The Changing Face of Accountability Dagmar Waller Regional Scrutiny Manager West Midlands Regional...
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Transcript of The Changing Face of Accountability Dagmar Waller Regional Scrutiny Manager West Midlands Regional...
The Changing Face of Accountability
Dagmar WallerRegional 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 EnquirySEEDA 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?