However, if the role of the Regional Assembly is to be largely strategic, then there will be little need for rapid executive decisions. Although there is a cult of strong leadership in the NorthEast, it is not at all clear that this is what is needed here. A committee structure would be more suited to its purpose. There will, of course, be a need for a form of scrutiny committee under both systems. Representative democracy is only ever second best to participatory democracy.
Finance lies at the heart of political power.
The loss of public involvement in local government can be attributed squarely to the loss of financial independence by local authorities, to the extent that political parties cannot put forward distinctive policies at a local level. If the Regional Assembly is to be taken seriously by political parties, and to hold the attention of the general public, it must have control over finance. However, such powers require a demonstration of political maturity or consensus, especially if they are to include funding local government. Political maturity is also required if major longterm projects are to emerge from the new political initiative. Most of the powers of the directly elected Regional Assembly will come from the existing hidden tier of bureaucracy which has been set up by national government.