This current regional restructure has been triggered by the following key national and regional strategic policy reports: the Leitch Review of skills (2007), the Freud report on welfare reform (2007), the Regional Spatial Strategy (2008) and, most importantly, the Sub National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) (2007).
Set up in March 2006, the SNR examines ways of reducing regional economic inequalities; its report came out in July 2007, in advance of the full consultation document launched in March 2008. The Government’s response to consultation, published in November 2008, puts forward a range of proposals for a more effective, accountable and streamlined regional arrangement, such as:
• A single integrated regional planning body: Regional Assemblies to be integrated into Regional Development Agencies to provide a single body that will be more accountable and effective. (Assemblies not to continue beyond 2010.)
• A single integrated regional strategy: all regional strategies, including those with a statutory basis (the Regional Spatial Strategy and Regional Economic Strategy) would be consolidated into an Integrated Regional Strategy (IRS). Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will be responsible for preparing these integrated strategies on behalf of the region.
• Functional sub-regions: more functional economic areas, better reflecting housing and labour markets, than the traditional administrative boundaries were proposed as a more effective basis for planning and delivery, requiring more effective collaboration between local authorities.
• Improved accountability: agreed by the Parliament (Nov 2008), regional select committees and regional grand committees will provide the linkage between national and regional scrutiny.
The latest proposals from the Government – the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill (January 2009) – are to enable the regions to promote the post SNR infrastructure:
• RSS and RES will become the regional strategy until IRS is in place.
• A new statutory duty on local authorities to assess the economic conditions in their area.
• A sustainability appraisal is a statutory requirement for IRS and as such is to form an integrated part of the strategy-making process.
• IRS development using Examination in Public
• Economic Prosperity Boards at subregional level: three new options for subregional cooperation:
- Economic Prosperity Boards (EPB)
- The combination of the functions of an EPB with the functions of an Integrated Transport Authority (ITA)
- MAA with stakeholder Duties
• Wider consultation with stakeholders: as a legal duty the Bill specifies those bodies that must be consulted.
• A broad programme of transitional outcomes: to be agreed between RDA and the Leaders’ Boards and Central Government, with some outcomes being a legal requirement:
• SNR Transition Steering Group with representatives from LGA, RDAs and RAs
• An Annual Monitoring Report to be published by the RDA and the Leaders’ Board as a trigger of decisions whether the IRS should be reviewed.
Throughout 2009 the expectation for the region is to move forward with:
• Local economic assessments
• Joint working with Yorkshire Forward on the IRS
• Further MAA and EPB development possibly combined with ITAs
• New City Region Development Plans
• Leadership and elected members Change Management and Strategic Leadership
• Partnership and Commissioning Development
• Sector Growth strategies and key recession project priorities
• Governance and policy support, eg transport, skills, housing, sustainable development and capital funding.
Now the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly has been disbanded (as of 1 April 2009), the new regional structure will need a consolidated and committed effort of all its stakeholders to ensure that it can capture and implement the new strategies which are required to take forward the vision originally set out in the SNR.
The latest National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy (NIES) (January 2008) has coincided with the SNR to create a unique opportunity for regional and local development. The strategy sets out a framework for supporting improvement and efficiency work in local authorities over the next three years.
This is envisaged through the creation of the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) from the merging of Regional Improvement Partnerships and Regional Centres of Excellence, to provide a more collaborative strategic approach to supporting improvement and sharing learning in local government.
With the Government’s funding package of almost £19m for 2008-11 (£1,474.000 allocated to completing improvement priorities under the 2005-08 ‘Capacity Building’ phase and £17.5m for 2008-11), the Yorkshire and Humber RIEP is to deliver the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Strategy 2008-11 (RIES) focusing its priorities around the following issues:
• Corporate Improvement and Value for Money
• Economic Growth, Prosperity and Inclusion
• Personalisation, Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice
• Climate Change
To deliver the RIES, local authorities in the region, working with the LGYH (Local Government Yorkshire and Humber), have established a RIEP Board made up of representatives from the new Regional Leaders’ Board and representatives from every Council, the Fire and Police Authorities, a PCT Board Chair and recently – the WY and SY Passenger Transport Authorities.
In order for the RIEP process to back up the SNR process, local authorities are expected to have greater powers and influence in the development of their regions and how it affects their localities:
• through the representation on the Joint Regional Board* – over the resourcing the FSR infrastructure to help deliver the new IRS
• at FSR level – responsibility for the implementation of the MAAs, housing, transport, skills and sustainable development
• at the local level – commitment to utilise the RIEP funds to focus on the key priorities at locality level.
Having completed its first year, the RIEP now finds itself in a different economic environment than when the Partnership was first established in 2008. The main challenge, as outlined in the RIEP’s first Annual Report, is now to remain focused on the RIES priorities throughout the economic downturn and to prepare for the upturn when it comes.
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