Skills and Knowledge
from the Homes and Communities Agency
Skills and Knowledge
from the Homes and Communities Agency
Glossary
Democratic method that involves citizens and individuals in decision-making and governance. Examples include citizen’s juries and participatory budgeting.
Consultation technique that involves engaging with people in their own locality and asking them to contribute ideas and opinions in an interactive way, which can be cross-checked.
Community involvement method originating in Brazil, which seeks to involve large numbers of residents in determining spending priorities and budgets.
Different organisations and individuals working together with a common aim and objectives.
A PTA coordinates and promotes the use of public transport across a city region through consultation, planning and allocation of resources. They aim to provide sustainable transport alternatives, reduce social exclusion and support sustainable business alternatives. There are six PTAs in England, one in each of the major cities outside London, and also one in Scotland, in Glasgow.Further informationThe Passenger Transport Authorities are coordinated by pteg. Pteg has a range of information on its website including briefing papers and responses to consultations such as the Local Transport Bill. The city regional Passenger Transport Authorities are:
Transport in London is operated by Transport for London with responsibility devolved from central government to the London Mayor. The Mayor is responsible for the production of the London Transport Strategy.
Passive design techniques are a method to mitigate against the effects of climate change. Designed correctly, a building can utilise certain aspects of a climate to offset the effects of others, such as using direct solar radiation to heat a space even when the outside air temperature is quite cold, or by channelling in cooling breezes when temperatures are high. Such design techniques act to increase the range of conditions, within which people would feel comfortable.
Passive (or natural) ventilation is the provision of ventilation using non-mechanical means. A window being open is such an example.
The point or timeframe at which the maximum global petroleum production rate is reached, after which the rate of production enters its terminal decline. If global consumption is not mitigated before the peak, the availability of conventional oil will drop and prices will rise, perhaps dramatically.
Strategies, plans, policies and indicators that enable the performance of a local authority to be effectively and efficiently monitored in an open and transparent manner.
System to collect data to show how well a standard or target is being met.
Permeable developments are often linked to permeable paving and forms of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. Introducing permeable paving can provide an affordable solution to the challenges of storm water disposal and treatment, water conservation, recycling and reuse, and thus improve the overall sustainability of a development.
Convert sunlight into electricity or can be used to heat water. At present their use can be limited by high manufacturing costs but they have been used for decades on devices such as calculators.
This 2004 Act updates the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act and introduces: a new statutory system for regional planning; a new system for local planning; reforms to the development control and compulsory purchase systems and also the removal of crown immunity from planning controls.Further informationCompulsory purchase is becoming increasingly important in planning and regeneration, particularly with regard to housing developments and the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder programme. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has produced five booklets explaining the compulsory purchase process. The planning process is currently in a period of reform with the production of the Planning White Paper. The White Paper sets out DCLG's detailed proposals for reform of the planning system, building on Kate Barker's recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning, and taking forward Kate Barker's and Rod Eddington's proposals for reform of major infrastructure planning.» Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
Guidance that stipulates under Section 106 that a developer must incorporate certain facilities into a planning application before approval is granted, for example affordable housing or a health centre.Further information» Improvement and Development Agency
Planning Policy Guidance notes are documents that highlight national land use policies for different areas of planning. PPGs are being replaced by Planning Policy Statements, although some notes (eg PPG13 on transport), still remain in use. Further information» Department for Communities and Local Government
The Planning Policy Statement is a document that highlights national land use policies, for different areas of planning.There are currently 11 thematic Planning Policy Statements on issues such as housing, retail and renewable energy. Planning Policy Statements replace Planning Policy Guidance notes, although a number still remain, including PPG13 on transport. Further information One of the most controversial PPGs/PPSs has been number six on retail development. Whilst the current PPS6 is focused upon encouraging retail development in town centres, previous versions encouraged out-of-town retail development which has in some cases negatively affected the vibrancy of town centres and the viability of independent neighbourhood retailers.» Department for Communities and Local Government
Introduced by the Government in 1992 as a way of generating new investment in public services without raising taxes. Involves private companies building large-scale capital projects such as hospitals and leasing them back to the public sector.Further information PFI: Strengthening Long Term Partnerships sets out the Government's approach to its PFI investment programme and to strengthening partnerships with the private sector for the long-term. The document confirms that the Government sees PFI continuing to play a small but important role in the delivery of modernised public services where it represents value for money. It sets out the results of the extensive research carried out by the Treasury showing that PFI projects are meeting public service requirements in operation. HM Treasury also has a spreadsheet of current PFI projects. » HM Treasury
Processes involved in requesting, ordering, auditing and paying for goods and services from an external provider.
Independent, non-profit making organisation charged with delivering public services using public money. The Government cannot interfere with the day-to-day decisions of public interest companies. An example of a public interest company is the Office for Public Management.
Decisions taken by political actors in relation to any issue impacting upon citizens. Sets out how the political actors intend to address the issue.
Public space between private buildings including pavements, streets, squares, parks. Physical regeneration cannot be effective if the quality of public realm space is poor.
Set during the Comprehensive Spending Review, these targets seek to address key issues across a number of Government departments. Departments are expected to work with local authorities and their partners to deliver these targets.Further informationThe latest round of PSA targets were set in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. There are 30 Public Service Agreement targets based around four themes:
These are partnerships between the public and private sectors for the purpose of delivering a project or service traditionally provided by the public sector. The term can cover anything from the building of a Private Finance Initiative hospital to a contract for a business to collect domestic rubbish.Further informationThe concept of public-private partnerships began to emerge in the early 1990s in regeneration programmes such as City Challenge, where the public sector, predominantly local authorities, were encouraged to work with private sector investers such as AMEC to regenerate areas and neighbourhoods. Additionally, the voluntary sector and communities were expected to be involved in the partnership. One example of where PPP has worked effectively is Hulme City Challenge (pdf).
Involves processing waste in oxygen-reduced environments to produce a rich oil and solid residual which can be burnt as fuel.
