Memorandum submitted by England's Regional
Development Agencies (Appendix 33)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. The Regional Development Agencies support
the development of this draft bill in principle and welcome the
changes which it proposes in taking forward the underpinning structures
for integration and simplification of future delivery and monitoring.
2. In line with our vision for the future
of rural delivery, we expect the result of the Bill to be structures
which are easy to explain to the rural customer, with clear remits
which minimize the risk of duplication and which allow for integration,
where appropriate, with the work of other organizations.
3. The RDAs believe that this draft Bill
does capture the expectations of the Rural Strategy 2004 and that,
on the whole, it will allow Government to implement its proposals
in an effective way. We have however identified some potential
risks which will need careful management as the new bodies (Integrated
Agency and Commission for Rural Communities) establish their work
programmes if they are not resolved through legislation.
4. Our response to the draft bill has been
given without specific legal advice on the wording of the bill.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES
5. RDAs, established in 1999, have a common
mission to transform England's regions through sustainable economic
development. They play a central role in developing regional strategic
interventions which respond to customers' needs and which are
delivered at the most appropriate level. RDAs have a clear vision
of the future of rural delivery which they are working with partners
to achieve through active participation in the creation of Regional
Rural Delivery Frameworks and the establishment of the Pathfinders
as well as through the development of their own areas of work.
RDAs expect to have significant engagement with the Integrated
Agency at national and regional level and, in line with that expectation,
have worked with the Confederation of Integrated Agencies, Forestry
Commission, Environment Agency and Government Offices to establish
an agreed set of principles for closer working. The RDAs will
be working hard to cement and strengthen this relationship as
the Integrated Agency takes shape, to ensure that joined-up, integrated
delivery is achieved at the regional level.
6. RDAs will also wish to engage closely
with the new Commission for Rural Communities in its national
role, and to work with it and their other partners such as Government
Offices and the Regional Rural Affairs Fora in a mutually beneficial
relationship.
DETAILED POINTS
6. RDAs strongly support the incorporation
of sustainable development in to the general purpose of both the
Integrated Agency and the Commission for Rural Communities. In
particular, we welcome the clarity which has been provided for
the Integrated Agency in terms of its general purpose to contribute
"in other ways to social and economic well-being through
management of the natural environment". This provides a real
opportunity for its work to complement, but not duplicate, that
of RDAs at the regional level.
7. Without receiving legal advice, we are
not entirely sure why the draft Bill does not specify the transfer
of certain Rural Development Service functions to the Integrated
Agency. We recognise that the accompanying Policy Statement states
that the new Integrated Agency will comprise elements of the current
Countryside Agency, Rural Development Service and English Nature
but this is not encapsulated in the draft Bill. We presume that
the fact that English Nature and the Countryside Agency have to
be formally dissolved is the driver for their inclusion and explains
the absence of reference to the Rural Development Service, but
request clarification on this point.
8. RDAs would wish to ensure a close relationship
with the Integrated Agency on its activities to ensure that together
we can achieve the best possible integration and simplification
of delivery to the customer. It would also minimize the risk of
duplication.
9. The RDAs believe that further clarity
is required regarding the activities of the Commission for Rural
Communities (CRC). The Rural Strategy 2004 proposed "an independent
national body which can advise on rural policy issues and act
as a watchdog". It is vital that this body adds value and
does not duplicate existing activity and that it has a clear,
focused remit. Consequently, it will be important that the Commission
for Rural Communities works extremely closely with regional and
local partners in its advisory and researching roles to ensure
that activity optimizes value for the customer. The Commission
should also build an appropriate relationship with partners in
its monitoring and watchdog role to support a mutually beneficial
service.
10. The position of the CRC as a watchdog
is, in principle acceptable. The RDAs have some concerns, however,
that the ability of the CRC to act as an entirely independent
watchdog and advocate is brought into question by the fact that
its major funder is a department for which it will be required
to implement its watchdog role.
11. The RDAs support the introduction of
further powers to the Secretary of State and Defra public bodies
to delegate functions without recourse to further primary legislation.
This will allow Defra and its public bodies to be more flexible
and responsive. According to the draft bill, the delegation function
is agreed with mutual consent by both parties. RDAs would like
to ensure on this point, that where there are relevant regional
and local strategies and frameworks in place in implementation
of the Modernising Rural Delivery Programme, any delegation should
be linked closely to these initiatives. An agreement, for example,
directly between Defra and a locally based organization or partnership
made without regard to the Regional Rural Delivery Framework process
and preferred delivery mechanisms identified via that process
by partners could undermine the principles underpinned by the
Haskins review, the Rural Strategy and indeed the draft bill of
devolved decision making and integrating and simplifying delivery
arrangements.
England's Regional Development Agencies
February 2005
| 
