This Bulletin reports the main issues covered at the Assembly
Executive Committee of 16 June 2006.

ASSEMBLY RESPONSE TO THE RES

The Committee expressed support for the considerable progress made through the various drafts of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES), since it was first presented to the Assembly last year.

The Committee agreed a response to the RES which:

• Supported the deletion of a specific housing figure from the main text
• Raised concern over SEEDA’s support for the Aviation White Paper and for the continued growth of Heathrow and Gatwick against Assembly policy
• Supported the identification of diamonds for growth but wanted clearer alignment with the draft South East Plan
• Noted that the target rate of at least 3% per capita economic growth is higher than that being planned for in the South East Plan
• Highlighted the need to more fully address issues and opportunities arising from the inter-dependence with London and other adjoining regions
• Pressed for targets to reduce social exclusion.

The consultation on the draft RES concludes on 30 June 2006 and proposed changes will be considered by the Assembly plenary on 12 July 2006. It will be presented to the SEEDA Board on 20 July 2006 and SEEDA hopes to publish the final RES in October after gaining DTI approval.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

The Committee voted against setting up a Regional Sustainable Development Board. Members argued that sustainability should underlie all the Assembly’s work and that setting up another committee could result in the issue being kept separate. Alternative proposals will now be prepared for mainstreaming sustainable development.

REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION

Proposed amendments to the Assembly’s constitution have been referred to the Leadership Group which will develop proposals to present at the full Assembly meeting in November.

The constitution needs updating to reflect changes including transfer of the Regional Housing Board to the Assembly. Some members have also argued that the template for committee membership should be changed.

SELECT COMMITTEES

SEEDA welcomed the findings of the select committee on business engagement and found the scrutiny a valuable process which has triggered new developments in how they build and manage relationships with the region’s businesses.

Executive Committee members were asked to nominate chairs for the forthcoming select committees on social enterprise and business support.

HEALTHY REGION FORUM REVIEW

The Committee agreed changes to the way the Assembly addresses health issues and agreed proposals to:

• Promote more regular meetings of the Assembly’s Health Summit, which would become the lead forum in health policy debates at a regional level
• Modify the role of the Healthy Region Forum, to become a regional conference for representing stakeholder views in debates on regional policy, skills and capacity building.

It was felt by the Committee that there should be a wider membership of the summit, for example to include employers and unions.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

The Committee agreed that the South East regional council of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors be invited to nominate a representative as an Economic Partner on the Assembly. This is the final stage of review of business representation which reallocated some of the 112 seats on the Assembly.

Paul Bevan, Assembly Chief Executive, updated the Committee on:

• The Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR07). The Assembly will be maintaining close dialogue with ministers and contributing research, including the substantial data acquired on infrastructure needs in the region
• The results of the biannual perceptions survey commissioned from MORI which showed 88% satisfaction with quality of life in the South East and good recognition of the South East as a region
• The year end financial report for the Assembly. Expenditure of £4,027k, is £10.4k over budget but is balanced by income £96.3k higher than expected
• The political template following the May 2006 local elections which sees the Conservatives gain one extra seat on the Executive and one less for the Liberal Democrats.

GOSE REPORT

Ian Coates, GOSE's new Director of Strategy, updated the Committee on current issues.

He has moved to GOSE from DfES where he had worked with Ruth Kelly MP. He had previously worked in the Prime Minister’s strategy unit.

Regional visit

David Miliband MP is due to visit the region for a sustainable energy conference in Reading.

Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR)

• The CSR is expected to focus on a more regional level than previously
• Recent reviews of economic development and regeneration, housing and energy are likely to be a key focus
• It has still not been decided whether there will be a requirement for a Regional Emphasis Document (RED) for this review. It is felt more likely that a submission along the lines of the Regional Funding Allocations document will be required.

Local Government White Paper

• The long awaited white paper is now expected in October. Ruth Kelly MP is currently reviewing it. Ian Coates undertook to impress upon DCLG the need for clarity, and the uncertainty that the delay is causing.

Implementing the review of Government Offices

• GOSE are currently developing a change plan for restructuring and reducing headcount. There will be a meeting with local authority chief executives to discuss the reorganisation.

HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY

Dr Mike Gill, Regional Director of Public Health gave a presentation on the links between health and productivity in implementing the Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

People who enjoy their jobs and feel valued suffer less stress leading to less sickness and therefore higher productivity.

Dr Gill also expressed concern that there was no mention of obesity in the RES, despite the potential for it to cost the economy £8bn a year. He also felt there should be more in the RES on demographic change and the effect of an ageing population.

STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT

The Committee agreed to provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to the UK Youth Parliament to support the employment of a regional co-ordinator.

It was also agreed that the Leadership Group will review the resources of the Assembly Partners Support Unit, with a view to further assisting the needs of Assembly stakeholder bodies.

SEEDA REPORT

Paul Lovejoy, SEEDA Executive Director of Strategy and Sustainability, updated the Committee on topics including:

• SEEDA is halfway through its chairmanship of the regional development agencies. Pam Alexander, SEEDA Chief Executive, has been liaising with DCLG over its new structure and budget
• All the RDA chairs recently met the Prime Minister to press regional issues
• SEEDA is finalising its self assessment for its independent performance appraisal
• SEEDA expects to make an appointment to the vacant board seat in July with other changes taking place soon afterwards
• The SEEDA open public meeting will take place on 31 October in Reading and is planned to include the RES launch. SEEDA recognised that attendance at the open meeting is often low and is taking steps to make it more attractive.

RURAL ISSUES

Jeremy Leggett, Chairman of the South East Rural Affairs Forum (SERAF) led the discussion on rural issues. The Committee agreed:

• The Assembly will hold an annual conference with the South East Rural Affairs Forum (SERAF) to help strengthen the relationship between members of the two organisations, and to engage stakeholders in dialogue on issues facing the rural parts of the South East
• The Regional Assembly will debate the future of the region’s rural economy at a forthcoming Plenary, considering a range of factors including diversification, regulation and subsidy, and climate change. This will also raise members’ awareness of the South East Rural Delivery Framework.

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

The Committee received reports from the following committees:

1. Regional Housing Board
2. Regional Transport Board
3. Regional Planning Committee
4. Joint Europe Committee

Details of their work are available on the above links.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007