35. (1) A regional assembly shall keep the implementation of the regional spatial and economic strategy for its region under review, having regard, in particular, to the monitoring and reporting arrangements included in the strategy in accordance with paragraph (f) of subsection (13) of section 29.

F4[(2) (a) A local authority whose functional area is within the region of a regional assembly shall, not later than 3 years after either—

(i) the first making of a regional spatial and economic strategy under this Chapter, or

(ii) the first revision of a regional spatial and economic strategy continued in force by virtue of section 41,

prepare, and submit to that regional assembly, a report setting out progress made by the local authority in supporting the objectives of the regional spatial and economic strategy applicable to the functional area of that local authority.

(b) A local authority whose functional area is within the region of a regional assembly shall, not later than 3 years after the preparation of a monitoring report in accordance with subsection (4), prepare, and submit to that regional assembly, a report setting out progress made by the local authority in supporting the objectives of the regional spatial and economic strategy applicable to the functional area of that local authority.]

F4[(3) (a) A regional assembly may, not later than 3 years after either—

(i) the first making of a regional spatial and economic strategy under this Chapter, or

(ii) the first revision of a regional spatial and economic strategy continued in force by virtue of section 41, request any person referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 31 to prepare, and submit to the regional assembly, a report setting out progress made by that person in supporting the objectives of the regional spatial and economic strategy applicable to that person.

(b) A regional assembly may, not later than 3 years after the preparation of a monitoring report in accordance with subsection (4), request any person referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 31 to prepare, and submit to the regional assembly, a report setting out progress made by that person in supporting the objectives of the regional spatial and economic strategy applicable to that person.]

(3) A regional assembly may, within 3 years of the first occasion on which a regional spatial and economic strategy is made or revised under this Chapter and thereafter within 3 years of the preparation of a report under subsection (4), request any person referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 31 to prepare and submit a report to the regional assembly setting out progress made in supporting the objectives, relevant to that person, of the regional spatial and economic strategy.

(4) A regional assembly shall, within 4 years of the first occasion on which a regional spatial and economic strategy is made or revised under this Chapter and every 4 years thereafter, prepare a report (in this section referred to as a “monitoring report”) monitoring progress made in implementing the regional spatial and economic strategy.

(5) The monitoring report—

(a) shall specify the progress made in securing the overall objectives of the regional spatial and economic strategy (including any metropolitan area strategic plan), and

(b) may make any recommendations considered necessary in order to implement the regional spatial and economic strategy.

(6) A regional assembly shall send a copy of the monitoring report prepared by it to the Office of the Planning Regulator.

(7) The Office of the Planning Regulator—

(a) shall consider the monitoring report of each regional assembly, and

(b) may make recommendations to the Minister in relation to measures required to support the implementation of the regional spatial and economic strategy concerned.