Decisions on major national infrastructure should involve elected local, regional and central government, and should not be imposed by an undemocratic planning commission, says the South East England Regional Assembly's Planning Committee.

Responding to consultation on the Government white paper “Planning for a Sustainable Future”, the committee believes plans to remove local authorities from major infrastructure decisions will take away their ability to shape communities. Government should start from the principle of involving local authorities and regions in decision making, not sidelining them.

However, committee members also believe Government needs to realise that the delivery of essential South East infrastructure depends on more funding, not just a change in the way it is agreed.

The Assembly's suggested approach would use its vision for the region to 2026, the South East Plan, to identify infrastructure priorities, based on proposed National Policy Statements. Local authorities would then consider local details when a planning application is made, empowering them to deliver a more efficient service and enable them to shape their communities. This process would be as quick as the Government's proposal.

The committee supports Government proposals to reduce the amount of planning guidance for local authorities and to encourage local authorities to work across their boundaries in the development of planning strategies.

Cllr Moira Gibson, Chairman of the committee said:

“Government's plans sideline the democratically elected authorities and put decisions on national infrastructure into the hands of technocrats. Our proposal would give greater clarity and certainty to the planning system than the one Government is suggesting.”

Contacts

Steve Baker, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555234

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Government White Paper “Planning for a Sustainable Future” is available on the Communities and Local Governemnt website.
   
   
2. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the 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) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
   
   
4. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning:
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing:
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport:
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy:
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability:
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment:
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 21 August 2007