuring that regional government connects more strongly with each region’s expressed priorities. In order for the assemblies to fulfil this new scrutiny role, each has been given direct government funding of £500,000.

Key challenges facing the Assembly in the coming year are:

· Developing the Assembly’s role as the Regional Planning Body in the South East. This is includes developing a regional transport strategy which is ready for consultation early in 2002;

· Strengthening the Assembly’s scrutiny role to ensure that the South East England Regional Development Agency (SEEDA) is held accountable to the region;

· Strengthening the region’s relationship with Europe and influencing EU policies that affect the region.

Paul Bevan, Chief Executive, South East England Regional Assembly said: “The last year has been one of significant development, a year in which we have consolidated the organisation of the Assembly and risen to the challenge of taking over the responsibility for regional planning and transport from SERPLAN.

Looking forward, the Government has signalled its intention to support stronger regional accountability in England by means of direct financial support to regional assemblies. We aim to take full advantage of this opportunity to ensure that the expanding rage of government activity at the regional level maintains the Assembly as the South East’s collective representative voice.

The Meeting will be attended by representatives of over 100 local authorities, community organisations, voluntary groups and businesses from across the South East.

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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