News Release : 19 September 2005

ASSEMBLY PLANNING DIRECTOR MOVES ON

Mike Gwilliam, Director of Planning and Transport for the South East England Regional Assembly, today announced his decision to step down from the role in March 2006.

Mike has led the Assembly's planning function since December 2000. His initial task was to oversee the transfer of strategic planning responsibilities from SERPLAN to the Assembly in April 2001. Since then, Mike has led a range of reviews of regional planning guidance as well as the region's response to the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan.

His priority over the past two and a half years has been preparation of the South East Plan - the region's 20-year planning vision - a project that has involved the most ambitious public consultation ever attempted for a regional plan.

The timing of Mike's departure coincides with the anticipated submission of the Plan to Government next year, when the Assembly will move on to a new stage of its work, with a shift of emphasis from policy development to implementation.

Paul Bevan, Assembly Chief Executive, said: "Over the past five years Mike Gwilliam has provided superb leadership for the regional planning function in the South East. As a result the Assembly's planning has demonstrated both intellectual creativity as well as a sound evidence base. I understand Mike's decision to move on to new challenges once the draft South East Plan is delivered in the Spring and I wish him every success for the future."

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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