6 September 2007

Below is a summary of issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the Regional Executive Board on 6 September 2007. You can download the papers from this meeting from the link at the bottom of the page. Formal minutes will be available following the next Regional Executive Board meeting. For more information on any of the issues discussed, contact the Assembly on 01924 331555.

Sub National Review

In July, the Government announced the initial outcomes from the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), which has a number of implications for the way in which regional and sub-regional level working takes place.

Whilst the headlines emerging from the review are relatively clear - including that Assemblies will not continue in “their current form’’ and a bigger role for Regional Development Agencies - the detail of how the recommendations will be implemented has yet to be developed. Further clarification is expected in the Autumn.

The Government has made it clear Assemblies themselves, regional agencies, and other groupings of local authorities will all have key roles to play in helping shape the detail of how the region wishes to work in the future, with the changes phased for an anticipated completion date of 2010.

A number of meetings between various regional partners and agencies have already taken place. Further consultation on elements of the implementation of the review will take place during the Autumn and before the end of the Year.

Members raised a number of issues on which they will be seeking clarification. These include more details from the Government on the planned timetable, concerns over governance and accountability issues, the role of local authorities and SEE partners and the need to maintain established regional partnership working.

The Assembly’s Policy Conference on October 4 is also expected to go into the SNR in more depth. For more details contact Rob Warm on 01924 331562, email rob.warm@yhassembly.gov.uk

Delivering Regional Growth

Members discussed a detailed report on how the region might address the implications of economic and housing growth issues facing Yorkshire and Humber.

The context to this debate was the recent publication by the Government of the Housing Green Paper, which – amongst other things - proposes increasing the number of homes being built across the country. However, the evidence of continuing employment growth in Y&H, particularly in the Leeds City Region also provides a more specific regional context to the increased need for more homes to be built in future. The regional picture on housing figures and Government expectations will become clear when it publishes the proposed changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy for consultation in the Autumn.

In response to need for more homes to be built nationally, the Government has outlined proposals for new “eco-towns’’ and “growth points’’ to help deliver sustainable growth and regeneration, with up to £300m of investment to support transport and other infrastructure to aid this.

A number of members expressed concerns over the likely impact of increases in house building in the region and in specific areas of the region, particularly with regards to transport infrastructure and Green Belt. Members supported the idea of pursuing the investigation of the “growth point” and “eco towns” concept, as set out in the report, as a way of helping bring much needed investment in infrastructure into the region and in helping play a part in future solutions to accommodating growth. However, the discussion did not imply the acceptance of any of the specific housing figures that were included for illustrative purpose in the report. It was agreed that further examination and discussion on the proposed housing numbers for the region would need to take place when the proposed changes to the RSS are published. For more details contact Richard Wood on 01924 331555, email richard.wood@yhassembly.gov.uk

Yorkshire and Humber Plan (Draft RSS) and the Integrated Regional Framework (IRF) – Handling Arrangements

Members discussed the next steps in work to complete the Yorkshire and Humber Plan (draft RSS) and the IRF. Members agreed a process that will involve calling an additional Assembly meeting on 6 December to agree the Assembly’s response to the Government’s proposed changes to the draft RSS and to ‘sign off’ the IRF in time to meet a Christmas deadline for submission to Government.

Communities England

The Government is currently consulting on proposals to establish Communities England - a new agency formed by merging English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation.

Members discussed how the Assembly should respond, focussing on the broader relationship of Communities England to emerging thinking around the sub-national review. They agreed the response would focus on three areas:

Developing a model that is flexible enough to meet the needs of the Yorkshire and Humber region;

Developing a clear relationship with regional strategies - particularly around housing, planning and economic development; and

Ensuring there are clear links with existing and future structures - in the light of likely changes emerging from the sub-national review.

For more details contact Rob Warm on 01924 331562, email rob.warm@yhassembly.gov.uk

Other Business

SEE Partner Representation

Members agreed to a request from SEE partners that a pool of named substitutes be created to cover meetings normal REB SEE partners representatives were unable to attend.

Regional Executive Board (REB) Work Programme 2007/8

Members were updated on progress on the Regional Executive Board work programme which has been developed.

The programme covers five top priorities- Developing the Integrated Regional Framework; Exercising regional leadership; Lobbying/working with government and others on key issues; Coordinating, overseeing and monitoring the work of Functional Boards; and policy/strategy development and endorsement. For more details contact Sue Jeffrey on 01924 331560, email sue.jeffrey@yhassembly.gov.uk

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Yorkshireurope Director Jane Hustwit outlined the new Governance arrangements for overseeing the new ERDF programme which will bring almost £400m to the region between 2007-13. Members welcomed an offer from Yorkshire Forward to increase the local authority representation on the Programme Monitoring Committee to replace one of YF’s representatives. For more information contact Lyndsey Bunn on 01924 331555, email lyndsey.bunn@yhassembly.gov.uk

You can download the agenda and papers for this meeting below. For more information, contact the Assembly.

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