At SEEC's AGM in July 2011 members elected Cllr David Robertson (Oxfordshire CC) as Transport Convenor. David's role will be to work with members in South East local authorities to identify strategic transport issues that SEEC members wish to influence.

David's appointment follows discussions at SEEC Executive about the importance of transport to local authorities, affecting a wide range of council services and ambitions.

At the start of 2011 SEEC members commissioned consultation to assess member interest in taking forward a small number of high level strategic transport issues through SEEC. Both members and officers provided input to the consultation through a questionnaire, officer workshop and discussions with relevant directors in South East local authorities.

Consultation identified interest in a high level approach. SEEC Executive in June 2011 agreed to take forward alight touch approach to strategic transport after considering recommendations from an independent consultant who reported his findings in an executive summary and full report.

Members backed consultation findings that clearly showed SEEC's work should not include recreating the former regional transport board; prioritising projects on behalf of DfT; or duplicating councils' own relationships with the DfT.

Work is now underway to identify strategic transport issues that SEEC members wish to influence.  SEEC responded jointly with the South East Strategic Leaders group (SESL) to DfT's consultation on devolving local major schemes in April 2012.