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 110 members: 70 nominated from the 46 local authorities in the region, 35 from the wider social and business community and the region’s five 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 two Regional Boards (see diagram top-right), each of which are responsible for delivering one of its two roles, i.e.  Regional Scrutiny Board for scrutinising emda 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 CBE (Leader of Leicestershire County Council).

Vice-chair - Pat Zadora MBE (East Midlands Business Forum).

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 Partial 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.

On 25 November 2008, the Government's response to Prosperous Places: Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration was published.  Statement from Stuart Young on the Sub-National Review, November 25, 2008

On 4 December 2008 the Government introduced (through the House of Lords) the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill. Key proposals include:

• Reforming regional governance structures, specifically to establish a Local Authority Leaders’ Board in each region; and
• To give emda and the Local Authority Leaders’ Board joint responsibility for the drafting of the Regional Strategy that will subsequently replace the Regional Spatial Strategy and the Regional Economic Strategy.

The Government had anticipated that this Bill would receive Royal Assent by the summer recess. However, the legislative process has been the subject of a number of delays and the Bill will now have to return to the Lords as a result of further Government amendments relating to the construction clauses of the Bill.

The Government still expects the Bill to be enacted by March 2010 to enable the formal implementation of the SNR proposals and transfer of roles and responsibilities.

Although the LDEDC Bill has yet to be given Royal Assent, CLG and BIS published a Draft Policy Statement Consultation in August 2009, setting out guidance on how key provisions of the Bill should be implemented. The closing date for comments is 30 October 2009.

The following draft documents have been published in relation to the Regional Strategy:

• Draft Policy Statement on Regional Strategies;
• Draft Regulations; and
• Draft Guidance on the Sustainability Appraisal of Regional Strategies.

The Government has also issued Draft Guidance on Leaders’ Board Schemes.

The complete set of consultation documents is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/regionalstrategiesconsultation