Streamlined ‘super' regional development agencies should be set up to provide stronger regional leadership, according to a report by the New Local Government Network.The report titled ‘Redesigning Regionalism: leadership and accountability in England's regions' argues that new Regional Executive Agencies should work closely with councils and local MPs to press for further devolution of powers from Whitehall and regional Government offices. Authors Chris Leslie and Owen Dallison say that more powerful executive agencies should build on the early success of RDAs in providing regional leadership and take responsibility for environmental, planning and housing policy. They also suggest that the current Regional Economic Strategies and Regional Spatial Strategies should be merged and that councils should have greater say over regional decisions with powers to ‘call in' or delay plans. ‘The successful regional co-ordination of public policy can make a major impact on the conditions for growth so it is right that the debate about the future of regional governance continues to evolve,' said Mr Leslie, who is director of the NLGN. ‘We also recognise there are constraints which remain to be tackled, using the leadership of the RDAs to enhance their role and function.' The report says: ‘Local government should have a greater stake in the appointment and policy direction of our regional executives' but adds: ‘This is only a part of the solution with the input and even formal involvement of a region's MPs also a key part of the equation.' In a foreword to the report MPs Ed Balls, economic secretary to The Treasury and John Healey, financial secretary to The Treasury, who have written in favour of regional governance, say: ‘It is clear that the RDAs and other regional bodies must constantly explore how best they can work together.' Fordetails: http://www.nlgn.org.uk/public/
