ANNUAL MEETING, READING

The Assembly held its fifth Annual Meeting in Reading on 23 July 2003. This Bulletin summarises the day's proceedings.

ASSEMBLY CHAIR

Cllr Skellett, Leader of Surrey County Council was elected as the Chair of the Assembly for 2003-2004. The voting was:Cllr Skellett (Conservative) 112Cllr Tallack (Liberal Democrat) 71

REVIEW OF THE ASSEMBLY's CONSTITUTION

At the meeting the Assembly agreed a number of changes to its constitution. These changes were the culmination of a process of consultation and debate which began at the 2002 Annual Meeting.

The aim of the constitutional review was to look at the ways the Assembly, as a partnership assembly, could maximise its legitimacy and capacity as the voice of the region in light of the prospect of elected regional assemblies emerging in other English regions.

Included in the changes to the constitution were:

• The enlargement of the Regional Planning Committee to 25 members, with the maximum limit of non-Assembly member committee members increasing from nine to ten.
• The Executive Committee are now able to act on the full Assembly's behalf on most matters, excluding key issues such as changes to the Assembly's constitution, approval of the Assembly's budget and final approval for major regional strategies (eg the Regional Spatial Strategy and the RES).
• The creation of the office of Deputy Chair who will deputise for the Chair at Plenary and Executive Committee meetings and represent the Assembly at meetings with Ministers and external events.

Cllr Don Turner (Labour) of Brighton & Hove Council was voted as the first Deputy Chair of the Assembly following a three-way contest with Milton Keynes Liberal Democrat Councillor, Cec Tallack and voluntary and community sector representative, Jeremy Leggett.

SEEDA ANNUAL REPORT

SEEDA Chairman, Jim Brathwaite, gave his first Annual Report to the Assembly on 23 July. During his speech, the Chairman set out his vision for SEEDA, and the region as a whole, during his term of office. He believes that in order for the South East economy to continue to grow and improve, we need to strive for the '6 Is':

• Innovation
• Infrastructure
• Inclusion
• Investment
• Integration
• Implementation

REGIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY

The Assembly gave its endorsement to the Regional Housing Strategy at its Annual Meeting.

The Strategy sets out a framework for how housing will be provided and funded across the South East in the next two years. Included in the Strategy is a proposed single pot of funding for £360m as well as proposals to:

• Increase the overall numbers of new homes completed in the South East.
• Secure and increase the supply of affordable housing across the region.
• Improve the quality and lifespan of existing housing stock.
• Use new housing to help bring about regeneration and neighbourhood renewal in the South East's towns and villages.
• Find new and improved ways to house the homeless and those in need of supported housing.

Although the Assembly were generally pleased with the Government's commitment to increased funding, concerns were raised about the fact that there is only one pot of money for the whole of the greater South East - South East, London and the East of England. Thus, the South East will, in effect, be competing with the other two regions for housing investment.

Following a meeting of the Regional Housing Board on 24 July to give final approval, the Strategy will now be sent to the Deputy Prime Minister for his consideration.

REGIONAL TRANSPORT

Announcement on Multi-Modal Studies
The Assembly agreed at their 23 July Annual Meeting to write to both the Secretary of State for Transport and the Deputy Prime Minister to express their concerns about the recent announcement on the outcome of the multi-modal studies by the Transport Secretary.

Although the announcement included welcome transport investment for certain parts of the South East, the overall feeling was that the Government had not delivered the balanced package of investment in both the trunk road network and the public transport network which the studies had recommended.

Of particular concern to the Assembly was the Secretary of State's decision on the South Coast which appeared largely to disregard the recommendations made by the Assembly following the South Coast Multi-Modal Study (SoCoMMS). The expressed view of the Assembly is that the decision not to invest in the South Coast's transport system will turn the area into a social and economic backwater.

The Assembly Chair is requesting an urgent joint meeting with both the Transport Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister to address these issues and find a way forward.

Future of Gatwick
The Assembly agreed at its Annual Meeting its response to the second edition of the Government's consultation document, 'The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East'. The Assembly submitted a response to the Government on the first edition in November last year.

The Assembly has not changed its views on Heathrow and Cliffe since the first edition but has made some recommendations regarding Gatwick which was excluded from the initial consultation. These include:

• The legal agreement at Gatwick to 2019 should be honoured.
• In light of assessment of the options, Stansted remains the most suitable location for a single additional runway in the South East.
• If a second new runway is required in the South East after 2020, the choice, from the options proposed, should be between either a further runway at Stansted or a second, close parallel runway at Gatwick.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Public Examination
The Public Examination of the draft Regional Transport Strategy took place on 21-25 July at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading.

The Panel, chaired by Corrine Swain, heard evidence on the draft Strategy from a wide range of regional and national stakeholders including SEEDA, the SRA and the Highways Agency. The Panel's report is expected in late September and their recommendations are likely to be submitted to Government at the turn of the year.

Members’ Allowances
The Assembly agreed a number of changes to the allowances paid to those members holding office and serving on key committees. These are:

• An increase in the allowances paid to members of the Regional Planning Committee (RPC) to reflect the increased burden of work on RPC members.
• The creation of a new allowance for the post of Deputy Chair.
• Members sitting on both the Executive Committee and the RPC will now be able to claim both allowances. However only one Chair, Deputy or Vice Chair's allowance may be claimed.

Budget Timetable
The Assembly agreed at its Annual Meeting to change the budget timetable. From now on the indicative level of local authority subscriptions will be set at the November Assembly plenary but the budget as a whole will be set at the March meeting. This will give local authorities notice of likely subscription levels before they set their budgets, and will allow the Assembly to be more certain about levels of Central Government funding before finalising its own budget.

Regional Minerals Strategy
The Assembly approved the draft Regional Minerals Strategy for consultation purposes. The draft Strategy, which updates current regional guidance on minerals policy, will be published for consultation at the beginning of September.

Tessa Bartholomew
Tessa Bartholomew, Head of Communications, will be leaving the Assembly at the end of August to take up a new career in teaching. The Assembly, both members and staff, wish her well with her new endeavour.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007