Regional Government: South West

Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable has been set for the South West Councils' Strategic Leaders' Board to be designated as a regional planning body.

Mr. Iain Wright
The Secretary of State is currently considering a request from the South West Councils Strategic Leaders Board to be designated as the regional planning body for the region with effect from April 2009.

Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the South West Council's Strategic Leaders' Board plans to assume the functions of the South West Regional Assembly.

Mr. Iain Wright
The South West Councils Strategic Leaders Board (SLB) was set up in December 2008. The SLB has proposed that it should be vested with the functions of Regional Planning Body (and also take on the housing and scrutiny roles of the Regional Assembly) as an interim arrangement from April 2009, in advance of introduction of the new regional governance arrangements outlined in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill. No decision on the timetable has yet been taken.

Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements she plans to make for public consultation on the constitution of the proposed Strategic Leaders’ Board of the South West Council; and what the timetable for the introduction of the board is.

Mr. Iain Wright
The South West Councils Strategic Leaders Board (SLB) set itself up in December 2008. Arrangements for public consultation on any aspect of its constitution are a matter for the SLB.

Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether hon. Members representing constituencies in the South West will have any role in relation to the South West Council’s Strategic Leaders’ Board.

Mr. Iain Wright
It is a matter for the South West Councils Strategic Leaders Board to decide whether they wish to give a formal role to hon. Members representing constituencies in the region.