News Release : 15 July 2005

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

Councillor Keith Mitchell has been elected as the new Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly at its annual meeting in Winchester this week. Cllr Mitchell took over from Cllr Nick Skellett who has stepped down after three years in the role.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council said: “I am delighted to take on this new role of Chairman of the Assembly. I thank Nick Skellett for his tremendous work and efforts over the past three years. The Assembly’s role is a difficult one; as regional planning body we are dealing with complex and controversial issues that are of national significance, yet have a direct impact locally on people’s quality of life. In this new position, I will continue to work for the region’s interests, so it can remain prosperous and improve areas of greater needs, attract its fair share of investment for infrastructure and protect the region’s environmental wealth.”

Cllr Nick Skellett, Leader of Surrey County Council and former Chair of the Assembly said: “I congratulate Keith Mitchell with his new role and wish him well with the challenges to come. I thank Assembly members and staff for the support they have given me during my tenure. I am pleased to have been able to lead the region’s discourse with Government, and I am confident that our message has been clear and convincing, providing a strong platform for the dialogue to come.”

The Regional Assembly is the planning body for the South East region and is preparing the South East Plan, a 20-year planning vision for the region, which manages long-term planning for homes, transport, environment, health and jobs. It works in partnership with its 112 members to deliver an improved future for the region.

Cllr Mitchell’s election follows three years as Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee, where he has been closely involved in work on the Plan. He will now see it through to its submission to Government next year. A new Regional Planning Committee Chair will be elected later this month.

Don Turner, Labour Councillor for Brighton and Hove City Council, was re-elected as Deputy Chair of the Assembly. Don Turner sits on the Assembly’s Executive Committee and the Regional Housing Board.

Douglas Horner of the CBI becomes a vice-chair representing economic partners. He joins existing vice-chairs Ian Chisnall representing social and environmental partners, Councillor Cec Tallack (Liberal Democrats), and Councillor Alan Hopkins (independent parties).

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

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 112 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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