This Bulletin reports the main issues covered at the Full Assembly meeting of 18 July 2007 and Regional Transport Board meeting of 13 July 2007.

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

Cllr Keith Mitchell CBE (Conservative) was re-elected unopposed as Chairman of the Assembly.

Ian Chisnall was elected Deputy Chair. He represents social and environmental partners on the Assembly and takes over the Deputy Chairmanship from Cllr Don Turner (Labour) who stood down as an Assembly member in May.

The Vice Chairs are Cllr Louise Bloom (Liberal Democrats) Cllr Tony Page (Labour), Peter Dean (economic partners) and Cllr Michael Chater (other parties).

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Cllr Keith Mitchell outlined concerns on the Government's plans to increase the number of homes being built nationally by 20% to 240,000 per year by 2020 and the Sub National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration, which proposes to transfer the Assembly’s powers to the Regional Development nAgency by 2010.

Cllr Mitchell told the meeting that the proposals for extra homes ignore the large amount of time and effort the Assembly put into agreeing a sustainable level of housing growth.

Building extra homes alone will not alleviate the problem of affordability in the South East and is an over simplistic view of the complexities of the housing market. Part of the solution would be for Government to invest more in affordable housing.

Transferring housing, planning and transport to a newdevelopment agency would take decisions away from a regionally representative body to a Government-nominated organisation that has no democratic involvement.

Cllr Mitchell moved a resolution proposing the Assembly's response, adding that it is important the Assembly influences and manages the process.

The resolution, carried by a majority of Assembly Members, said:

This Assembly:

1. Reminds Government that they have created an infrastructure crisis in the South East with a serious backlog of investment that will get worse if higher housing targets are imposed by Government.
   
   
2. Acknowledges there is a housing affordability crisis in much of the region, but rejects the Prime Minister's simplistic assumption that adding 250,000 dwellings to a national stock of more than 20 million will do anything to solve it.
   
   
3. Strongly opposes the proposed transfer of planning, transport, housing and green belt decisions away from democratic accountability to a wholly unelected quango of Government placemen.This Assembly warns Government of growing dissatisfaction with the burgeoning quangocracy in this country.
   
   
4. Expects Government to honour its apparent commitment to democratic localism.

The Chairman's report otherwise included reference to the South East's current role chairing the English Regions Network as well as to minor changes to the Assembly Code of Conduct to clarify the distinction between “corporate” and “personal” interests.

SEEDA REPORT

Jim Brathwaite CBE, SEEDA Chairman, and Pam Alexander, SEEDA Chief Executive, reported on the Development Agency's work during the past year.

Highlights included:

1. Finalising the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) 2006-16, SEEDA's biggest ever policy undertaking
2. Achieving a high score (21 out of 24) in a National Audit Office performance review
3. Giving evidence to the South East Plan Examination in Public.

In respect of delivery, in 2006-7 SEEDA exceeded five out of its six core targets. Successes were:

1. Job creation: Over 7,000 jobs created or safeguarded
2. Employment support: Over 11,000 people assisted to find a job
3. Business creation: Nearly 3,000 businesses created and growing
4. Business support: Over 45,000 businesses assisted
5. Skills: Nearly 43,000 people assisted in skills development.

SEEDA missed its target on reclaiming brownfield land for development due to delays in completing two complex regeneration projects.

Assembly members raised concerns about aspects of SEEDA's expenditure and expenses revealed in the press. Mr Brathwaite explained that some of the coverage had been misleading. In response to calls for the Assembly to examine SEEDA's expenses it was agreed that Ian Chisnall, as lead on scrutiny, should ascertain the scope of scrutiny undertaken by others such as the National Audit Office and report back to the Assembly Executive.

REGIONAL SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK

Ian Christie, Chair of the region's Sustainable Futures Group and Cllr Louise Bloom representing Eastleigh Borough Council gave presentations on the Regional Sustainability Framework (RSF).

The RSF will update and simplify the region's Integrated Regional Framework.This is a shared vision and set of objectives used by regional organisations to make sure economic growth benefits people in the region, protects and improves the environment and makes efficient use of natural resources. Cllr Bloom demonstrated how the RSF principles had been applied in Eastleigh.

A 12 week consultation on the draft RSF will start on 3 September, which will feed into the final RSF to be published in March 2008, subject to Assembly approval.

The Regional Planning Committee will produce a response to the draft RSF to be considered at the next full Assembly meeting.

RES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

A presentation by SEEDA outlined its implementation plan for the RES, which is open for consultation until 24 August.The Assembly and SEEDA hope to combine the implementation plans for the RES and the South East Plan to produce an overarching document to guide the sustainable development of the region. The meeting agreed the Regional Planning Committee should provide a detailed consultation response.

SOUTH EAST ACTIVE PEOPLE CHALLENGE

Mary McAnally, Assembly member and chairman of the Regional Sports Board, gave a presentation on Sport England's Active People Challenge. This aims to get 300,000 more of the region's residents doing some form of exercise by 2012-13. She announced the National Lottery has given £5.6 million to the project.

Sport England conducted a nationwide survey showing almost half the people living in the South East do no exercise at all. Survey results for individual local authorities are available on Sport England's website.

SOUTH EAST 2012 OLYMPICS OFFER

Mary McAnally also gave a presentation on the region's offer for the 2012 Olympic Games. She explained the three objectives of the bid were:

1. To use the region's strengths, in particular to help deliver an environmentally friendly Olympics
2. To showcase the best the South East has to offer through a cultural Olympiad from 2008 to 2016 and the Paralympics
3. To create a legacy, offering everyone an opportunity to be involved and inspiring young people to compete, collaborate and create.

The meeting was also told how important partnership was in achieving these aims including the Assembly's work on leading the region's Olympic transport plan.

SCRUTINY REPORT

Ian Chisnall, lead Assembly member for scrutiny, presented the Annual Scrutiny Report.The Assembly held three select committees during 2006-7 examining SEEDA’s role in:

1. Promoting the use of sustainable resources
2. Supporting the region's social enterprise sector
3. Supporting businesses in the South East.

New arrangements, including a core group of members for all scrutiny business, will improve monitoring to ensure SEEDA carries out its commitments.

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT

Ian Hepburn,Vice Chair of the RPC, reported to the Assembly on the committee's work. He began by thanking Cllr Christine Field, who stepped down as Chairman in May, for the energy, enthusiasm and efficiency she brought to the role.

Since the last full Assembly meeting the RPC's work has included:

1. Responding to the Draft Climate Change Bill
2. Responding to consultations on the UK Marine White Paper and the EU Maritime Green Paper
3. Responding to 99% of planning application consultations and 100% of pre-application consultations within the statutory time period.

REGIONAL HOUSING BOARD REPORT

Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright, Chairman of the RHB, updated the Assembly on the Board's May and June meetings.This included:

1. Advising Government how to spend £1.1billion on affordable housing in the region
2. Agreeing in principle to part fund a Regional Infrastructure Fund and a Brownfield Land Assembly Company
3. Approving proposals for a bidding round to allocate funding to local authorities for improvements to rundown private sector housing
4. Completion of the Regional Housing Strategy Review consultation.

REGIONAL TRANSPORT BOARD REPORT

Cllr Nick Skellet, Chairman of the RTB, updated the Assembly on the Board's April and June meetings.These included:

1. Recommendations for transport priorities for 2011-16 being accepted in full by Government
2. Agreeing to a review of transport priorities for 2008-18
3. Agreeing continued support for the Bexhill to Hastings link road and the A23 Handcross to Warninglid schemes.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

A change to the Assembly's constitution was agreed by members. Places on the Assembly Executive Committee are allocated in proportion to the share of council seats for political parties who hold more than 6% of seats in the region. However a party may not always have sufficient Assembly members to fill their allocation.The change allows parties in that situation to nominate additional councillors who are not Assembly members to the Executive Committee.

METHOD TO MANAGE COST INCREASE

The Board agreed a new method to review its support when project costs increase.This will help the Board manage its limited regional budget, and sets out clearly what is expected from transport authorities and the Highways Agency.The ‘protocol for significant scheme changes' is applied to projects where costs increase above a set percentage of the original cost (excluding inflation).View the ‘protocol’ on the RTB page.

TRANSPORT PROGRAMME AND MONITORING

The Board is seeking clarification from the Department for Transport (DfT) on its proposals to fund ‘exceptional maintenance’ projects through the Regional Funding Allocation.

Though the number of cases could be limited, it may reduce investment available for other projects.

1. The Board agreed criteria so it can transfer money from one year's budget to another. Benefits include the opportunity to bring forward project start dates.
2. The Board still backs the Bexhill to Hastings link road as it will support the regeneration of the south coast.The Board will advise the DfT on additional funding or ways to reduce costs in October.
3. Cost increases for improvements to the A244 Walton Bridge and A24 Ashington Southwater will be considered in 2008 as part of a review of the regional programme.

RESPONSE TO LOCAL TRANSPORT BILL

The Board took the view that the draft Local Transport Bill needs strengthening to allow local councils greater flexibility in managing bus services eg specifying services, fares and frequency. The Bill must help authorities deliver services tailored to local needs that are value for money.

The Board supports the creation of Passenger Transport Authorities (PTA) but it recommends they should not be limited to existing administrative boundaries. It argued that it should be consulted on any proposals for a PTA in the South East. The Board is concerned that without national leadership, implementation of road user charging will be unsuccessful.

DOVER PORT MASTER PLAN

As part of a second round of consultation, Dover Harbour Board's Director of Port Development, Mike Krayenbrink, presented proposals for a new ferry terminal nearly doubling berth capacity by 2012/13. It is expected to deliver 2,600 jobs and benefit the regeneration of Dover. Substantial growth in terms of freight, cars and passengers is expected up to 2034.

OPERATION STACK

Board member Gwyn Drake of the Highways Agency presented new plans for managing lorries on the M20 during disruptions at the Eurotunnel and Dover Port.The DfT has given £12m for a short-term solution, which is a quick removable barrier that separates a lane on the motorway for lorries to park while keeping roadspace open for other users.A preferred option for the longer term is a parking area near the motorway. The DfT has commissioned a study to examine whether there is a business case for the project.

PROGRESS WITH TRANSPORT FOR SOUTH HAMPSHIRE

The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) outlined how its new delivery agency ‘Transport for South Hampshire’ (previously called Solent Transport Partnership) is progressing delivery of the sub-regional strategy for the area. It is looking at reducing the need to travel and how transport can better support growth.

REFRESH OF PRIORITIES

In 2008, the Board will advise the Secretary of State on its funding priorities up to 2018, which will give authorities an opportunity to submit new proposals for 2016-2018.Work on preparing advice will start in the autumn this year.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007