Memorandum by "Local Choice Local
Voice" (LCLV) (DRA 50)
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 "Local Choice Local Voice"
(LCLV) is a consortium comprising the District Councils of Chester-le-Street,
Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley in
County Durham. LCLV supports the establishment of a directly elected
Regional Assembly for the North East, and is strongly of the view
that 3 new unitary councils should be created in County Durham
as a result of the local government review that is part of the
process.
1.2 LCLV would have preferred additional
powers and functions to be devolved from the Government from the
outset. We accept that the Government intends to confer these
over time. However, it is important for the Government to recognise
that the Assembly must be effective in driving up the region's
performance to ensure that the North East can maximise its potential
to contribute to national economic growth. We therefore urge the
Select Committee to comment upon the need for expeditious decision
making that will improve the range of powers and functions as
quickly as possible.
1.3 We have seen the submission relating
to stakeholder engagement with the directly elected Assembly produced
by the North East Assembly (NEA) and LCLV agrees with the principles
set out therein. We would, however, emphasise the need for the
new Assembly to engage effectively with local government in the
region and ensure that mechanisms are put into place to ensure
that the voice of local government is listened to and is influential.
2. THE MAIN
ISSUES
2.1 The Economy
2.1.1 The economic performance of the North
East has lagged behind the more prosperous parts of the country
for decades and regional inequalities are continuing to worsen.
2.1.1 The devolution of central government
functions into the region ought to assist the North East to take
greater control of its destiny. This needs to be bolstered by
a joined up approach with all of the other regional agencies with
very clearly drawn responsibilities. Decentralisation of Government
Departments into the region would further assist.
2.2 Skills and Training
2.2.1 We welcome the formation of the Regional
Skills Partnership and the creation of the post of Regional LSC
Director.
2.2.2 The provision for the new Assembly
to appoint 5 members to each of the local LSCs is positively viewed
and we hope this will lead to the strong relationship the Government
has said it wants between the Assembly, the LSC and others on
the Regional Skills Partnership.
2.2.3 The extension of the Assembly's powers
in relation to the development of business support services in
the future is welcomed.
2.3 Transport
2.3.1 A power to establish a regional transport
authority would have been welcomed to work with sub-regional transport
executives.
LCLV is concerned that although the draft Bill
indicates the Assembly will be able to invest in improved rail
services, this will not address major weaknesses in transport
in the region. The Assembly needs to have powers relating to revenue
support for local rail services and for spending on the trunk
road network and other major highways. The Bill does not seem
to recognise that the North East's transport problems relate to
improving accessibility and opening remote and peripheral areas,
which contrasts with other more prosperous parts of the country.
A proposal for the Assembly to take over rural transport funding
would have been welcomed.
2.4 Equality and Diversity
2.4.1 LCLV considers that the draft Bill
needs to be extended to include a statutory duty to address equality
and diversity, despite such provisions in other regional assemblies.
2.5 Culture
2.5.1 We consider that the proposals in
the draft Bill need strengthening to provide for greater financial
control and devolution of responsibilities from central government
and other national agencies.
The draft Bill refers to a future review but
the vagueness of what this could lead to does not give confidence.
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