News Release : 23 November 2001

GOVERNMENT RENEWS ITS COMMITMENT TO DIRECTLY ELECTED REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES IN ENGLAND

The Government is committed to a "one size doesn't fit all" policy for regional governance, which will lead to asymmetrical English devolution. This was the message from the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, Nick Raynsford MP at a recent meeting of the South East England Regional Assembly (Wednesday, 21 November 2001)

Nick Raynsford said: "The Government remains committed to taking forward the regional governance agenda. We believe that, where people want them, elected regional assemblies can play a part in bringing democracy closer to the people, strengthening accountability and helping to re-invigorate the political process.

"However, elected regional assemblies are not going to be imposed on regions. People will be given the choice through regional referendums. If a region chooses elected Regional Governance, we are committed to giving it to them. We will also be looking at alternative models where an elected regional body is not voted for. This will ensure that there is still regional representation and accountability for the people of all regions."

The Minister then went on to say that while regions, such as the North East, are hungry for devolved regional government, he recognised that it might be many years before the people of the South East feel they need a regional assembly that is directly elected.

South East England Regional Assembly Chair, Councillor David Shakespeare OBE said: "We are pleased that Government has accepted that the White Paper on English Regional Government must not only address models of elected regional government, but ought also to consider developments in 'partnership' assembly models which have already proved beneficial for areas, such as the South East.

"Such developments might include improving further the coherence of regional governance by extending the scope of the assemblies' scrutiny role, for example, over other regional bodies in addition to the Regional Development Agencies; and strengthening the statutory basis of certain assembly functions, such as regional planning guidance."

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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