19 October 2006

Below is a summary of issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the Regional Executive Board on 19 October 2006. The formal minutes will be available following the next Regional Executive Board meeting. The papers are available to download below.

This Regional Executive Board meeting was noted as a pre-meeting to the full assembly meeting to highlight any important matters that needed to be discussed there.

Mid Year Review and Business Planning

The Board noted the good progress against the Assembly’s business plan for 2006/07.

Key achievements during the half-year include:

• Implementation of the new governance arrangements for the Assembly (including setting up and having the first cycle of Board meetings) – these arrangements have strengthened the engagement of local authorities at city-regional and sub-regional level, so that 19 local authorities now have Leader or leading Member representation on the Assembly’s Boards (with one vacancy still left);
• Agreeing the region’s response to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 – including shaping the response from the Northern Way to ensure regional alignment;
• Completing the final stages of work on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – undertaking further work in the light of consultation (on housing, strategic environmental appraisal, Leeds city region strategy etc.), preparing for the Examination in Public and supporting the debate at the first three weeks of a six week process;
• Preparing the basis for working with local authorities on major development proposals and local development frameworks to ensure they align with and support delivery of the RSS;
• Commenced work on the new Integrated Regional Framework – gaining support and the involvement of partners;
• A number of key areas of work to support sustainable development were completed – including the launch of the Affordable Warmth Action Plan and the completion of the Regional Energy Infrastructure Strategy and Action Plan;
• A new scrutiny process agreed – the Northern Way Scrutiny report published and work underway on the Innovation Scrutiny Review;
• Support and endorsement for the new Regional Rural Delivery Framework and governance structures to implement it;
• Scoping document prepared for a Regional Inclusion Framework;
• Established new arrangements for the operation and management of the European Office – funded from 1 April by Yorkshire Forward;
• Established improved communications with Members and stakeholders – with the launch and regular publication of ‘Mini-Essentials’, publication of the Annual Report and the Assembly Information Packs;
• Parliamentary Briefing for the region’s Peers and MPs held in July;
• Establishing and recruiting to the new Assembly staffing structure – with recruitment completed for all but 2 posts completed by the end of September.

You can download the papers and minutes from this meeting below.