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About Regional Asemblies

The Facts

1. What are Regional Assemblies?
   Regional Assemblies are partnership bodies which bring together representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.
   
   
2. Who are Regional Assembly Members?
   The exact profile and number of Assembly Members varies from region to region. In general 70% of Members are elected local authority councillors and 30% are social, economic and environmental partners drawn from sectors such as business, arts and culture, education, faith groups, community, voluntary and environmental organisations. Members of the European Parliament are also Members of some Assemblies.
   
   The Regional Assemblies are voluntary organisations and their Members are determined by their nominating bodies.
   
   
3. How long have Regional Assemblies been operating?
   Regional Assemblies, sometimes referred to as 'Regional Chambers', were set up in the late 1990's at the same time as Regional Development Agencies were established. The relevant legislation is the 1998 Regional Development Agencies Act.
   
   
4. How many Regional Assemblies are there?
   There are seven partnership Regional Assemblies, and one Regional Leaders Forum (North West).
   
   
5. Where do Regional Assemblies fit in the regional governance framework?
   The 2002 white paper 'Your Region, Your Choice' established Regional Assemblies as one of three key regional governance organisations alongside Regional Development Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions.
   
   
6. How are Regional Assemblies funded?
   The majority of funding comes from central government. Some Regional Assemblies also receive money from other sources such as local authority subscriptions.
   
   
7. What do Regional Assemblies do?
   All Assemblies perform the same four core activities, they may also engage in other work according to regional circumstances and priorities:
   Regional Planning - as Regional Planning Bodies, Assemblies are responsible for preparing statutory Regional Spatial Strategies including Regional Transport Strategies. This work involves developing, monitoring and reviewing strategic planning and transport policies.
   Regional Housing - as Regional Housing Boards, Assemblies prepare Regional Housing Strategies and make recommendations to Government on the priorities for housing investment.
   Advocacy and Policy Development - representing the voices of regions to Whitehall and European institutions. Assemblies provide a strategic focus for integrating regional strategy development and partnership working.
   Accountability - scrutinising the work of Regional Development Agencies. Some Assemblies also hold other public sector bodies to account.
   
   
8. What policy areas do Regional Assemblies deal with?
   Principal areas include regional planning and transport, housing, the environment, sustainable development, rural issues and equalities.
   
   
9. Do Regional Assemblies work with other bodies?
   Partnership working is at the centre of Regional Assembly activities. In each region the Assembly has established a network of working arrangements involving the full spectrum of local authority, social, economic and environmental partners.