South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Partner Links

Government Office for the South East (GOSE)

GOSE represents Central Government. GOSE works to influence, contract and develop Government programmes and initiatives at a regional and local level by working in partnership with relevant organisations to meet local needs. Using its knowledge of the region it is able to ensure that Government money is spent on the right projects in the right areas. It is also able to ensure that Ministers are aware of local issues when making decisions.

One of GOSE's main objectives is to support and promote a coherent regional approach to competitiveness, sustainable development, regeneration and social inclusion. To this end GOSE works with a number of regional partners to carry out its work. In particular, it works closely with the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the Regional Assembly. Other partners include local authorities, Learning and Skills Councils, Police Forces, Drug Action Teams, the NHS, Countryside Agency, Business Links, British Trade International and transport providers in the public and private sector.

The South East England Regional Assembly

The South East England Regional Assembly was set up in January 1999, having been designated by the Government as the regional chamber for the South East. Its role is to be the representative voice of the region. It provides regional accountability for the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), and has a lead role in areas such as transport and sustainable development. From April 2001 the Assembly will take on strategic planning responsibilities for the region.

The Assembly has one hundred and eleven members, two thirds of them elected councillors, nominated by all of the region's seventy-four local authorities, as well as representatives from social, economic and environmental partners. It is funded by the region's local authorities, and is supported in kind by its members, and GOSE, which has provided valuable office accommodation for the Assembly secretariat in Bridge House, Guildford.

The Assembly meets in full three times a year, and an Executive Committee of twenty-seven meets seven times during the year. All of these meetings are open to the public.

Email: secretariat@southeast-ra.gov.uk