Regional
Bodies
The Government Office for the East of England, the East
of England Regional Assembly (EERA) and the East of England Development
Agency (EEDA) share the goal of improving the quality of life for people
who live or work in the East of England. The three organisations work
together but their roles and responsibilities are different. Together they
provide leadership for the East of England.
Regional Assembly
EERA is the representative voice of the region. Its members include elected
councillors and a range of community stakeholders representing social,
economic and environmental interests. EERA provides regional accountability
for EEDA and is a sounding board for other government agencies. It is the
regional planning body with responsibility for strategic spatial and
transport planning including preparation of Regional Planning Guidance.
EERA also has a key role to ensure that public bodies in the region
formulate policies, and focus their actions, on things that add value to
public sector investment.
Regional Development Agencies
EEDA takes the strategic lead in promoting the sustainable economic
development of the region. Government appoints its Board Members but have a
large degree of independence in determining EEDA's priorities. It is a
business led organisation and has Board Members with backgrounds in
business, local government, the voluntary sector, trade unions and
education. On behalf of the region, EEDA leads on producing the regional
economic strategy. EEDA works with many regional and local partners to
deliver a wide range of economic development and regeneration initiatives
for business, learning and skills, regeneration and sustainable
development.
Regional Boards
The Regional Housing Board is a partnership between the Government Office
for the East of England (chair), EEDA, EERA, English Partnerships, the
Regional Housing Forum and the Housing Corporation, established for the
purpose of directing the strategic allocation of funding and improving the
match between supply and demand relating to housing in the region, in line
with Communities and Local Government's (CLG) Sustainable Communities Plan.
GO-East provides the secretariat.
Local and Sub Regional
Bodies
Local Authorities
Government
Offices work very closely with local authorities – who have a major
impact on most aspects of people’s day to day lives – to help
them improve performance, delivery and value for money and to promote
better policy integration across the country.
Local Strategic Partnerships
(LSPs)
Government Offices act as facilitators to support the development of Local
Strategic Partnerships (LSPs). We act as mediators to resolve problems and
to provide a communication channel between LSPs and central government. We
also assess whether LSPs in Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Areas are effective
and involve genuine community participation.
Sub Regional Economic Partnerships
(SREPs)
Government Offices work with sub-regional economic partnerships (SREPs) to
help tackle local and sub-regional economic issues. There are nine SREPs in
the East of England. Partnerships usually include representation from local
authorities, education, the Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus,
Business Links, Chambers of Commerce, the voluntary sector and local
businesses.
Other
Partners
Voluntary & Community Sector
(VCS)
The Government Office for the East of England works
with a wide range of VCS partners and agencies, including regional VCS
organisations such as the Community & Voluntary Forum for the Eastern
Region (COVER), the Minority and Ethnic Network for the Eastern Region
(MENTER) and Rural Action East. We work together to enable a strong and
vibrant community and ensure the voluntary sectors are at the heart of
regeneration and community cohesion. We have been facilitating the
Change-up programme within the region to strengthen and develop services
provided by umbrella organisations. We are also working with VCS partners
on promoting and supporting the development of Local Compacts, which are
agreed between the VCS, the council and other local public bodies within
each local authority area, with the aim of formalising and improving
relations between local partners. A region-wide Regional Compact Action
Plan aimed at improving partnership working between Government Office for
the East of England and the voluntary and community sector is also
currently being developed.
Living East
A Regional Cultural Consortium (RCC) has been established in each of the
English regions outside London. The Regional Cultural Consortium in the
East of England is called Living East. Government Offices work closely with
the Regional Cultural Consortiums, which champion the whole spectrum of
cultural and creative interests in the regions, including tourism and
sport. The Consortiums provide a strong regional focus, bringing together
all those with interests in the cultural sectors; they also have a role in
central policy-making, regional data collection and research. Government
Offices have a key task in supporting the Consortiums in the implementation
of their Regional Cultural Strategies and Action Plans.
Learning & Skills Councils
(LSCs)
Government Offices work closely with local Learning and Skills Councils,
both through observer status at local Council meetings and through
participation in specific networks and fora. GO-East has, for instance,
been fully engaged in the Strategic Area Review [StAR] process undertaken
by each of the region's 6 local LSCs [Bedfordshire & Luton,
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and
Suffolk] which is now coming to fruition. The introduction of an LSC
regional management tier now provides an opportunity to supplement that
sub-regional engagement and we are exploring options with the LSC regional
team on how best to maximise that opportunity.
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus
gives help and advice on jobs and training for people who can work and the
right financial help for those who cannot. Government Office for the East
of England works with Jobcentre Plus as a co-financing organisation
for European Social Funds and on worklessness, skills and education
issues.
Audit Commission
In order to provide improved Service Delivery throughout
the region we work with and support all the local authorities in the East
of England, especially those that have been marked as "weak" or "poor"
under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment process, carried out by the
Audit Commission.
Agencies
Government Offices work
closely with a number of government agencies, including the Health
Development Agency, the Health Protection Agency, the National Treatment
Agency, the Environment Agency, the Homes and Communities Agency and
Highways Agency.
Inspire East
Inspire East is the
regional centre of excellence for sustainable communities in the East of
England. Their aim is to deliver the knowledge, skills and advice
that will inspire you to use and apply best practice.
Non-Departmental Public Bodies
(NDPBs)
We work with a range of non-departmental public bodies across the
region.
Planning Inspectorate
Government
Office for the East of England works closely with the Planning
Inspectorate, which deals with planning appeals and the examination of
development plans.
Other
Partnerships
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
(CDRPs)
Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) are an alliance of
police, local authorities and other organisations and businesses, working
together to produce and implement a strategy to tackle crime and disorder
in their area. Government Offices monitor the work of CDRPs in
relation to national targets, and provide suitable training, support, and
guidance to improve their performance.
Drug Action Teams (DATs)
Government Offices oversee the work of local Drug Action Teams charged with
delivering the National Drug Strategy. We also identify and promote best
practice in all areas of drugs prevention and advise local partnerships on
how to work more effectively.
Connexions
Connexions is the Government’s support service for all young people
aged 13-19, bringing together all the services and support young people
need during their teenage years. Through a performance management role,
Government Offices help ensure that Connexions Partnerships work
effectively with a wide range of local agencies to deliver quality services
to young people.
