The most frequently asked questions are shown on this page. Also available is a factsheet on 'What the Regional Assembly does - Fact and Fiction'(40KB PDF).

How long has the East Midlands had a Regional Assembly?

EMRA was established in 1998.

Why was it created?

East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) was one of 8 Regional Assemblies (sometimes referred to as ‘Regional Chambers’) set up at the same time as Regional Development Agencies, under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (available at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980045.htm) to enable local government, and economic, social and environmental partners to participate as actively as possible in the development of regional economic strategies. The Regional Assembly now has more responsibilities (see ‘What does the East Midlands Regional Assembly do?’ below)

What geographical area does the Regional Assembly cover?

East Midlands Regional Assembly covers the same area as the Government Office for the East Midlands, i.e. the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. The following map shows the local authorities in the region (180KB PDF).  

Who can be a member?

The East Midlands Regional Assembly is made up of 111 members: 70 nominated from the 46 local authorities in the region, 35 from the wider social and business community and the region’s six MEPs. Apart from five places which have been used to ensure representation for those often under-represented in public life, and places for the region’s six MEPs, all other representatives are nominated by member bodies. Local government is required to fill two-thirds of the places.

What does the East Midlands Regional Assembly do?

It performs the scrutiny role in order to support the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in the development and implementation of the  Regional Economic Strategy.

As the regional planning body, the Assembly advises the Government on strategic land use planning and transport issues in the East Midlands. It also has responsibility for the preparation and review of the regional spatial strategy, taking into account the views of local authorities, organisations and residents.

The Regional Assembly also has an advocacy and policy development role, being a representative voice of the region to Whitehall and European institutions. It provides the strategic focus for integrating the development and delivery of regional strategy and partnership working under the overarching framework of the Integrated Regional Strategy.

The Regional Assembly also provides the governance arrangements for the Regional Improvement & Efficiency Partnership.

For more detail, please click on the ‘What we do’ menu.

How does the Assembly operate?
The Regional Assembly is managed by the Assembly Board, which is made up of 18 Assembly members. It manages the business of the Assembly and makes decisions as delegated or authorised by the Assembly.

The Regional Assembly also has three Regional Boards (see diagram top-right), each of which are responsible for delivering one of its three roles, i.e.  Regional Scrutiny Board for scrutinising emda, Regional & Communities Policy Board for policy integration and regional strategic partnership work and Regional Housing, Planning and Transport Joint Board for the Regional Planning role.

Further information about each of the Boards listed is available via the 'Meetings' menu above.

When and where does the Assembly meet and can anyone attend?

Meetings are held four times a year at PERA, Melton Mowbray. The meetings are open to the press and public. Details of dates are published on the Regional Assembly website.

Who’s who?
Regional Assembly Chair - Councillor David Parsons (Leader of Leicestershire County Council).

Vice-chair - Pat Zadora (East Midlands Business Forum).
Regional & Communities Policy Board Chair - John Freeman (UNISON).

Regional Scrutiny Board Chair - Martin Traynor (East Midlands Business Forum).

Regional Housing, Planning and Transport Joint Board Chair - Councillor Jim Harker (Northamptonshire  County Council).

The Head of EMRA is Stuart Young. Twenty permanent staff as well as those seconded and Studentforce graduates are employed, across a range of activities including scrutiny, spatial planning, policy development, communications and marketing. Visit the staff page for more details.

Where do they work?

The Regional Assembly is based in Melton Mowbray, sharing offices with the Local Government - East Midlands. Click on ‘Contact us’ to find out the office address and location map.

How is the Regional Assembly funded?

East Midlands Regional Assembly is entirely funded from Central Government i.e.  Department for Communities and Local Government  -  formerly ODPM. Unlike some other Regional Assemblyies we do not receive subscriptions from any of the local authorities in the East Midlands.

What is your spending on all activities?
For details on spending please see the latest Annual Report available on this website.

For details of our budget please see our latest Business Plan available on this website.

What is the legal structure of the Assembly?

East Midlands Regional Assembly is an unincorporated Regional Strategic Partnership. Leicestershire County Council assumed the responsibility of ‘Accountable Body’ with effect from 1 April 2006.

At what stage is your Regional Plan (Spatial Strategy)?

Click here for the latest information on the Regional Spatial Strategy Review.

What implications does the Sub National Review have on East Midlands Regional Assembly?

In July 2007, the government published the review of sub-national economic development and regeneration (SNR). It proposed that:

• Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were given executive responsibility for developing a single regional strategy, working closely with local authorities and other partners.
• That the RDAs would assume executive responsibilities currently held by Regional Assemblies for planning, housing, and transport strategy development.  The RDAs will be designated the Regional Planning Body (RPB), subject to the necessary primary legislation.
• Regional Assemblies would cease to exist in their current form by 2010. In place of Regional Assemblies, local authorities would be given an increased role in the development, agreement and scrutiny of Regional Strategies and performance of RDAs to ensure improved value for money and effectiveness in increasing economic growth.