REGIONAL COMMITMENT TO JOINT WORKING IN THE SOUTH EAST

THE THREE REGIONS COVERING THE GREATER SOUTH EAST ARE COMMITTING THEMSELVES TO MORE JOINT WORKING on key planning issues such as housing, transport and waste.

At a recent meeting of the Advisory Forum on Regional Planning for London, the South East and the East of England, the three regional planning bodies covering the Greater South East- the South East England Regional Assembly, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the East of England Local Government Conference - agreed that they would benefit from the pooling of research budgets which will support projects of common interest and importance.

Potential topics for joint research and monitoring include housing market dynamics, natural resource management and minimisation, and transport issues such as car parking standards, freight movement and airports

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Advisory Forum said: "There are many key planning issues such as housing, transport and waste which cut across regional boundaries and affect all parts of the wider South East. Therefore it makes sense both strategically and economically for us all to work together to find common solutions to these issues.

"We have already established several joint projects but now is the right time to extend and strengthen co-operation."

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