Regional Issues

STOP PRESS...

The Regional Assembly has now been abolished and regional planning is now vested in the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward. There are 9 such agencies in England, and each is tasked with improving the economy in its own particular region. Yorkshire Forward is funded by central government (ie by taxpayers) and also receives funding from the EU.

Essentially its goal is to make Yorkshire & Humber a better place to live, work and invest, and to ensure that the region is able to compete on the domestic and global stage. It is responsible for the region's long term planning and has published:
  • The Regional Economic Strategy  which is a plan for how Yorkshire & Humber will grow faster and better than its competitors by 2015. It explains what the region needs to do to grow its £87bn economy, how this will be achieved, and who will be responsible for making it happen.  It provides a set of common priorities for our region, helping businesses, public agencies, voluntary groups and communities to focus their investment and effort on what will really make a difference for Yorkshire & Humber.
  • A Corporate Plan details how Yorkshire Forward will contribute to achieving the goals laid out in the Regional Economic Strategy. The plan defines our corporate objectives and core business. We deliver these objectives through its policies, and set out our priorities for the 3-year period 2008-2011. It also details the response to the government’s Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), and its Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) 2007.
  • The Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) to maintain competitive advantage. The Regional Economic Stratefgy says that the region must focus on enterprise, innovation, investment and skills. The RIS is the response to that innovation component.
The recent changes are in response to the Government's Sub National Review which sees Yorkshire Forward. It has introduced a joint regional board which is a strategic partnership between Yorkshire Forward and the region’s Local Authorities. This group is charged with developing the new Integrated Regional Strategy to deliver sustainable economic growth in the region. It meets four times a year to plan and discuss the development and delivery of the strategy.
Separately the Government has reinforced its commitment to greater devolution of decision making by appointing Regional Select Committees. The terms of reference will limit the frequency of meetings and have a remit to scrutinise the work of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and regional strategies. Yorkshire Forward is the RDA for our area.
Eight select committees have been established. Membership for this region is Clive Betts (Sheffield – Attercliffe), Ian Cawsey (Brigg & Goole), Mary Creagh (Wakefield), Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central) and Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes). Eric Illsley has been elected Chair.
Click Yorkshire Forward for more information about what it does and how it works.