What is the Assembly and how does it work?

The full Assembly is responsible for providing regional leadership, agreeing regional strategic priorities, directing the development of the Integrated Regional Framework and endorsing key regional strategies. Membership comprises all 22 local authorities in this region, plus 15 Social, Economic and Environmental partners, and the National Parks for planning purposes.

What does it do?

• Agrees and reviews progress on the region’s vision and priorities for a better and sustainable future, overseeing an Integrated Regional Framework to guide the work of other regional strategies and plans;
• Lobbies, nationally and in Europe, to get the best possible deal for the region, for example to secure more investment or to ensure sustainable development;
• Is the regional planning body, overseeing work with partners to shape where and what types of development will meet the future needs of the region;
• Oversees work to develop and implement the Yorkshire and Humber Plan (including the Regional Transport Strategy), and the Regional Housing Strategy, and helps shape the Regional Economic Strategy and other important regional plans;
• Is responsible for scrutinising the Regional Economic Strategy to ensure that work to secure sustainable economic development and growth is delivering real benefits for the region; and
• Ensures regional agencies are accountable to the region through the active, majority involvement of all 22 Local Authority Leaders working alongside social, economic and environmental partners.

Over the past year, the Assembly has...

• Discussed issues arising from the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration, including making a debate on the SNR the focus of the successful regional policy conference (held in October 2007), and helped shape proposals for the new regional arrangements to be introduced by 2010.
• Agreed the terms of the new Integrated Regional Framework.
• Agreed the Region’s response to the Government’s proposed changes to the Yorkshire and Humber Plan (the draft Regional Spatial Strategy).
• Agreed a response to Yorkshire Forward’s Corporate Plan.
  Signed off scrutiny reports on employment in the Region and on the economy of rural areas.
• Agreed the regional inclusion framework, ‘Promise – Delivering Inclusion in Yorkshire and Humber’, and plans for the ‘Creating Better Futures’ Awards (named after former Assembly member, Julian Cummins).

How does it work?

Members discuss and debate the big regional issues – bringing the experience from their area or sector to develop and shape policy and strategy that meets the needs of our people, businesses and environment. Members are accountable to their nominating bodies (for example a local authority or a sector specific groups e.g. TUC or the regional CBI). Wherever possible members make decisions on the basis of consensus. Membership is made up of 60% Local Authorities and 40% Social, Economic and Environmental Partners. Votes are allocated using the same 60:40 ratio.

The Assembly works in close partnership with Yorkshire Forward (the Regional Development Agency), Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber and a range of government sponsored, and other bodies and organisations providing services in the region, many of whom join us at Assembly meetings.

The Assembly has effective relationships beyond the region working across the North, with the other English Regions, with national Government and with European and international bodies and institutions.

How often does it meet?

The full Assembly normally meets three times a year, normally in February, June and October. All meeting agendas, papers and minutes are available from the Assembly’s website.

Who's involved?

The Full Members of the Assembly are all local authorities in membership of Local Government Yorkshire and Humber, representatives of sector groups (social, economic and environmental), and the two National Parks. There is a non-voting Observer category of membership open to other authorities, organisations or agencies having an interest in the work of the Assembly.

Who supports the Assembly?

The work of the Assembly is supported by a team of almost 40 staff led by an Executive Co-ordination Team made up of the Chair, Peter Box, the Deputy Chair, Paul Jagger, and two Executive Directors, Sue Jeffrey and Chris Martin.