ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

The South West Assembly published the draft South West RSS  for consultation in June 2006. An Independent Panel held an Examination in Public about the draft RSS between April and July 2007, and their report setting out recommendations to change the draft RSS was published in January 2008. The Secretary of State has now considered the Panel report and is publishing Proposed Changes to the draft RSS for further consultation.

The purpose of this document is to show how the RSS would be with all of the proposed changes incorporated into it. A schedule listing all of the proposed changes, and the reasons for them, is available as a separate document.

Throughout this version of the RSS, reference numbers for policies, paragraphs, tables and figures have all been kept the same as in the draft RSS to make comparison between the two versions easier. This is the case even where the order of parts of the RSS has been amended. When the RSS is finalised, all references will be amended so that they are sequential and logical.

The parts of the RSS that are subject to Proposed Changes are identified throughout this document by use of the following conventions:

• Highlighting indicates text that it is either additional to, or different from, the draft RSS.

• Strikethrough indicates text in the draft RSS that it is proposed to delete or replace. Please note that where large sections of text are proposed for deletion they are not included in this document as this would make this version of the RSS difficult to read and significantly extend its length.

• Where new paragraphs of supporting text are proposed, these are included in boxes highlighted as new supporting text.

When making representations about the proposed changes please ensure that they relate to the parts of the RSS that have been changed.

HOW TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES

Representations about the Secretary of State’s Proposed Changes are invited and must be received by GOSW by 5pm on Friday 17th of October.

Representations should be made using the Comments Form (available on the GOSW website and by email or post from GOSW). Completed Comments Forms may be submitted online, by email, post or fax.

• To make an ONLINE RESPONSE please visit: GOSW website

• Please send Comments Forms by EMAIL to: RSS Consult

• Please send Comments Forms by FAX to:0117 900 1914

• Please send Comments Forms by POST to: 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6ED

Copies of the Proposed Changes and associated documents, and further information, are available on the GOSW website or by contacting the GOSW Regional Strategies Team:

• Tel: 0117 900 1705

• Email: RSSconsult@gosw.gsi.gov.uk

THE GOVERNMENT’S CONSULTATION CRITERIA

The Government has adopted a code of practice on consultations. Though they have no legal force and cannot prevail over statutory or other mandatory external requirements (e.g under European Community Law), they should otherwise generally be regarded as binding on UK departments and their agencies, unless Ministers conclude that exceptional circumstances require a departure:

1. Consult widely throughout the process, allowing a minimum of 12 weeks for written consultation at least once during the development of the policy.

2. Be clear about what your proposals are, who may be affected, what questions are being asked and the timescale for responses.

3. Ensure that your consultation is clear, concise and widely accessible.

4. Give feedback regarding the responses received and how the consultation process influenced the policy

5. Monitor your department’s effectiveness at consultation, including through the use of a designated consultation coordinator.

6. Ensure your consultation follows better regulation best practice, including carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment if appropriate.

The full consultation code may be viewed at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/consultation/code/index.asp

Are you satisfied that this consultation has followed these criteria? If not, or you have any other observations about ways of improving the consultation processs, please contact Albert Joyce, Communities and Local Government Consultation Co-ordinator, Zone 6/H10, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU

Or by e-mail to: albert.joyce@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Please note that responses to the consultation itself should be sent to Government Office – details above.