THE SOUTH WEST REGIONAL ASSEMBLY:

There are 117 members who sit on the regional assembly.

Each of the 51 councils within the south west region has one representative. Swindon's representative is council leader Coun Mike Bawden.

But another 28 councillors are then appointed to the assembly to make sure it is politically representative of the region. Through this system Swindon's Coun Kevin Small helps make up the Labour numbers while Coun Chris Shepherd is an extra member for the Liberal Democrats.

Two members represent the National Parks Authorities in the region.

Two come from the Association of local councils. The other 34 members represent the region's Social, Economic and Environmental Partners (SEEPs).

The SEEPs are drawn from a range of areas including businesses, the voluntary sector, education and training, environmental bodies, faith communities, trades unions, tourism, health, agriculture, Racial Equality Councils, co-operative agencies, Learning and Skills Councils, Business Links and Culture. Swindon-based Nicky Morrison, chief executive of Great Western Enterprise, is a SEEP.

Membership is reviewed by local authorities every year, and changes reflect political proportionality across the region after local elections. The SEEP representatives are nominated by regional groups and these are reviewed at least every four years.

Briefing

The South West Regional Assembly covers an area of 23,829 square kilometres from Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wiltshire to the Isles of Scilly.

The Assembly represents a population of almost five million people.

Full assembly meetings are usually held in Devon County Hall, Exeter.

The South West Regional Chamber was set up in 1998 to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of the south west.

In 1999 it was given responsibility for monitoring the work carried out by the Regional Development Agency.

The South West Regional Assembly was formed in July 2000 when the South West Regional Planning Conference was integrated into the Regional Chamber.

The Regional Assembly was designated the south west's regional planning body in September 2004.