[holding answer 1 June 2009]: Each regional development agency (except the London Development Agency—see table) participates in two statutory over-arching strategies: the regional economic strategy (RES) and the regional spatial strategy. The aim of the RES is to improve economic performance and enhance regional competitiveness, addressing market failures that prevent sustainable economic development, regeneration and business growth. It is drawn up and kept under review by the RDA.
The RSS (which incorporates a regional transport strategy) provides a spatial framework to inform the preparation of land-use programmes. It takes into account provision for new housing; priorities for the environment; transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals extraction and waste treatment and disposal.
RDAs may also lead the development of non-statutory strategies with regional partners. Examples of these are listed in the table.
Following the Government’s 2007 Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration, RDAs are working with local authorities to prepare development of integrated regional strategies, replacing the current regional economic strategy and regional spatial strategy. The Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Bill will enact this. The London Development Agency, working with the GLA, has its own arrangements in this matter.
The following table lists non-statutory strategies by region:
RDA Regional strategies AWM Examples of external strategies that help deliver the RES are shown as follows. These are augmented by a series of tactical internal strategies and plans which relate to AWM’s main areas of responsibility. Regional Marketing Strategic Framework International Business Action Plan Skills Action Plan West Midlands Manufacturing Support Strategy Regional Visitor Economy Strategy EEDA Regional Business Support Strategy Regional Women’s Enterprise Strategy Regional Higher-level Skills Strategy Regional Strategic Framework for Manufacturing 2007-12 Regional Adult Skills and Employment Strategy Regional Social Strategy Emda Underpinning the RES and RSS are a number of sector based strategies and action plans that contain the activities required to implement the vision and aims of the two statutory strategies: East Midlands Innovation Strategy and Action Plan 2007-11 East Midlands Business Support Strategy 2008-11 East Midlands Tourism Strategy 2003-10 Employment Skills and Productivity Partnership Action Plan Regional Energy Strategy Regional Transport Strategy LDA As part of London’s unique governance arrangements, the Mayor of London produces a number of statutory and non statutory strategies, including the London Plan, the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy. As a functional body of the Greater London Authority, the London Development Agency is involved to varying degrees in the development and delivery of the majority of these strategies. NWDA NW Regional Housing Strategy ONE ONE and the region’s local authorities have developed action plans to take forward the delivery of the RES and the Regional Spatial Strategy. ONE has worked with partners to develop the following: Regional Employment and Skills Strategy Regional Enterprise Strategy Regional Innovation Strategy Regional International Trade Strategy Regional Digital Strategy Regional Housing Strategy North East Environment Strategy North East Tourism Strategy Additionally, ONE has developed ‘mini’ strategies in relation to low carbon vehicles, off-shore wind power and printable plastic technologies in response to the Government’s New Industry, New Jobs agenda. SEEDA Partner organisation sector based strategies which SEEDA participates in include two South East NHS Trust strategies for action on health, to achieve a healthy work force best placed to deliver smart growth. SWERDA Regional Skills Strategy Regional Enterprise Strategy Regional Innovation Strategy South West International Trade Strategy YF In addition to delivering the Regional Economic Strategy and the Integrated Regional Strategy that will replace it, Yorkshire Forward works with partners to join up other strategies to the RES in the interests of integration and effectiveness. These are listed as follows: Regional Innovation Strategy Regional Visitor Economy Strategy Regional Housing Strategy Regional Cultural Strategy Regional Major Events Strategy Yorkshire Gold Strategy (relating to the 2012 Olympics) Regional Forestry Strategy