This Bulletin reports the main issues covered at the Executive Committee meeting of 15 December 2006.

SEEDA Scrutiny

After several years of successfully scrutinising SEEDA's work through select committees, a review has been carried out to look at ways of further strengthening the Assembly's approach. The key recommendation agreed by the Executive Committee was to establish a core group of Assembly members who will sit on all three select committees during the course of each year. These nominated members will thereby develop a better understanding of how SEEDA works, increasing the effectiveness of the scrutiny. Additional members will be nominated to each committee to reflect expertise and interest. SEEDA welcomed the greater consistency this promises to Assembly scrutiny.

The Executive Committee therefore invited each party and partner group on the Assembly to nominate a member to sit on the three select committees for 2007-08. The Conservatives, reflecting the size of their Assembly representation, are invited to nominate two members.

Upcoming scrutiny

Scrutiny topics for 2007-08 will be formally agreed at the Assembly/SEEDA liaison meeting in January. The following proposed topics were endorsed:

1. Meeting the global challenge (to include a range of SEEDA's activities, including the Global Regions programme)
   
   
2. Reducing the South East's ecological footprint (this would examine the work of SEEDA, alongside also a wider range of agencies/organisations - as for the social inclusion committee during 2005-06)
   
   
3. The South East Coastal Strategy.

Update on previous scrutiny work

The Committee also received an update from SEEDA on their progress in implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Business Engagement Select Committee.

Examination in Public

The third week of the Examination ended on the day of the meeting. Assembly Chief Executive, Paul Bevan reported that the debate has been wide ranging, but the Assembly’s evidence base is holding up well. There will be further tests ahead and the Assembly staff are working closely with members to prepare for them.

The Committee expressed their thanks and praise to the Assembly team working at the Examination as well as behind the scenes. It was agreed they were doing an excellent job promoting the Plan.

There has been a lot of helpful media coverage of the Examination and the daily updates on the Assembly’s website are also receiving a high level of visits.

Next stage

The next stage of the EiP starts on 16 January in Chichester. The focus will turn to the sub-regions with the Sussex Coast and South Hampshire being the first to be considered.

English Regions Network (ERN)

The Committee received an update from Paul Bevan, Assembly Chief Executive, on English Regions Network business and the assemblies' submission to Government in respect of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR07).

The ERN is keen to protect and enhance the role of assemblies, ensuring council and stakeholder involvement is maintained in regional decision making.

Assembly Chairman, Cllr Keith Mitchell (also Chairman of ERN), together with Paul Bevan, have met Ministers and senior civil servants over the past few months to highlight the value of assemblies. They have been keen to demonstrate that, as regional planning bodies, assemblies make a vital contribution to delivering sustainable economic growth, and, through regional housing and transport boards and RDA scrutiny, are able to align funding streams regionally to improve the impact of public expenditure.

Recent ministerial meetings have taken place with Secretary of State Ruth Kelly and Treasury Secretary Ed Balls. There have also been discussions with key civil servants in the Department for Local Government and Communities.

GOSE Report

Rolande Anderson, GOSE’s Regional Director, gave the Committee an update on the Government Office's work.

1. Housing and planning
   Kate Barker's recently published Planning Review (Barker 2) looks at ways to make the planning system more flexible and responsive including proposals for an Independent Planning Commission. A Government White Paper on planning is due in Spring. Planning Policy Statement PPS3 (housing) and PPS25 on flooding have been published.
   
   
2. Sir Rod Eddington's Transport Review
   The Department for Transport will respond soon and a formal Government response is expected in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR07).
   
   
3. Treasury (CSR07)
   The treasury is holding ‘thematic’ meetings as part of its work on CSR07. These include housing and planning and employment and skills. Treasury officials will visit the region on 15 January.
   
   
4. Communities and Local Government
   Chris Wormald has been appointed as new Director General of governance and communications. A new senior post for the equalities agenda has been created and recruitment is underway.
   
   
5. GOSE Board
   A new deputy regional director for housing and planning has been appointed. Howard Ewing will take up the post in January.

Susan Stuart, the new deputy regional director for transport and the environment will take up her appointment in the Spring.

GOSE hopes to complete its new board structure by the end of the financial year and will then look to appoint a strategic advisory board made up of non-executive directors. This board will meet quarterly and challenge GOSE on its work.

Rolande Anderson then answered the Committee's questions on issues such as:

• The economic and environmental impacts of Operation Stack on transport infrastructure in Kent
• The impact of the Local Government White Paper
• The need to take action on skills in the region to meet the challenges of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Committee Reports

The Executive Committee also received reports from the:

• Joint Europe Committee of 10 November
• Regional Planning Committee of 20 November.

SEEDA Report

Pam Alexander, SEEDA Chief Executive, reported on SEEDA's recent work.

1. Regional Economic Strategy (RES)
   The RES was launched at the end of October. The main focus of work is now on its implementation and delivery. SEEDA is committed to working in partnership with the Assembly to produce a joint implementation plan for the South East Plan and the RES. Before work begins on this, SEEDA wishes to develop the RES implementation plan to a similar level to Delivering the South East Plan. A draft of the RES plan will be brought to the next Executive Committee on 19 January. It will then be published in March before undergoing a strategic environmental assessment and 12 week’s consultation.
   
   
2. Relationship management
   As part of its plans to implement the RES, SEEDA is developing a customer and stakeholder relationship management system.
   
   
3. Independent Performance Assessment
   SEEDA scored highly (21 out of 24) in its independent performance assessment by the National Audit Office. There were a few areas which received lower scores, but SEEDA felt it was already aware of those and is taking action to improve. SEEDA is now looking to refocus its work so that it does fewer things, but does them better.

Committee members praised SEEDA’s scheme to encourage entrepreneurial activity in schools through a business competition called ‘The Edge’.

When questioned about global competition Pam Alexander explained there is no room for complacency and the region needs to push environmental technology and increase skill levels to remain competitive.

Half-Year Financial Report

Assembly Finance and Administration Director Diana Pogson reported that Assembly expenditure is within planned levels at the end of the first half of the financial year.

Paul Bevan also confirmed that the Assembly is hoping to provide financial assistance for authorities carrying out consultation on Gypsies and Traveller accommodation needs in 2007-08.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007