GOVERNMENT proposals to transfer strategic planning powers from assemblies to regional development agencies are anti-democratic and will delay delivery of the South East Plan - a 20-year planning framework, says the South East England Regional Assembly.
The full Assembly meeting in Winchester last week (November 14) strongly opposed proposals in Government's Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration to transfer Assembly functions to the regional development agency, SEEDA, by 2010.
Cllr Keith Mitchell CBE, Assembly chairman, said: "Government's proposals bypass the valid democratic role of local councillors who currently lead strategic planning through the Assembly. We have spent eight years successfully building consensus across councils and stakeholders to plan for a sustainable South East and we don't want planning powers to fall in the hands of unelected development agencies."
He added: "Apart from the lack of accountability, these changes will create turmoil in the planning system, jeopardising developments for homes, jobs and transport improvements across the South East."
Assembly members voted to continue working within the Assembly to drive forward delivery of the South East Plan and to ensure Government infrastructure support for housing growth.
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