As the referendum approaches for a decision on a North-East regional assembly, Alistar Arkley, chairman of Tees Valley Partership and New Century Inns, gives his view on devolution.

WE know all about being inspired and enthusiastic in the North-East - if you need evidence of that you need look no further than the scenes of immense jubilation generated by Middlesbrough's Carling Cup victory a couple of weeks ago.

So why, so far at least, are there so few signs that the prospect of taking control of our own futures is generating any great feeling of inspiration among the vast majority of North-Easterners?

Why, when we have been regarded for many years as the part of the country that would lead the charge to regional government, is there not a tangible swelling of enthusiasm for the referendum later this year?

I certainly cannot offer any instant answers, but I do suspect that one of the key reasons is the assumption that probably exists in Whitehall that the North-East is such a united region that it is the ideal candidate for launching the regional government experiment.

As someone with roots in the Tees Valley but an involvement in activities at regional level, I know that in reality, the perspective can be very different on the Tyne than it is on the Tees - and I suspect the same would be the case in Durham, Sunderland and Northumberland.

Although there have been pledges that an assembly would not have its headquarters in Newcastle, there inevitably remains a suspicion that it could become a Geordie Parliament - perhaps hardly surprising given that the bodies that currently exercise the key levers of public power-the Government Office for the North East, the regional development agency One NorthEast and, indeed, the existing regional assembly - are all based in Newcastle.

I also think it is fair to say that within the business community there remains a high degree of ambivalence because many remain to be convinced that the kind of assembly being proposed will really make much difference to the bottom line - in other words, provide significant benefits for our regional economic prospects.

It does seem that Government is showing some recognition of the need to demonstrate to business that real powers and real resources will come under regional control - for instance, there have been ministerial hints that learning and skills councils could come within the assembly remit - but there remains a tough selling job to what is a pretty sceptical audience.

I fear that, so far, the campaign in the North-East has perhaps been conducted on too much of an academic level. It is perhaps worth looking at what is going in the North-West, where they will be voting at the same time as ourselves and where, I suspect, they may be making more headway in generating public interest and enthusiasm.

Take the attention generated by the proposal for a North West flag, for example. Yes, of course it was a publicity stunt, but it worked because I have no doubt it got people involved in the debate. Indeed, it is worth checking the websites to see the different levels of activity.

There is one other key challenge facing our region now, and in the future, and will be crucial to gaining a yes vote and then creating a successful regional government - does the North-East have individuals with the ability and the commitment to become our future regional leaders. Now is the time for them to come forward.

l Follow the Great Debate online at www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/news/assembly/index.htm