Fast Facts & FAQS

West Midlands Regional Assembly Fast Facts

• The Assembly was set up in 1999
• There are 100 nominated Assembly Members: 68 from local authorities, 16 from the business sector, 16 from other stakeholder groups (trades unions, health, FE, HE, culture, housing associations, environment, parish councils, voluntary and community sector, black and minority ethnic community, disability, gender and faith communities)
• The Assembly’s work is funded by central government departments (ODPM, DTI, Department of Health) along with project related funding from; Advantage West Midlands, Forestry Commission, English Regions Network
• The Assembly is based at the Regional Partnership Centre in Quay Place, Birmingham.
• The Centre is also home to the West Midlands Local Government Association, Business Voice WM, and West Midlands Consortium for Asylum and Refugee Support

FAQS about Regional Assemblies

1. What are Regional Assemblies?

2. What do Regional Assemblies do?

3. How long have Regional Assemblies been operating?

4. How many Regional Assemblies are there?

5. How are Regional Assemblies funded?

6. Where do Regional Assemblies fit in the regional governance agenda?

7. What policy areas do Assemblies deal with?

8. Do Regional Assemblies work with other bodies?

1. What are Regional Assemblies? They are partnership bodies which bring together representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.

2. What do Regional Assemblies do? All Assemblies perform the same there core activies, they may also engage in other work according to regional circumstances and priorities. The work falls into the following three areas: REGIONAL PLANNING - as Regional Planning Bodies, ADVOCACY & POLICY DEVELOPMENT - representing the voice of the region to Whitehall and European institutions and ACCOUNTABILITY - scrutinising the work of Regional Development Agencies.

3. How long have Regional Assemblies been operating? Regional Assemblies,sometimes referred to as Regional Chambers, were set up in the late 1990's at the same time as Regional Development Agencies were established. The relevant legislation in the 1998 Regional Development Agencies Act.

4. How many Regional Assemblies are there? There are eight in England.

5. How are Regional Assemblies funded? The majority of funding comes from central government. Some Regional Assemblies also receive money from other sources such as local authority subscriptions - although this is not the case for the West Midlands Regional Assembly.

6. Where do Regional Assemblies fit in the regional governance agenda? The 2002 white paper 'Your Region, Your Choice' established Regional Assemblies as one of three key regional governance organisations alongside Regional Development Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions.

7. What policy areas do Assemblies deal with? The main areas are planning, transport, housing, the environment, sustainable development, rural issues, culture, health and equalities.

8. Do Regional Assemblies work with other bodies? Partnership working is at the centre of Regional Assembly activities. In each region the Assembly has established a network of working arrangements involving the full spectrum of local authority, social, economic and environmental partners.