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The Changing Face of Accountability Dagmar Waller Regional Scrutiny Manager West Midlands Regional Assembly Local Authority • Widening the focus with partnership scrutiny • Local Area Agreements • Comprehensive Area Assessments • Petitions • Councillor Calls for Action • Duty to promote Democracy Regionally • Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill • Abolition of Assemblies – April 2010 • No requirement for LA led scrutiny • Local Authority Leaders Board • Joint working with RDA But • Where is the accountability for regional strategic decision making? Regional Select Committees Expected • 8 Regions - not London • 12 month trial from Jan • National political balance • Meet 6 times a year • Unpaid Chairman • Examine regional strategies/regional bodies But! • Debate re Membership 3 March 08 • Conservative/Liberal Democrat boycott • 5 Labour members per Committee agreed • Potential conflict of interests – PPS’ • Are they representative of region? • Will they consider issues from regional perspective? Regional Grand Committees • 8 Committees - not London • Open to all MP’s from Region • Meet once or twice a year within Region • Hold Regional Minister to account (45 minutes) • General Debates on specified issues • Does this provide effective accountability? South East • Regional Assembly dissolved 1 April • South East England Leaders Board • South East England Partnership Board – 8 from Leaders Board plus 4 from SEEDA • No scrutiny role • Informal accountability through the decision making process South East Committee Members Dr Stephen Ladyman (Chair) – South Thanet Celia Barlow – Hove David Lepper – Brighton, Pavilion Glyn Prosser - Dover Andrew Smith – Oxford East First Enquiry SEEDA and the RES • SEEDA roles, responsibilities and accountability • Process of drawing up RES and involvement of stakeholders • Effect of economic situation and effectiveness of initiatives inc Business Links • Changes to regional policy proposed by Local Democracy et al Bill • Partnership working A Possible Future? Conservative Green Paper • Cut back inspection • Abolition of CAA • Allow LA’s to decide structures (incl. return to Committee structures) Regionally • Abolition of RDAs? Any Questions?