10 January 2008

Below is a summary of issues discussed and decisions taken at the Regional Executive Board meeting on 10 January 2008. You can download the meeting papers from the link at the bottom of the page. Formal minutes will be available following the next meeting. For more information on any of the issues discussed, contact the Assembly on 01924 331555.

Sub National Review

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.

Whilst headlines 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 is still being developed.

On 21 December the government published a short holding paper which was circulated to all Assembly Members. The paper reconfirmed the reforms set out in the SNR and outlined progress to date, setting out the next steps in relation to primary legislation, consultation and transition issues.

The consultation paper (to be published early in 2008) will seek views including:

• How the single regional strategy might be implemented and the creation of a local authority economic development duty.
• The process for developing the strategy and principles for joint working between RDA, Local Authorities and other partners (business and third sector specifically mentioned) on the development of the strategy and the implementation plan (whilst still recognising the need for regional flexibility).
• Options for how RDA’s, LA’s and Regional Partners should change to meet new challenges
• How the second round of Regional Funding Allocations will be taken forward and what funding streams will be included.
• The role of the Homes and Communities Agency in delivering SNR reforms
• Options for the future of regional housing boards.

Various meetings between the Assembly, Government Ministers, regional agencies, and other groupings of local authorities continue to take place to begin helping shape the detail of how the region wishes to work in the future.

Members raised a number of issues, including how to work on producing a joint regional response once the consultation is issued, the need to ensure the Assembly’s work continues during the transition period, how work on sustainable development would be taken forward in the new arrangements and the need for new structures to be challenging and create opportunities for the region. They agreed to continue to be updated on SNR developments with a view to more detailed discussion once the consultation was issued. For more details contact Rob Warm on 01924 331562, email rob.warm@yhassembly.gov.uk.

Assembly Business Plan and Budget

Members discussed progress on the Assembly’s work priorities and budgetary principles for the next financial year 2008/09 and the next steps in the preparation of the organisational Business Plan for 2008/09.

In December 2007 the publication of a document on taking forward the SNR makes clear that our business plan has to be prepared in the context of ‘transition’ to new regional arrangements, with an expectation that funding for Assemblies will continue during the transition period but at a reducing level.

Although this general context is clear, the detail has yet to emerge. In particular, members heard we still await guidance on the amount of funding we will receive from Government and what we are expected to deliver for that funding. In addition, the delay in the consultation on implementing the SNR means that the details of the transition process are not yet defined.

The change brought about by SNR means we are now planning for a transition regional working and members agreed this has to be the dominant theme of the business plan to 2010/11, along with a series of general challenges. These include the need to:

• Maintain current work and to ensure good practice and expertise is not lost to the region
• To secure a shift in the way that business is done at the regional level, including taking account of (or anticipating) future changes in regional responsibilities.
• To focus on ‘statutory’, Government and the Region’s priorities given reduced funding, particularly in years two and three as transition takes place.
• To influence the final implementation of the SNR, helping shape how the Region wishes to work in the future – and how the Assembly’s work will be taken forward.
• To plan for an orderly transfer of work and staff to the new arrangements as the resources available to the Assembly decrease over transition period.
• To strengthen day-to-day working relationships between the Assembly and Yorkshire Forward in advance of the move to an integrated body to ease the transition to new arrangements, particularly in relation to staffing issues.
• To maintain the successful partnership working we have developed (including business, social and environmental partners) to enable the reformed regional architecture need to build on these.

In discussion, members particularly raised concerns about the need to retain staff and expertise for the benefit of the region and asked that further work be done on this. They agreed to the principles and priorities set out and approved the preparation of a more detailed draft plan for circulation and comment to the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Assembly and all Board Chairs by 15 January. This would enable a formal draft to be presented to a special meeting of the Regional Executive Board to be held immediately before the next Assembly meeting on 7 February. The Executive Board will be asked to endorse the draft Business Plan and also a draft budget for formal agreement at the Assembly meeting. For more details contact Chris Martin on 01924 331591, email Chris.martin@yhassembly.gov.uk.

Yorkshire Forward Corporate Plan 2008/11

Tom Riordan and Simon Foy presented details of Yorkshire Forward’s Corporate Plan 2008/11 and the consultation activity taking place to help further formulate the plan.

The Plan sets out Yorkshire Forward’s contribution to delivering the Regional Economic Strategy, along with their response to the Sub National review (SNR).

Among changes to current practice, the Plan proposes a new approach to investment of the Single Pot and although current arrangements for investment planning will continue for 2008/09, there will be a move to a City Region basis for the agreement of economic priorities from March 2009. The Plan also recognises that the SNR means a much changed role for Yorkshire Forward and a new relationship with local government, along with the importance of maintaining the involvement of social, environmental and economic partners in the new arrangements.

It has five key corporate objectives- Championing RES delivery; Helping people to access good jobs, skills and transport; Helping businesses to start up, grow and compete through innovation; Regenerating cities, towns and rural communities; and Improving Yorkshire Forward’s capacity- to deliver its work.

Members raised a number of issues they feel need to be addressed in the plan. These included how success was measured, local/city region challenges, economic disadvantage and diversity concerns and sustainability measurements. They agreed to feed specific comments into the Assembly to enable us to draw up an organisational response. For more details contact Sue Jeffrey on 01924 331561, email sue.jeffrey@yhassembly.gov.uk.

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