A campaign group has claimed a quango set up to boost jobs and redevelopment in Sussex and the rest of the South East has been a massive waste of money.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance said the South East England Development Agency (Seeda) had received about £760 million of public money from 2000 to 2007 – roughly £230 per household.

It said a detailed analysis of the region’s economic performance showed no improvement and even a slowing of progress since Seeda was created.

The region’s contribution to the national wealth went up “only” 42% between 1999 and 2006, compared with 73% between 1992 and 1999 – before the agency was created.

The number of non-military jobs increased by 15% from1995 to 2000 but only 4.4% from 2000 to 2001.

In a report published today, the alliance highlights examples of “waste” by regional development authority (RDA) executives, including the £53,803 spent by Seeda chairman James Brathwaite on transport in 2006-07.

A spokesman said the cash saved by abolishing RDAs would be enough to cut corporation tax on small companies by 4p.

The alliance called for tax cuts for small businesses. Its spokesman said: “Reducing tax on small businesses would create new jobs, boost existing businesses, make life easier for people starting business and give the regions an economic leg-up.”

Ben Farrugia, policy analyst at the alliance, said: “At a time when businesses are increasingly over-regulated and overtaxed, RDAs have become a symbol of wasteful bureaucratic excess.

They should be abolished before the Government hands them even greater powers.”

Seeda chief executive Pam Alexander said: “This report contains information that is largely out of date, inaccurate and taken out of context.

“Seeda is involved in many projects which benefit people in Sussex.

“We are providing £5.3 million to Brighton and Hove City Council to take forward infrastructure improvements which will not only support the delivery of the new Brighton and Hove Albion stadium but also to assist the development of higher education in East Brighton.”