If Regional Assemblies are abolished, we should NOT accept that regional planning is given to Regional Development Agencies. The South East England Regional Assembly has passed the following resolution:

“South East Councils oppose the government’s proposals to transfer strategic planning, housing and transport powers to the unelected development agencies. Given the government’s decision to abolish regional assemblies, these powers should be returned to local government and the South East Councils are ready and willing to exercise them.
South East Councils warn the government that they believe the proposals in the Sub-National Review are not only strongly anti-democratic but are likely to prove unworkable and will delay the delivery of the South East Plan that the Assembly has worked hard to bring to its present stage.”

The Sub National Review is another planning policy driven by the Treasury and primarily focused on economic issues. It is inadequate for formulating a planning system let alone a procedure for local governance.
For the terms of reference see: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/5/E/csr07_subnatecon_tor.pdf