Executive comittee backs SEEDA growth targets

The Assembly's Executive Committee on 7 September considered the regional targets that SEEDA are proposing as part of their Public Service Agreement (PSA) with the Government. These include economic growth, regeneration, skills, enterprise, productivity and investment. They are the 'outcome' targets that SEEDA are expected by Government to play a lead role in achieving over the next three years, in partnership with other regional bodies and local authorities. The PSA is the 'quid pro quo' for SEEDA's increased financial freedom from April 2002. The Assembly has a key role in agreeing both these regional outcome targets and the more detailed output targets in SEEDA's forthcoming corporate plan.

Smart growth

The headline target proposed is the trend growth rate in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. The Regional Assembly endorsed SEEDA's goal to stretch this rate (which is already above the UK average) to 3.3% by 2005. However, concerns were expressed about the distribution of economic growth through the region. SEEDA was also pressed to address the gap in economic performance between the most successful areas and those, particularly in Kent and the south coast, in need of regeneration.

The importance of 'smart growth' was also stressed, i.e. increasing the proportion of high value added economic activity that promises greater returns from the same resources. The Committee reinforced the view that we should be aiming for sustainable economic improvement that would not compromise the region's environment.

Affordable housing

The Committee debated the constraint that the increased scarcity of affordable housing in key areas of the South East presents both for sustainable economic development and for public service delivery. SEEDA was urged to assist its partners in tackling this growing problem, e.g. by prioritising its land and property programme to this end. SEEDA Chief Executive Anthony Dunnett acknowledged the size of the challenge and referred to the work already in hand to assist brownfield land assembly.

Ambulance trust

The Executive Committee on 7 September voiced fears over the proposed reorganisation of ambulance trusts in the South East. The NHS Executive is proposing to reduce the number of trusts from seven to three with the aim of improving standards and services. However, the Assembly's Executive was concerned that the move to fewer larger trusts would weaken local accountability. The Committee was not convinced that the investment needed in new technology, training and standards could not be achieved within the present configuration of seven trusts. Fewer control centres would risk slower response times and larger organisations might make co-operation with local social care services more difficult. With the proposed creation of strategic health authorities on the cards (four are planned for the South East), it was felt that the changes proposed to the ambulance trusts were premature.

Committee of the region

The Executive discussed the Government's proposals for appointing the next UK delegation to Europe's Committee of the Regions (CoR). At present, , England has 32 representatives in the 48-strong delegation, who are appointed by the Government for a four year term from nominations of elected councillors made by the Local Government Association (LGA). Five CoR delegates are drawn from the South East.

This time, for the delegation for 2002-06, Government is inviting regional assemblies to nominate two representatives each, in order to strengthen accountability between the CoR delegates and the regions they represent. The LGA will be tasked with nominating the rest of the English delegation and ensuring political, geographical, and gender balance across its membership. The Committee endorsed this approach and took the view that at least one of our nominees should be a member of the nominating regional assembly. The Committee agreed that with the other English assemblies we should press the Government to give England a share of representation proportionate to its share of population, namely 40 out of the 48.

In brief…

Art council restructuring
The Executive Committee felt that the Arts Council's revised proposals ('Working Together for the Arts') were an improvement on the first 'Prospectus for Change'. The latest plans promise a greater regional voice in arts development, with the Chairs of the Regional Councils being chosen in consultation with the region and also appointed to the national Arts Council board. However the Committee sought assurances that the new regional chief executives would also be included in national policy making, and that the work currently underway to resolve the operational details would be independently overseen. The Committee also took the view that accountability would be best served in the South East if there was one regional arts council established along regional boundaries.
Tourist Boards
The Committee agreed a response to the consultation by the South East and Southern Tourist Boards about their possible merger. The Committee felt it was important for the influence of the tourism sector that there be only one tourist board for the South East region.

Community fund strategic plan
A response was agreed to the Community Fund (the National Lottery Charities Board) on its proposed strategic plan for the South East for 2002-07. The Fund has identified geographical priorities for the region (Dover, Thanet, Medway and Gravesham) as well as groups within the community that should be particularly supported. The Committee expressed concern that the Fund's priorities have been proposed without reference to the priorities of other regional bodies, as expressed in the Regional Economic Strategy, Regional Planning Guidance or the Sustainable Development Framework. Although the Fund's plan speaks of the benefits of collaborating with other funding bodies to achieve long-term change for communities in need, it was felt that too narrow a focus - either on places or people - would effectively prevent the Fund from 'joining up' its activities with other regional players. Finally, the Committee urged the Fund to review the formula for sharing out the lottery money between regions, in order to recognise the disproportionately high costs face by community projects in the South East.

Strengthening regional accountability
The Government has now formally approved the Assembly's proposals under its Strengthening Regional Accountability initiative, and has released £500,000 to the Assembly for the financial year 2001-02. The Assembly team is now fully engaged in implementing the proposals set out in our submission to Government. This will include turning part of the November Assembly into a hearing on SEEDA's Regional Economic Strategy, reviewing its impact to date and identifying priorities for the future. Minister Nick Raynsford has agreed to address this plenary meeting, and BBC Business Breakfast presenter Tanya Beckett will be facilitating a debate between the Assembly membership and a panel comprising senior regional figures. Detailed plans for further scrutiny measures will be discussed at the next Executive Committee on 19 October.

English Regions Network
The English regional assemblies collectively also put forward proposals to Government for strengthening accountability, which were approved by Ministers earlier this month. Entitled 'Harnessing Diversity', the submission reflects the widely different circumstances and priorities of the eight English regions, but identifies proposals for sharing best practice on key policy areas. There are four themes:

• Engaging economic and social partners
• The economic agenda and RDA scrutiny
• Sustainable development
• Inter-regional collaboration

A further £1 million is available from Government this year to undertake co-operation under these four themes, and Assembly staff have already embarked on discussions with colleagues about potential projects.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007