§ Mr. DobbinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what relationship he proposes between Regional Development Agencies and local authority development agencies. [97837]
§ Ms Beverley HughesWorking in partnership is a central part of the new approach in the regions. We asked the Regional Development Agencies to draw up their regional strategies in conjunction with regional partners, including local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors.
Implementing the strategies will also require genuine partnership working, since it requires co-ordination and coherence in policies and across programmes.
§ Mr. DobbinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what part regional development agencies will play in the development and implementation of local transport policies. [97835]
§ Ms Beverley HughesRegional Planning Guidance incorporates regional transport strategies which in turn inform local transport plans. RDAs are key partners in the preparation of RPG and draw attention to the transport priorities as they see them related to their regional economic strategies.
§ Mr. DobbinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what relationship he proposes between regional development agencies and local authorities. [97836]
§ Ms Beverley HughesOur regional agenda, set out in the 1997 White Paper "Building Partnerships for Prosperity" is based on a number of principles. These include the need for regional structures to be based on partnership, with each local or regional interest being able to contribute effectively towards an integrated and coherent strategic programme which commands general support. We have, therefore, asked the RDAs to proceed in dialogue with regional partners—local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors—and work to secure the support of regional interests.
Successful implementation of RDA strategies will mean genuine partnership working in the regions since it will involve co-ordination and coherence in policy and across programmes.
Local authorities have a significant stake in the work of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). Four of the thirteen board members of each RDA are drawn from local government.
The Regional Chambers will also be a key partner of the RDAs. The Chambers are local authority led, but also include representatives from business, the voluntary sector and others. Their statutory functions include commenting on the RDAs' strategies and receiving reports on the RDAs' activities.