News Release : 07 September 2001

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY CONCERNED AT SOUTH EAST LOTTERY PLANS

THE SOUTH EAST'S SHARE OF THE FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERIES CHARITIES BOARD does not take into consideration the higher cost of living in the South East. This is the message from the South East England Regional Assembly.

The Assembly's Executive Committee were responding to the Community Fund's (operating name for the National Lotteries Charities Board) proposals for funding in the South East. The Fund's South East Committee proposes that its funding be targeted both geographically and according to target needs groups. The target areas for funding in the South East are Dover, Thanet, Medway and Gravesham while the target groups include black and minority ethnic communities, people living in areas disadvantaged by social and economic change and refugees and asylum seekers.

Paul Bevan, Chief Executive, South East England Regional Assembly said: "The Regional Assembly has two main concerns about the funding proposed by the Community Fund's South East Committee. Firstly, the Assembly feels that the amount of money which the South East will receive from the Community Fund is insufficient. This year's budget is £18 million, £6 million less that what was received last year. What the budget does not take into consideration is that community projects in the South East have higher operating costs than projects in other parts of the region. The result of this is that less of the funding is actually spent on delivering the projects.

"The Assembly's second concern is that the targeted funding of the Community Fund lacks synergy with other regional strategies and funders. While the Community Fund's strategic plan does recognise the need for closer co-ordination with other funding agencies, there is no reference to regional priorities already established in agreed policy documents such as the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the European Social Fund regional strategy. The issue of social inclusion in the South East can only really be tackled if all the agencies involved work together to develop a "joined up" way of working.

The Assembly will be submitting its response to the Community Fund's proposals later this month.

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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