Regional Assembly is a title which has universally been adopted by the English bodies established as regional chambers under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. Their original defined role was to channel regional opinions to the business-led Regional Development Agencies. They now carry out a wide range of advocacy and consultancy roles with national government bodies and the European Union, but their public profile is very low. Each acts as a Regional Planning Bodies (RPB) with a duty to formulate a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), replacing the planning function of county councils. Regional Development Agencies are Non-Departmental Public Bodies, sponsored by Central Government Departments, for the development of each of the UKs regions. ...

About two-thirds of Assembly members are appointees from the County and District councils and Unitary authorities in each Region, the remaining one-third are appointees from other regional interest groups. None are directly elected. Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... The Districts of England are the lowest level of local government in England, except for civil parishes. ... A unitary authority is a type of local authority, which has a single-tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area. ... The region (also known as government office region) is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity in England. ...

Plans for Elected Assemblies

In May 2002 the Government published a White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" [1] outlining its plans for the possible establishment of Elected Regional Assemblies. These Assemblies were to be responsible for regional strategies dealing with sustainable development, economic development, spatial planning, transport, waste, housing, culture (including tourism) and biodiversity. They would be funded primarily by central government grant, with powers to raise additional funds from a precept on the council tax. 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A white paper can be an authoritative report on a major issue, as by a team of experts; a government report outlining policy; or a short treatise whose purpose is to educate industry customers. ... The Council Tax is the main form of local taxation in England, Scotland and Wales. ...

The Assemblies were expected to be elected by an Additional Member System similar to those used for the London Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. The Additional Member System (AMS) is a voting system in which some representatives are elected from geographic constituencies and others are elected under proportional representation from party lists. ... The London Assembly is an elected body that supervises the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ... The Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba in Gaelic, Scots Pairlament in Scots) is the national unicameral legislature of Scotland. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following a 1997 referendum in which a small majority of voters (but not the electorate) voted in favour of the Labour Governments plans for devolution. ...

The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 made provisions for referendums to be held to create such assemblies, and to simplify the structure of Local Government where this is done. Three such referendums were planned, for the regions of North East and North West England and Yorkshire and the Humber. The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 (2003 c 10) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... North East England is one of the regions of England. ... North West England is one of the regions of England. ... Yorkshire and The Humber is one of the regions of England. ...

On February 12, 2004, Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford announced that elected Assemblies would be able to direct local authorities to refuse strategic planning applications that are not in the region's best interest. They would be able to look across local boundary constraints and ensure planning decisions are made with region-wide interests taken into account. [2] February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Right Honourable Wyvill Richard Nicolls Nick Raynsford (born January 28, 1945) was born in Northampton and educated at Repton School and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, from which he graduated with a Degree in History in 1966. ...

On July 8, 2004 it was announced that the referendums would be held on November 4 (see Northern England referendums, 2004) but on July 22 Nick Raynsford announced that only the North East England vote will go ahead on that date. July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... The three northern regions. ... 22 July is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... The Right Honourable Wyvill Richard Nicolls Nick Raynsford (born January 28, 1945) was born in Northampton and educated at Repton School and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, from which he graduated with a Degree in History in 1966. ...

On November 4, 2004, voters in the North East rejected the proposal by 696,519 votes to 197,310. This result was seen as a block to elected regional assemblies elsewhere in England outside London. On November 8, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told the House of Commons he would not move orders for the other two regions within the effective time limit of June, 2005 permitted by the Act. November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... The office of Deputy Prime Minister is one that has only existed occasionally in the history of the United Kingdom. ... John Prescott The Right Honourable John Leslie Prescott (born May 31, 1938) is a British Labour Party politician who is presently Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and First Secretary of State. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Since the General Election in May 2005, the concept of city regions has gained currency in academic, policy and government circles, with several think tanks pushing the idea as a viable alternative to elected regional assemblies. However, opinion is divided on the question of whether to impose new city regional structures from above or to allow existing elected bodies to come together on a more informal voluntary basis. The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ... The term city region has been in use since about 1950 by urbanists, economists and urban planners to mean not just the administrative area of a recognisable city or conurbation but also its hinterland that will often be far bigger. ... This article is about the institution. ...

External links

• East of England Regional Assembly
• East Midlands Regional Assembly
• North East Regional Assembly
• North West Regional Assembly
• Regional Assembly for Yorkshire and the Humber
• South East Regional Assembly
• South West Regional Assembly
• West Midlands Regional Assembly

See also

• UK topics