Memorandum by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough
Council (DRA 65)
Thank you very much for giving Rotherham MBC
the opportunity to take part in the important work of the Select
Committee.
As you may be aware, Rotherham MBC welcomes
in principle the White Paper. We share the Government's vision
for strong Regions, and the Paper marks an important step forward
in taking this forward. This coupled with the strong Yorkshire
regional identity and the growing interest in regional governance
in Rotherham and the wider Yorkshire and Humber Region means that
this issue is of particular importance to the Borough. Rotherham
MBC has a neutral position on if a directly elected regional assembly
should be introduced in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
We are disappointed that a referendum on establishing
a directly elected regional assembly in the Yorkshire and Humber
Region is not to take place this year. There was a significant
and growing support for this to take place. The people of the
Region have missed an important opportunity to test the benefits
a directly elected regional assembly can bring to the Region.
This is a shame and a significant missed opportunity. We strongly
urge that the Region is included in the next wave of elections,
and that this takes place as soon as possible.
Turning to the Bill in more detail:
— We firmly endorse the proposals that
directly elected regional assemblies will not be imposed on a
region and that they will take powers from the centre, not from
local government. These are fully supported.
— To work and be sustainable, a directly
elected regional assembly needs to make a real and positive impact
on people's lives. If perceived as another layer of bureaucracy
they will not prosper. There is a need to demonstrate that they
will add value and are value for money. Crucial here is that they
have a power of general competence, and sufficient mix of powers,
autonomy and duties to achieve their stated aims and goals.
— We welcome the weight attached to
placing economic functions at the heart of the work of directly
elected regional assemblies. This should be strengthened to link
economic development responsibilities with broad powers over housing,
training, culture and transport to deliver real progress towards
regeneration and sustainability.
— We remain concerned about the extent
to which the Government intends to retain reserve powers and impose
duties and structures in many key areas such as responsibility
between the executive and assembly and operating structures. In
most cases we are not convinced that there is need for such controls.
Undue interference will result in tension, and reduce directly
elected regional assemblies ability to deliver regional solutions
to regional problems. We would strongly urge that directly elected
regional assemblies should be given maximum flexibility to determine
their own structure, frameworks and priorities in response to
local diversity, priorities and needs.
— The electoral arrangements are cautiously
supported in principle. We especially welcome the suggestion that
they be directly elected. We are however concerned about the proposed
number of regional councillors. They may be too few bearing in
mind the range of duties and functions envisaged for them both
individually and collectively. This is especially true in the
Yorkshire and Humber, which is one of the most populous regions.
The 25-35 threshold would suggest an average constituency in the
Region far in excess of the existing parliamentary constituencies,
and thus would be too large and unwieldy for key democratic and
accountability purposes. This element of the Bill needs to reviewed.
Perhaps consideration should be given to the introduction of a
broad population/elector to councillor ratio. This would then
ensure consistency of representation across all Regions. Again,
here the key message is one of regional flexibility.
— We would urge that the key role of
a democratically elected Regional Assembly in scrutinising the
role and functions of key Government agencies and departments
that operate at the regional level be strengthened. A directly
elected regional assembly could provide an important means for
improving the accountability of (as well as the transparency of
decision making) by agencies such as RDAs, Government Offices
etc. We would like the Bill to set out clearer powers of scrutiny,
including rights to call staff and information, in relation to
external bodies, and quangos.
— We would welcome further details
and clarification on the timing and "triggering mechanisms"
for the next round of referendums. As mentioned earlier we were
disappointed that the Yorkshire and Humber Region is now not to
be included in the first wave, and strongly urge that it be included
in the second one, to allow local people the opportunity to voice
their views.
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