The Eastern Region is made up of the area covered
by the six counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire,
Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. The Regional
organisations covering this area are important in developing
strategies, advising government on regional priorities and
directing funding.
The county council works with a number of these
regional bodies to make sure that the needs of Suffolk are properly
represented and to ensure that the county benefits from any
regional opportunities that arise. The key organisations with
which we work are as follows:
East of England Regional Assembly
The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA)
ensures that appropriate strategic frameworks for the
economic, social and environmental well-being of the region are
developed, maintained and implemented. It consists of a
partnership of elected representatives from the 54 local
authorities in the East of England and appointed representatives
from social, economic and environmental interests (Community
Stakeholders).
The full Assembly has 105 members in 2007/08 and
meets approximately twice a year. In addition, there are a
number of specialist Panels that meet more frequently to look at
issues of regional strategic importance such as planning and
housing. Both officers and councillors from the county council
participate in these panels.
EERA has developed a number of key regional strategies such as the
Regional Social Strategy, the Regional Housing Strategy and the
Regional Health Strategy. In addition it has statutory
planning functions and is responsible for the development of the
Regional Spatial Strategy, which covers housing, transport,
planning and sustainable development matters for the region up to
2021. For further information, please visit
EERA's website.
Government Office – East
The Government Office for the East of England
brings together into a single operation the varied regional
activities of a range of government departments. Government
offices are part of Communities and Local Government which covers
regional and urban policy, local government, planning, housing and
regeneration. The county council works with GO-East on a range
of activities including Local Area Agreements, rural matters and
European Funding. For more information, please visit the
Government Office for the East
of England web site.
East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were set up by
government to promote sustainable economic development in England.
They are business led. Their main tasks are to help the English
regions improve their relative economic performance and reduce
social and economic disparities within and between
regions. The RDA for the Eastern Region is the East of England
Development Agency.
In November 2004 EEDA launched “A Shared Vision” a
10 year economic development strategy for the region. The
strategy provides a framework within which organisations across the
region can work with businesses, communities and individuals to
improve regional economic performance and the quality of life of
those who live and work here. The strategy is being reviewed and
the revised strategy will be in place from March 2008
www.eeda.org.uk/1441.asp.
EEDA supports 9 Sub-Regional Economic Partnerships to help deliver
its aims and can also provide strategic financial support directly
to projects which meet its objectives. For more information, please
visit EEDA's web
site.