Planning,
4 July 2008
Regional spatial strategy (RSS) powers will be taken away from development agencies if Labour loses the next election, the shadow business secretary has warned.
Alan Duncan told Planning that regional development agencies (RDAs) would be business-led under the Conservatives. He added that the sub-national review is a "serious misjudgement".
He said: "We fear that the government intends to remove RDAs further from their business focus and make them responsible primarily for regional planning."
Duncan pledged to restructure agencies by dividing government and business functions. They have become wasteful and politicised under Labour, he insisted.
Duncan said the Tories are shaping their regional planning and regeneration policies but will not abolish the RDAs without considering a replacement. Communities spokesman Eric Pickles has already proposed a county-level planning system.
One NorthEast chief executive Alan Clarke said: "We recognise that in taking on a wider role there would be a need to strengthen skills and capacity in a number of areas, particularly planning." But regional assembly representative the English Regions Network described RDAs as "not fit for purpose".
Local government minister John Healey responded: "We are giving RDAs a key role working alongside councils and entrepreneurs in developing regional plans for economic growth."
