News Release : 05 November 2004

SOUTH EAST ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’ AFTER NORTH EAST NO VOTE

The South East England Regional Assembly will continue its proven partnership model of regional governance despite yesterday’s ‘no’ vote in the referendum on an elected regional assembly in the North East.

The South East England Regional Assembly has operated as a partnership assembly since 1999. Of its 111 members, 74 are drawn from the region’s local authorities, elected by their local communities. The remaining 37 come from a wide range of regional interests, including the voluntary and community sector, business, environmental interests, economic partnerships, education, sport, culture and faith groups.

The Assembly acts as the voice of the region on strategic issues that cross local authority boundaries, such as planning, transport, housing, sustainable development, economic, environmental and health improvement issues. This region-wide planning role spans the gap between national and local plans. The Assembly also scrutinises the work of the regional development agency.

Paul Bevan, Chief Executive of the South East England Regional Assembly commented: “We have an important role to play in improving the quality of life in the South East, especially through our regional planning strategy - the South East Plan. We have worked successfully as a partnership for the last five years and will continue to do so. We have a wide and varied membership and work with a number of other regional and national organisations to ensure the South East to develop economically and socially, while protecting the environment.”

Paul Bevan added: “Many of our members have been uncomfortable about the prospect of elected regional government. Now that has gone, I hope the South East’s partnership model of regional working will be acknowledged by the Government as the right way forward.”

Contact

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

Alistair Moses, 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