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' (CLG), 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".

Current Work (updated June 2009)

Regional Monitoring Report

The South East England Regional Assembly currently monitors the South East Plan proposed changes through the Regional Monitoring Report (RMR). The RMR08, which was submitted to Government in March 2009, is the first RMR to monitor the South East Plan in full.  In addition, it follows a new structure aimed at clearly setting out the data collected for policy monitoring and the conclusions reached following analysis of that data.  

Monitoring also currently covers the Regional Sustainability Framework (RSF) which sets out the overarching high-level policy framework for the South East, listing sustainable development objectives, targets and indicators for the region. Data for the indicators put forward in the RSF are set out in the data report; using these, a review of the objectives in the RSF will be carried out later in 2009.

In addition to publishing an annual Regional Monitoring Report, the Assembly also publishes regular updates monitoring changes in the demography of the region.

Developing the Annual Surveys

To collate local data for the RMR, the Assembly distributes several electronic surveys to all local authorities. These have proved 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 database. Through this development process the surveys will also be amended to reflect indicators set out in the Plan.

Further to this work, the Assembly commissioned additional research into the use of monitoring geographies.  Roger Tym & Partners were contracted to address the primary aim of this project:  to develop a simplified consistent, agreed set of definitions (with guidance for use) for the geographies required to monitor the South East Plan (including relevant proposed modifications).  Central to this is consultation with local authorities.

Review of Regional Monitoring Geographies (full report) - 2.49 MB
Review of Regional Monitoring Geographies (appendix - summary of recommendations) - 249 KB

The Partnership Board is now implementing the recommendations of the report through working with local authorities to produce the boundaries for each of the monitoring geographies.