Local authorities play a leading role in developing the regional spatial strategy, both as members of the regional assembly and as individual authorities. Information about the amount of resource they individually contributed to the production of the regional spatial strategy is not held centrally.
Regional assemblies were resourced both by the Department and by their membership, which includes local authorities. Regional assemblies have a range of responsibilities which include preparation of regional spatial strategy. The breakdown of the use of resources for different functions is not held centrally.
The Department provides an additional budget to cover the costs of Examinations in Public and subsequent publication costs for proposed changes to regional spatial strategy. During the past three years this amounted to £1.5 million in 2006-07, £1.4 million in 2007-08 and £1.18 million to date during the current financial year.