This Bulletin reports the main issues covered at the full Assembly meeting of 7 March.

Aviation Debate

The expansion of airports in the South East is the principal point of difference between the South East Plan and the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). The Plan opposes extra runways while the RES supports Heathrow’s further expansion. Following Government’s recently review of the Aviation White Paper progress the Assembly held a debate to review its position on the future of aviation.

The Assembly heard from speakers supporting and opposing further development:

• Stuart Condie, Director of Planning and Surface Access, BAA, told the Assembly about current national policy, the importance of successful airports to the country and ongoing technical work into air quality, noise and surface access. He asked the Assembly not to prejudge this technical work and to keep the option of further expansion open.
• Joss Garman, of Plane Stupid, gave the Assembly statistics about the impact of climate change. This included predictions from Christian Aid that 182 million people would die by the end of the century due to climate change and that aviation is the fastest growing cause. He also showed the Assembly evidence that emissions trading will not work and called for reduced demand not expansion.
• Jeremy Taylor, Chief Executive, of CADIA, representing the business community around Gatwick Airport detailed the benefits of the airport to the local community and region as a whole, such as 26,000 people directly employed by the airport. He acknowledged the problem of climate change, but called for a balanced approach, to mitigate the problems, but still allow the region’s economy to grow.
• John Stewart, HACAN ClearSkies, told the Assembly that the existing impact of airports through noise pollution was sufficient reason to stop expansion. He said the argument, that without expansion, businesses would move to competing countries with larger airports was not true, as the capacity of all London’s airports put together is far greater than that of Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam. He called for the Assembly to support an examination of ways to reduce domestic flights and transfer passengers to the rail network.

Aviation Resolution

Following the debate, which included discussion on the possible impact of technological advances, and the long-term impacts of climate change against the short-term economic benefits of expansion, the Assembly voted in favour of a resolution by Cllr Henry Smith, Leader West Sussex County Council:

The Assembly reaffirms its view that “plan, monitor and manage” would be the most appropriate approach to provision of additional airport capacity in the South East while effort is directed at achieving more sustainably balanced solutions to airport development. The Assembly therefore calls on the Government for a review of current aviation policy, for studies to be made of noise levels, air quality and public transport and for a halt to plans for the expansion of runway capacity in the South East.

Regional Housing Strategy

Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright, Chairman of the Regional Housing Board (RHB), informed the Assembly about the rationale, scope and arrangements for the current review of the Regional Housing Strategy.

The review will prioritise Government investment in housing for the period 2008-2011.

As well as the debate at the full Assembly meeting, the consultation will include six stakeholder meetings, direct mailing, opinion polling and focus groups to ensure a wide range of interested people can have their views heard.

The consultation period runs until 27 April and the results will inform the RHB’s discussion in June on the allocation of funds.

The Assembly debate covered issues around maintaining vitality in rural areas, the need to ensure funding is based on district housing needs surveys, the type and design of houses currently being built and the need for the solutions to be community driven.

There was also concern expressed about the lack of sufficient funding for affordable housing.

Cllr Don Turner

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Assembly Chairman announced that Cllr Don Turner, Assembly Deputy Chairman, is standing down from the Assembly in May.

Cllr Mitchell thanked Cllr Turner on behalf of the Assembly for all his work over the last few years.

Report of The Assembly Chairman

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Assembly Chairman, highlighted the debate about streamlining regional governance underway as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. There is a desire to ‘declutter’ the number of regional strategies and bodies and the worry is that regional assemblies and local authorities’ roles in them will be ‘squeezed out’. Cllr Mitchell argued that assemblies are the only regional body with a strong democratic element and that their members are senior representatives such as council leaders, and bring a high level of expertise.

The Chairman’s report also covered the new arrangements for the scrutiny of SEEDA and the Assembly’s dialogue with other regional organisations.

Report of the RPC Chairman

Cllr Christine Field, Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee (RPC), updated the Assembly on the recent work of the committee. This has included responding to consultations on:

• PPS1 (on sustainable development) - considered not to be as robust as it should be
• Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) – there are major concerns as there is no indication as to how money raised will be split in two-tier council areas nor confirmation that the 30% to be used regionally will go to the region it was raised in
• PPS3 (on housing) - largely welcomed, but with significant concerns over the change to the rules regarding windfall sites.

The RPC has also been working with the Inter-regional Forum (with London and the East of England) and trying to resolve issues around development near protected land in the Thames Basin Heaths.

Resolution on windfalls
The Assembly agreed a resolution by Cllr Myles Cullen, Leader Chichester District Council:

“The Assembly advises Government in the strongest terms that the inclusion of windfall sites is a proven and necessary factor in determining housing targets and that PPS3 should be amended to reflect this.”

Report of the RTB Chairman

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chairman of the Regional Transport Board gave the Assembly an update on the work of the RTB. This included considering:

• The results of the first set of monitoring information associated with the forward programme of transport investment
• How regional input into the rail franchising process can be developed
• The content of a document making the case for additional funding for infrastructure in the region.

Cllr Skellett also reminded the Assembly of the prioritisation process, following discussion of a number of transport schemes in the region, including the Hastings to Bexhill link road.

Report of the RHB Chairman

Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright, Chairman of the Regional Housing Board (RHB) updated the Assembly on the recent RHB meeting, which covered:

• Housing Market Assessments
• PPS3 on housing
• Planning Gain Supplement
• Private Sector Housing Renewal
• National Affordable Housing Programme
• Regional Infrastructure Fund.

Assembly Business Plan and Budget

Paul Bevan, Assembly Chief Executive, outlined the business plan process, including the standardised format required by Government.

He also explained the use of the strapline ‘councils and communities in partnership’ which will increasingly be used to emphasise the partnership working of the Assembly.

The roles of the Assembly will also now be summarised as three Rs (Regional Planning, Regional Housing and Regional Transport) and three As (Advocacy, Accountability and Alignment).

The Assembly then:

• Agreed the Assembly budget for 2007-08
• Endorsed the Assembly’s business plan for the forthcoming three years, 2007-10
• Noted the indicative budgets for 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Implementation Plan

Martin Tugwell, the Assembly's Planning Implementation Director, updated the Assembly on 'Delivering the South East Plan'. This document forms an integral part of the South East Plan and is being used to align regional investment from the Regional Housing Board, Regional Transport Board and other public organisations in the South East. It will also inform the regional submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 07.

There has been a great deal of interest and support from other organisations in the region for Delivering the South East Plan. Alongside plans to produce a joint implementation plan with SEEDA, a number of organisations in the region want to be included in the process including Learning & Skills Council, the Environment Agency, police, higher education and utility companies. The Assembly heard that Delivering the South East Plan will be a powerful voice for how to deliver sustainable communities

The Assembly was also updated on work to develop a Regional Infrastructure Fund that will enable the Assembly to fund infrastructure alongside new development and reclaim the costs from developers later.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007