COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (077) issued by The Government News Network
on 31 March 2008
Government
consults on proposals to support regional economic growth in England
Ministers have today laid the foundations for sweeping reforms to
bring about a renaissance in England's most deprived areas.
It follows publication of the Sub-National Review of Economic
Development and Regeneration last July, which announced new
streamlined regional government with the phasing out of Regional
Assemblies from 2010.
Under proposed new legislation, top tier councils would be given
a duty to assess the economic conditions of their area, including
employment and skills needs, and the infrastructure needed to
support sustainable economic growth - including housing and
transport investment.
These councils and Regional Development Agencies would then use
this as the basis for regional strategies, covering the future for
housing, skills, transport and regeneration in their region, to
encourage greater economic growth.
Regional Development Agencies and regional partners would also
advise government on how best to join up the regional funding
already allocated for areas including housing and regeneration,
skills, transport and economic development.
Building on those areas where councils are already collaborating
and developing Multi-Area Agreements, the proposed legislation
would also, where sub-regions requested this, give statutory
backing to voluntary arrangements between local authorities,
provided these are cost-effective and improve accountability to
local people.
And to make RDAs accountable both in their regions and in
Parliament, they will be answerable to new regional forums of
local authority leaders, the arrangements for which will be agreed
locally, and Ministers are in discussion with Commons authorities
on the formation of new regional select committees.
Local Government Minister John Healey said:
"Over the past decade, every English region has benefited
from significant and impressive growth. I want us to go further
and faster, spreading this prosperity to every area of the country
- but Whitehall cannot do this alone.
"Councils are best placed to know the challenges that their
local communities face and learn from their economic successes. In
their reformed role, Regional Development Agencies will work
closely with councils and business to develop a vision for the
future of their areas.
"These reforms lay the foundations for a renaissance in
England's most deprived areas. It will help them to unlock
the potential of local businesses and help build new ones -
putting our local economies in an even stronger, competitive
position than now."
Minister of State for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs,
Pat McFadden said:
"For our economy to continue to thrive
we need competitive businesses and a public sector that
understands their needs at regional, city and local levels. This
consultation is about how we want England's regions to
operate and perform, and the role of businesses and town halls in
creating prosperous places the length and breadth of the country."
Notes to Editors:
1. Prosperous Places: Taking Forward the
Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration is
published today and can be found at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file45468.pdf.
This consultation runs until 20 June 2008.
2. The Review of Sub-National Economic Development and
Regeneration was published on 17 July, 2007. Details can be found
at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/spread_opportunity_to_all
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom