REGIONAL PLANNING

Thames Gateway Statement
Mike Gwilliam, the Assembly’s Director of Planning and Transport, briefed the Executive Committee on a successful meeting with Planning Minister Keith Hill on the Thames Gateway.

At a meeting on 29 March the three regional planning bodies involved in the area (South East, East of England and London) presented the Minister with a jointly agreed statement of the planning context, including scales of growth, for the whole Thames Gateway Growth Area.

In response, the Minister said: "This was a very helpful meeting and I am very grateful to the three regional planning bodies for preparing such a clear and constructive document that sets out where growth in the Thames Gateway should be accommodated. I find this a very welcome contribution.”

The statement was endorsed by the three regions through the Inter-regional Forum on 13 February and approved by the Chairman and Vice-Chair of the Regional Planning Committee.

The statement which sets out a clear set of targets for the period to 2016, is now being printed for formal publication and distribution. It will be available on the Assembly website.

Following the publication of the statement and the Area Investment Framework for the growth area, the Assembly will begin work on a sub-regional study of the area to feed into work on the South East Plan. The sub-regional study will consider the appropriate scale and focus of growth in the Thames Gateway for the period 2016-2026.

Regional Transport Strategy
The Executive Committee of 2 April agreed the Assembly’s response to the Government’s proposed modifications to the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS). One particular issue for the members was the Government’s rejection of the regional frame. Members feel that it should be reinstated to ensure future transport investment is spent where it is most needed.

Other issues which the Government needs to consider before issuing the final RTS are:

• The potential Lower Thames Crossing;
• The regional planning bodies’ involvement in the national road charging study;
• The Assembly’s opposition to the Aviation White Paper’s proposals on future expansion of Heathrow and Gatwick;
• The need for a review of car parking provision in new residential developments.

The closing date for comments on the proposed modifications to the Regional Transport Strategy is 21 May 2004.

SEEDA ACCOUNTABILITY

Inward Investment
Select CommitteeThe Executive Committee of 2 April noted SEEDA’s response to the Assembly’s recommendations following the Inward Investment Select Committee.

SEEDA, on the whole, welcomed the recommendations. They will consider the implementation of a number of the recommendations, such as the production of a more accurate measure of the benefits of their inward investment activity. Other recommendations, such as increasing the numbers of Investor Development Managers, could not be implemented due to lack of resources.

The Assembly will monitor SEEDA’s response to its recommendations through its Policy Advisory Group.

Future select committees
The next select committee, on Enterprise Hubs and Gateways, will take place on Friday, 16 April.

The Executive Committee agreed that the scrutiny focus for the summer select committee will be urban renaissance and elected Ian Chisnall from the South East Faith Forum as Chair of the committee.

SEEDA Business Plan and Budget
The SEEDA Business Plan for 2004-05 was presented to the Executive Committee of 2 April for their consideration. Committee members raised a number of issues about the business plan, for example seeking clearer reference to the Regional Transport Strategy and sustainability requirements. SEEDA has been asked to consider incorporating these issues into the plan. The Committee was also briefed on SEEDA’s budget situation for 2004-05, and the impact resource constraints will have on different aspects of its work.

GOSE REPORT

Regional Transport Board
Andy Roberts, GOSE Director for Surrey, East and West Sussex, announced to the Executive Committee of 2 April that the South East, along with Yorkshire and Humber, has been selected to pilot a Regional Transport Board (RTB). The formation of a RTB in the region was one of the proposals from the South East Regional Emphasis Document; by setting regional priorities it will help ‘join up’ transport investment decisions with economic and planning policies.

Andy Roberts told the Committee that the South East was chosen to pilot an RTB because the Government feels that there is a mature, responsible dialogue between the regional partners. The composition of the board is intended to be modelled on the Regional Housing Board but its exact make-up is still open for debate.

The next steps are that the Department for Transport will identify what money would have been spent on transport on a regional basis. This money, which will include Highways Agency funding but not funding for rail, will be put into a pot for the RTB. The RTB will then decide how the money will be spent and will make their recommendations to Government. The Government will consider how the regional priorities compare to national priorities and then the Secretary of State will make the final decision on how the money should be spent.

BARKER REVIEW OF HOUSING SUPPLY

The Executive Committee of 2 April welcomed the Assembly’s early response to the Barker report (available on the Assembly website), issued on 17 March. The Assembly’s Chair will now write to the Deputy Prime Minister seeking confirmation on the arrangements for consultation that will take place on both the housing numbers and the machinery for implementation.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Assembly Business Plan, 2004-06
At the 2 April Executive Committee, the Committee endorsed the Assembly’s Business Plan for 2004-2006.

Chief Executive Paul Bevan informed the Committee that the Government has confirmed an increase in the Assembly’s Planning Development Grant from £581,000 to £1,094,000 to prepare the South East Plan. This will allow the Assembly to fund everything identified in the business plan for 2004-2006.

A copy of the business plan is available on the Assembly website in the Executive Committee papers (Agenda Item 11).

Integrated Regional Framework
The Executive Committee of 2 April authorised the preparation and printing of the Integrated Regional Framework 2004. Following the March plenary, when the Assembly considered a working draft of the IRF, much work has been done to improve both its structure and content. The intention is for the Framework to be published as a series of documents which can be read and reviewed together or singly.

The Framework is scheduled to be published in late June 2004, to coincide with the launch of consultation on a national Integrated Framework.

Correction
Bulletin #51 (March 2004) incorrectly stated that the Regional Planning Committee supported a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow. What the Bulletin should have said is that the Regional Planning Committee recommended that the Assembly should express its “Disappointment at the White Paper’s support for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, notwithstanding the severe environmental and social implications and the opposition of both the Assembly and the Mayor of London”.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007