§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the sub-groups of the Urban Sounding Board, the membership of each group and their terms of reference. [52092]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 23 April 2002]: Four sub-groups have been set up to help target the advice members of the Urban Sounding Board give to Ministers. The sub groups cover:
(i) the obstacles to effective physical regeneration and how these might be addressed (led by Prof. Brian Robson);(ii) how good practice in urban design quality and public space provision might be adopted more widely (led by Robin Nicholson);466W(iii) how urban policy performance management might be used to improve target setting and measurement for delivering better towns and cities (led by Wendy Thomson);(iv) how to make the Urban Summit, to be held in Birmingham on 31 October/1 November, a worthwhile experience for all those expected to attend (led by Prof. Michael Parkinson).They are informal, short-term groups of members tasked with taking forward discussion on the above issues and identifying areas for possible action. The groups are made up of members of the Urban Sounding Board and others with particular interests and expertise invited by the sub-group leader. Their findings will be considered by the Urban Sounding Board as a whole.