News Release : 19 July 2005

ASSEMBLY LIFTS SOUTH EAST VOICE

The South East England Regional Assembly has raised the voice of the South East region in Whitehall. In an assessment on the past year’s work, the Assembly concludes that its heightened public profile within the region has helped to gain influence with Government on the key issues of growth and investment in the South East. Affordable housing, transport investment, renewable energy, waste management and climate change have been among the issues on which the Assembly has taken a lead.

Assembly Chief Executive, Paul Bevan said: “The Assembly is gaining influence by making its voice heard. We have progressed substantially in making the case to Government by gaining more visibility and arguing for greater investment in the region. Preparing the draft South East Plan has been our greatest challenge yet; we could not have got as far as we have without the commitment shown by our members, or the contribution of the region’s local authorities and citizens. The aim of the Plan is to sustain the high quality of life in the South East and I am proud of the engagement the Assembly has achieved with people right across the region in support of that goal.”

The Assembly has this week published its Annual Report 2004-05 illustrating key achievements over the past year:

• Consultation on the draft South East Plan - largest regional planning consultation ever done in the country
• Publication of the Integrated Regional Framework - a formula for sustainable development covering affordable housing, well-being, reducing crime, sustaining economic growth and improving water supply
• Ministerial approval of the first Regional Transport Strategy for South East England
• Adoption of renewable energy targets and policies by Government
• Agreement to the Inter-regional Planning Statement to maximise the potential of the Thames Gateway by three regions: South East, East and London
• Launch of the Councillor’s Toolbox - helping local planning committee members to make well-informed decisions on applications for new housing including housing density
• Launch of Assembly’s youth website www.SEEME.org.uk
• Publication of the Regional Monitoring Report - illustrating trends in the region.

Key challenges ahead for the Assembly:

• Pressing Government on the greater need for infrastructure investment such as for schools, local health services, roads, rail, waste management, social and affordable housing etc
• Further development of the South East Plan for submission to Government in March 2006.

The Assembly also published its Business Plan for the coming years and its first Scrutiny Annual Report covering the impact of the South East England Development Agency on specific areas such as urban renaissance and area investment frameworks.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Please see the Annual Report, Business Plan and Scrutiny Annual Report on this website.
2. 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.
3. 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).
4. 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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