Mr. David Minton:

When the RSES was introduced, it was very embryonic in the new planning system. There was a sense of watching what was going on among everybody. The maturity in the system is there now so each of the constituent local authorities or areas are starting to see the regional assemblies as shared services to an extent, or a shared regional co-operation. The next iteration of the regional plans will be a much more progressive piece of regional policymaking, both interpreting national policy but also in meeting those kinds of bottom-up needs in relation to climate action, biodiversity and transport and not just developments. There is a much wider value in the planning system than just property development.