News Release : 22 November 2001

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY THRASHES OUT SOLUTIONS TO SOUTH EAST'S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

Improved infrastructure, an increased skills base and investment in the Thames Gateway are the vital ingredients for improving the competitiveness of the South East as a region. This was the verdict at a recent meeting of the South East England Regional Assembly (Wednesday, 21 November 2001).

The meeting included a hearing style debate, facilitated by BBC Business Breakfast presenter Tanya Beckett, during which members of the Assembly and regional stakeholders were able to question a panel made up of senior regional figures and outside experts on the impact of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) to date and the priorities for the future.

The panel included the Regional Assembly Chair, Cllr David Shakespeare, SEEDA Chairman Allan Willett, SEEDA Chief Executive, Anthony Dunnett, Government Office for the South East (GOSE) Regional Director, David Saunders, Community Fund Regional Manager, Dorothy Buckrell and Financial Times UK Affairs Editor, Kevin Brown.

The debate raised a number of key points about the impact of the RES to date and pointed to future priorities. Particular emphasis was given to:

1. Infrastructure- It was raised a number of times during the hearing that although transport and planning are not the primary focus of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), they are vital elements of the economic development which it wants to achieve in the South East. There was consensus at the meeting that there is a need for significant investment into transport and housing infrastructure in the South East and that SEEDA has a role to play in championing this investment in Whitehall and Brussels
   
   
2. Skills- It was also raised during the hearing that it is vital for the South East to improve its skills base- both at the basic and hi-tech ends of the skills array. Although SEEDA does not have the money or the resources to deal with all the skills problems in the South East, it has a role to play in both co-ordinating the work of all the organisations involved in the skills agenda; and bringing together the business and the academic world to ensure that the skills that learning institutions are delivering are the ones which businesses wants and needs
   
   
3. Thames Gateway- Particular emphasis was given during the hearing to the importance of the regeneration of the Thames Gateway area, both for the South East and London. SEEDA believes that this initiative is vital for the economic, physical and social regeneration of the area and it will help spread the wealth around the region.

The meeting also explored the importance of SEEDA focussing its scant resources on key priorities, rather than spreading them thinly. Chief Executive of the Regional Assembly, Paul Bevan said: "For example, the Regional Development Agency's capacity to make a real difference to the broadband infrastructure of the region was challenged during the meeting. Concern was also expressed that, with less than six months to go before the new 'single pot' approach to funding is introduced, regeneration partnerships around the region remain in the dark about how regional funds will be distributed in the future."

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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