Councils and communities in the South East are already delivering effective regional working through partnership, says the South East England Regional Assembly. The Government should quit meddling and devolve.

In response to the Lyons Enquiry (1) into local structures and functions the Assembly argues that partnership working is the most effective approach to the challenges that face the region, and points to some of the many successes of the partnership approach:

• Agreeing the South East Plan - a new strategic plan for the region with wide buy-in thanks to extensive involvement and consultation
• Setting out in detail how the South East Plan can be delivered - who needs to do what, when, where, and how much it will cost
• Securing sign up across the region by taking tough decisions on housing and transport priorities so that key investments like the A3 at Hindhead can at last go ahead.

Assembly Chairman, Cllr Keith Mitchell, said:

"In the South East we are successfully bridging the gap between counties and country by councils working together at the regional level. The partnership approach in the South East empowers our local authorities, in liaison with business, environmental, and community representatives, to shape regional policy and take regional decisions. Rather than constantly contemplating new arrangements we urge Government to 'walk the talk' of devolution by backing the role of the council-led regional assemblies we already have."

(1) The Lyons Enquiry considered governance implications arising from recent reviews on planning (Barker), transport (Eddington) and skills (Leitch) published at the end of last year.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Assembly submission - 48 KB
2. The South East England Regional Assembly is a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.
3. The Assembly was established by South East local government in January 1999 to provide a representative voice for the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
4. Assembly members include elected councillors from the region's 74 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.
5. The Assembly has four key roles:
• Advocacy
  Pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels.
• Accountability
  Scrutinising the plans and performance of regional bodies such as SEEDA to align the region's priorities.
• Regional planning
  Preparing and delivering the South East Plan - the 20-year statutory plan for the region that sets the framework for the sustainable development of the South East.
• Regional policy
  Advising Government on the co-ordination of regional strategies and spending priorities for housing, transport, planning and economic development to improve the impact of public expenditure.

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