Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003

The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 was a piece of legislation enacted in the United Kingdom. Its primary purpose was to make provision for the establishment and functioning of Regional Assemblies in England. These Assemblies were intended to act as strategic planning bodies with responsibilities across a range of areas including economic development, transport, and environmental planning.

The Act outlined the powers and duties of the Assemblies, including their ability to scrutinize the activities of regional agencies and to prepare regional strategies. It also addressed the process for the election or appointment of Assembly members, though the specific details of this process were often subject to further regulation and guidance.

Crucially, the Act was a preparatory measure. The actual creation of the Regional Assemblies was contingent upon the outcome of regional referendums. Following negative referendum results in the North East of England in 2004, the plans for directly elected regional assemblies across England were largely abandoned. While existing non-elected Regional Assemblies continued to operate for some time, they were eventually abolished or had their functions transferred to other bodies, primarily local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships. Therefore, the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 can be seen as legislation that enabled a political project that ultimately did not fully materialize in its originally envisioned form. The Act is now largely of historical significance, marking a period of experimentation with regional governance structures in England.