06 November 2008

The Regional Executive Board met on 6 November 2008.

The Agenda and papers are available to download below along with an additional report. There is also a round up from the meeting below.

The minutes from this meeting are also available below.

Summary of the meeting

SNR/Regional Transition Arrangements and Budget Planning

Members discussed developments on work involved in the Government’s Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), which has a number of implications for regional and sub-regional level working.

Publication of the Government response to the SNR consultation is still awaited- the latest suggestion is that it will be published as part of announcements connected with the Pre Budget Report later in November.

Business Planning Guidance for 2009/10 has now been issued to cover the Assembly’s functions for 2009/10 and members addressed issues surrounding the Assembly staff team and the need to develop and agree the Business Plan.

Following a similar decision made at the October 30 meeting of the Local Government Yorkshire and Humber Leaders Boards, members agreed that from April 2009 the LGYH Leaders Board take responsibility for directing the activities of the assembly staff team and that the arrangements for the move are developed with the assembly team as part of the business planning process. For more details contact Sue Jeffrey on 01924 331560, email sue.jeffrey@yhassembly.gov.uk

RSS Update

Executive Director Chris Martin outlined progress with the review of the current RSS, in view of testing out the assessment of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) that would see regional building rates rising to between 25,100 and 28,300 new homes a year from 2016.

Over the last four months, consultation has been undertaken on a draft Project Plan and also on a ‘Call for Evidence’, which has brought forward initial views from regional and local stakeholders on a range of proposed approaches to accommodating future growth. The Assembly team has also drawn together ‘evidence base’ work to identify more specific development opportunities and constraints within each sub-area – drawing on evidence from local authorities and a range of other organisations.

The next stage is to move to a further stage of ‘informal’ consultation with regional and local stakeholders to seek views on a range of ‘options’ for ‘how much’ and in ‘what ways’ and ‘where’ development might be accommodated in the longer-term. In preparing for this proposed consultation the Assembly team has discussed and tested its work with the Regional Planning and Transport Forums and also the Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Group.

It will include a series of public sub-regional consultation events in York, Hull, Sheffield and Leeds and other events for specific interests, culminating in a regional housing and planning event in York on 27 November.

Members raised concerns over the need to carry out this work in the current economic climate, and it was agreed following the consultation, the results would be brought back for further discussion by the Board before developing the next stage of the work. For more details contact Richard Wood on 01924 331555, email richard.wood@yhassembly.gov.uk

Other Business

Update on National/Regional Economic Crisis

Simon Foy, from Yorkshire Forward, gave an overview of issues facing the region as a result of the worldwide recession, outlining challenges such as the banking crisis, export markets, interest rates, support for small businesses, and labour markets.

Details of national and regional action being taken to address those challenges were discussed, with members emphasising a need for Government to listen more to local authorities to tackle skills and worklessness problems, create an environment to develop small businesses and help bring urgent political input from regionally-based national politicians in finding solutions to local job threats. For more details contact Sue Jeffrey on 01924 331561, email sue.jeffrey@yhassembly.gov.uk

Olympics 2012 Update

Martin Havenhand, the executive chair of the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games, gave a brief update on the activities concerning the delivery of Yorkshire Gold, the strategy for driving forward the region’s opportunities, involvement and legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A range of events/projects had already taken place to begin building up momentum- including the Kirklees Youth Games (which attracted involvement from 20,000 youngsters), development of a swimming and diving centre in Leeds, bid for the world mountain biking championships in North Yorkshire and programme of sport for diverse groups in Bradford.

Further work was planned to help attract national teams to training facilities in the region, along with a review of progress post the 2008 Bejiing Games to take forward lessons learned. Martin added that one of the other key areas of work was in building a legacy following the 2012 games to ensure the region benefited in years to come, as well as from the events themselves.

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