AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSPORT ARE PRIORITIES, PLEDGE SOUTH EAST PLANNING COMMITTEE'S NEWLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIR

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSPORT are top personal priorities for the newly elected Chairman and Vice Chair of the South East England Regional Assembly's Planning Committee, they pledged this week.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, and Robert Hamlin, who represents RAISE, the voluntary/community sector in the South East, were elected Chairman and Vice Chair respectively, at a recent meeting of the Regional Planning Committee.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Mitchell said: "The South East Region of England is the economic power house of the United Kingdom, contributing substantially more to the UK economy than its citizens or institutions receive back. This economic success, together with insufficient investment in our infrastructure over many years, brings its own difficulties."

"We face huge problems in meeting the housing needs of our residents - particularly for key workers on lower incomes; we face growing congestion on our roads and a challenge to make public transport sufficiently attractive and reliable to achieve modal shift; we need to maintain our economic pre-eminence without damaging our environment - one of the key factors that makes the South East Region an attractive place for people to live and work."

"The region is also hugely diverse. From Kent to the Isle of Wight; from Hampshire to Milton Keynes, diversity and difference is the one unifying characteristic. One-size solutions will not fit across our Region. Against this background, I intend to work with Councillors and economic, environmental and social partners to achieve consensus and to develop sound and sustainable policies. I also expect to be a strong voice in articulating these views to central government and to our key partners across the whole Region."

Robert Hamlin said: "As the first Social and Environmental Partner on the Assembly to be elected as Vice Chair of the Regional Planning Committee, I hope to play a full and constructive role over the coming year."

"The South East, more than any other region except London, is faced with an urgent need to substantially increase the supply of affordable housing and I want the Committee therefore to work with Central Government and the regional partners to ensure the South East gets a fair share of the new resources recently made available by Government, and then uses them to the best effect."

Cllr Mitchell is a Chartered Accountant who embarked upon a career in public service in the late 1980s. He has held numerous elected office roles in Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council and his local Parish Council. He is also involved in the LGA and the CCN.

Cllr Mitchell has also undertaken national policy work for the Conservative Party on health and transport portfolios.

Robert Hamlin retired from the army on medical grounds in 1997, after twenty years' service. He began working with the voluntary and community sector, successfully applying for SRB funding for the 'Vision Forward Chattenden' project, part of the Thames Gateway North Kent partnership.

As well as being founder member of Chattenden Community Projects, Robert is involved with various other Kent and Medway community groups and organisations, including the Medway Economic Advisory Group. He is a former Vice Chair of the Medway Lifelong Learning Partnership, and is current Chair of Medway Online ICT Learning Centres project.

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