PLANNING TRANSFER UNDERMINES DEMOCRACY

Government proposals to transfer strategic planning powers from assemblies to regional development agencies are anti-democratic and will delay delivery of the South East Plan - a 20-year planning framework, says the South East England Regional Assembly.

The full Assembly meeting in Winchester last week strongly opposed proposals in Government's Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration to transfer Assembly functions to the regional development agency, SEEDA, by 2010.

Cllr Keith Mitchell CBE, Assembly Chairman, said:

"Government's proposals bypass the valid democratic role of local councillors who currently lead strategic planning through the Assembly. We have spent eight years successfully building consensus across councils and stakeholders to plan for a sustainable South East and we don't want planning powers to fall in the hands of unelected development agencies."

He added: "Apart from the lack of accountability, these changes will create turmoil in the planning system, jeopardising developments for homes, jobs and transport improvements across the South East."

Assembly members voted to continue working within the Assembly to drive forward delivery of the South East Plan and to ensure Government infrastructure support for housing growth.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

The following resolution by Assembly Chairman Cllr Keith Mitchell CBE was agreed at the full Assembly meeting on 14 November in Winchester:

1. South East Councils resolve to remain in the South East England Regional Assembly to drive forward the delivery of the South East Plan and to continue to press the Government for timely infrastructure to match the planned level of housing growth. They will review this position at any time their continued support appears to be contrary to the interests of their constituents.
2. South East Councils oppose the Government's proposals to transfer strategic planning, housing and transport powers to the unelected development agencies. Given the government's decision to abolish regional assemblies, these powers should be returned to local government and the South East Councils are ready and willing to exercise them.
3. South East Councils warn the Government that they believe the proposals in the Sub-National Review are not only strongly anti-democratic but are likely to prove unworkable and will delay the delivery of the South East Plan that the Assembly has worked hard to bring to its present stage.

On Tuesday 17 July 2007, Local Government Minister John Healey published proposals from the Treasury's Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration.

The South East England Regional Assembly

• 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.
• 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.

3. 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.

SOUTH EAST PHOTO LIBRARY

The South East England Regional Assembly’s photo library MediaStore, gives everyone the chance to access images of issues affecting the region. MediaStore draws on the knowledge of the Assembly to provide you with images from all over the South East.

• regularly updated with photos covering topics from housing to transport to flooding
• easy to access and download
• fully searchable
• a wide variety of high resolution images
• there's no charge for this service, just credit the Assembly when an image is used.

To view images from across the region visit: www.southeast-ra-mediastore.co.uk

Last updated: 22 November 2007