Rural Policy - Regional Support and Information Project
The project embraces:
- Supporting delegates to the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly who represent the first tier of local government
- Editing Assembly Digest, a newsletter for all town and parish councils in the region highlighting Assembly business impacting on town and parish councils
- Acting as an interface between town and parish councils, the Assembly and its Boards
This is led by the Regional Support and Information Officer, a part-time role, linking town and parish councils to the work of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly.
How is the Assembly structured?
Town and parish councils have a voice on the Assembly as well as the three functional boards of Housing, Planning and Transportation. The representatives offer an alternative representative voice for the local authority sector, ensuring that community interests are fully heard.
What does the assembly do?
- considers cross-cutting issues such as transport, land use, planning and improving the quality of life of the region
- is the region's strategic partnership
- promotes and lobbies on behalf of the region
- is the regional planning body
- scrutinises how Yorkshire Forward spends its money
- develops strategies to guide regional development
- maintains an office in Brussels
Its role is to provide leadership and direction for the region. It advises Government on what needs to be done in the region to make it an enjoyable and prosperous area in which to live and work. To achieve this it strives to steer regional investment so that it benefits the area as a whole and yet is consistent with Government policies and strategies
Why is this of interest to local communities?
The Government sees strong regions as crucial to the devolution of powers and responsibilities away from Westminster. As the first tier of local government it is essential that town and parish councils play a full part in our democratic structure, maximising their representative role to the full. Town and Parish councillors are the closest to the local electorate and it is vital that they see what the Regional Assembly does and how it exerts influence.
Equally it is important that the Assembly itself understands and appreciates what town and parish councils do. An open dialogue is important in ensuring devolved services are targeted at the areas of greatest need and this can only be achieved by each talking to the other. Town and parish councillors are keen to fulfil their representative role and working with the Assembly is an ideal opportunity to play a full part in local governance at all levels.
For more information about the Regional Support and Information Project contact: Gareth Roberts 01652 662020, e-mail (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
For more information about the work of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly go to the website: