Monitoring is an essential aspect of the implementation and review of regional planning policy. The value and importance of effective monitoring for regional planning was originally set out in 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 11: Regional Planning' (PPG11). Recent Planning Policy Statements 11 and 12 (PPS11; PPS12) have further emphasised this.

Monitoring work is guided by 'Regional Spatial Strategy Monitoring: A good practice guide' (DCLG), which states that:

"(monitoring) represents a crucial feedback loop with the cyclical process of policy-making. It provides information on the performance of policy and its surrounding environment, taking a future orientated approach by identifying the key challenges and opportunities and enabling adjustments and revisions to be made if necessary".

The Assembly also publishes regular updates monitoring changes in the demography of the region.

Current Work

Regional Monitoring Repiort

The South East England Regional Assembly currently monitors Regional Planning Guidance 9 (RPG9) through the Regional Monitoring Report (RMR). The RMR 07, for submission to Government in March 2008, will be the last RMR to fully monitor RPG9. Subsequent RMR documents will monitor the South East Plan through the Monitoring Framework set out within the Plan.

The RMR considers any changes to current planning guidance (in future the South East Plan) that may be necessary and is endorsed by the Assembly's Regional Planning Committee.

Monitoring also currently covers the Integrated Regional Framework: A better quality of life in the South East which sets out the overarching high-level policy framework for the South East, listing sustainable development objectives, targets and indicators for the region. Future reports will monitor the emerging Regional Sustainability Framework.

Developing the Annual Surveys

To collate local data for the RMR, the Assembly distributes two electronic surveys to all local authorities. These are proving difficult for both the local authorities to complete and for the Assembly to collate. The Assembly therefore commissioned Roger Tym & Partners to investigate these difficulties and explore possible solutions.
 

Monitoring Systems Scoping Study - Executive Summary - 162 KB

Monitoring Systems Scoping Study - Full Report - 356 KB

Appendix 1 (Employment Survey 2006) - 596 KB

Appendix 1 (Housing Survey 2006) - 421 KB

Appendix 2 (Regional Monitoring Indicators) - 54 KB

The Assembly is now implementing a medium term solution - alongside various short term actions - through the development of annual surveys. ACTIVE Solutions Europe Ltd has been commissioned to extend the SEE-iN Data Hub which they developed in 2007. The Hub will incorporate an online interface where authorities can submit data direct to a central Assembly database. Through this development process the surveys will also be amended to reflect indicators set out in the Plan.