REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

2. REGIONAL GOVERNMENT The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA or the Assembly) • Representative voice of the region. • Covers nine areas: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey. • 111 members • including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities. • regional representatives elected by the voluntary sector, environmental groups, faith communities, business and economic partnerships, education and cultural networks • representatives from town and parish councils. • Funded by the region's local authorities and can draw down resources directly from central government. • Small secretariat of administrative, policy research and communications staff and a team of planning and transport professionals. • It also relies on the expertise of its member organisations and regional partners. • Full Assembly meets three times a year

3. REGIONAL GOVERNMENT Assembly Responsibilities • A Voice for the South East - Promotes the interests of the region with the Government, Europe and other national agencies. • The South East in Europe - The Assembly aims to press the region's interests in Brussels as well as Westminster. • Working with London and Other Regions -The South East and London are interdependent and a key aspect of the Assembly's work will be to ensure that there is a productive dialogue with London's decision makers and with those in neighbouring regions. • Scrutiny of Regional Bodies - In particular, the Assembly is the designated body to which the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) must report by statute. • The South East's Economy - The Assembly co-operates closely with SEEDA in developing, amending and approving a Regional Economic Strategy. The strategy covers many elements of the regional economy and has major implications for infrastructure and development in the South East. • Transport Strategy for the Region - The Regional Assembly is responsible for developing the Regional Transport Strategy for the South East region and a leadership role in ensuring its delivery. • Planning the South East's Future - In April 2001 the Assembly took over responsibility for the preparation of Regional Planning Guidance

4. OTHER REGIONAL BODIES • South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) • develops and implements economic strategies within the region • aids economic regeneration in parts of the region where needed. • responsible for the distribution of central government funding to and monitoring of a wide variety of projects. • Government Office for the South East (GOSE) • office of central government in the South East • has a key role in the implementation of Government policy within the region • delegates some of its responsibilities to SEEDA • work closely with the Assembly on others. • Regional Action & Involvement in the South East (RAISE) • Representative body for Voluntary and Community organisations in South East England. • Enables voluntary and community organisations in the South East to influence policy, wherever it is made or implemented for the benefit of the people they serve.

5. REGIONAL PLANNING Regional Planning Guidance • Provides regional framework for local authority development plans • Spatial framework for other strategies & programmes like local transport plans and the regional strategies developed by SEEDA • Must be taken into account by local planning authorities in the preparation of development plans • Various aspects currently under review: • Tourism • Housing • Transport • Waste • Energy • Minerals • Ashford • Milton Keynes • Reviews include public consultation and an examination in public • As a result of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill will become the Regional Spatial Strategy (or South East Plan)

6. REGIONAL PLANNING REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY (SE PLAN) • Part of the statutory development plan. (Local development documents will need to be in line with RPG9 and planning applications will need to cater for its provisions.) • Will not just relate to things that can be implemented through the planning system or local transport plan process. • It will also take account of a wide range of activities and programmes which have a bearing on land use including health, education, culture, economic development, skills and training, social inclusion, crime reduction and the impact of climate change. • Current RPG reviews will be used as building blocks for the Plan • Plan will be long term & STATUTORY!

7. WHAT IS SEFS? • South East Forum for Sustainability = The environmental network for the region • Set up in 1998 in answer to Governments regionalisation agenda • Has 3 seats on the Regional Assembly • Aims to represent all NGOs working on environmental sustainability in the region • Currently has about 100 organisations registered (12 Local Groups are paid up members)

8. Overall Aim • SEFS overall aim is to help achieve sustainability in the South East by ensuring that environmental issues are promoted and are central to regional decision-making processes. General method of working • To be inclusive, accessible and encourage all relevant public interest voluntary groups in the South East to join SEFS • To encourage and facilitate networking and the exchange of information between organisations with an interest in environmental sustainability in the South East • To encourage greater accountability in regional and related local decision making • To be an effective focus for influencing regional issues relating to environmental sustainability.

9. What do we help you? • Influence regional policy by: • Engaging with The Assembly through our representatives • Ensuring SEFS representatives are in place on the committees and working groups advising SEERA • Responding to strategy consultations • Disseminate & share information with members and other interested parties • Policy & Executive Committee • Website ( www.sefs.org.uk ) • Email briefings • Newsletters • Membership meetings • Provide a concerted voice on sustainable development and the environment at the regional level

10. How Can You Help Us? • Join SEFS!