Skills and Knowledge
from the Homes and Communities Agency
Skills and Knowledge
from the Homes and Communities Agency
Glossary
The rebound effect is the extent to which financial savings achieved through energy efficiency lead to higher consumption rates elsewhere. For example, if an individual uses a fuel-efficient car but uses the money saved to drive further or take a low cost flight.
Programme to improve an area’s social, physical and economic environment.
The three year Regeneration Outcome Agreement provides the strategic and operational framework for Community Planning Partnerships in Scotland. Similar to Local Area Agreements, they have a core objective of regenerating the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, so that people living there can take advantage of job opportunities and improve their quality of life.Further information Guidance (Word doc) is available from Communities Scotland on the development and delivery of Regeneration Outcome Agreements. There is a Regeneration Outcome Agreement for the majority of Scottish local authorities, for example see Perth and Kinross Council's website.» Communities Scotland
Made up of councillors and representatives from the private and third sectors. England's eight regional chambers and assemblies were set up in 1999 to scrutinise the work of the country's eight Regional Development Agencies outside London.Further information Regional assemblies undertake four core activties: regional planning; regional housing; advocacy and policy development; scrutiny of Regional Development Agencies. The 2007 Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration put in place proposals to abolish regional assemblies from 2011 and place regional planning and housing activities as part of the remit of Regional Development Agencies in producing an Integrated Regional Strategy. The eight regional assemblies are:
Established as a result of the Urban Task Force chaired by Richard Rogers in 1998, which recognised the need to address urban design skills. Drive the development of sustainable community skills and learning at regional level and base their pursuit of good practice on research, evidence and innovative thinking.
Set up in 1999 in the nine English regions, they coordinate regional economic development and regeneration.Further informationThe nine RDAs are:
The nine Regional Development Agencies currently have the responsibility of producing Regional Economic Strategies (RES) - for an example see Advantage West Midlands (pdf). The 2007 Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (pdf) put in place proposals to widen the strategic remit of Regional Development Agencies to produce Integrated Regional Strategies and to devolve some delivery activities to local authorities.» England's RDAs
Strategy for the economic development of the region developed by the Regional Development Agency in consultation with regional stakeholders and revised every three years.
These strengthen the links between economic development, housing and the planning in each of the nine regions in England. RHBs are also currently part of the structure of the Regional Assemblies. Further informationRegional Housing Boards (RHBs) were established as part of the Sustainable Communities Plan published in February 2003.As an example, the North West Regional Housing Board has specific responsibility for preparing a Regional Housing Strategy as the basis for advice to ministers on the priorities for strategic housing investment in the region.» Homes and Communities Agency
These highlight the particular housing needs of a region in order to ascertain how housing resources should be allocated in the future. The strategy is produced by the Regional Housing Board.Further informationSee the East of England Regional Assembly's website for an example of a Housing Strategy, which is predominantly based around issues of supply of housing and affordability. The 2007 Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (pdf) put in place proposals to coordinate housing strategy with other regional thematic strategy as part of an Integrated Regional Strategy. Guidance and consultation is expected upon this shortly.
These are responsible for setting priorities and preparing certain regional plans and strategies, in particular the Regional Spatial Strategy. As with the Regional Housing Board, the Regional Planning Body also currently sits under the structure of the Regional Assemblies.Further informationThe Regional Planning Body (RPB) for each region is responsible for reviewing the ‘Regional Spatial Strategy' and preparing draft revisions in partnership with local and regional stakeholders. Once the RPB has prepared the draft strategy, it publishes it for at least 12 weeks' public consultation. For an example of an RPB, see the East Midlands Regional Assembly website.» Planning help
Guidance issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government, for each region in England with regard to planning policy.Regional planning guidance has been replaced by the need for regions to produce regional spatial strategies.Further information » Department for Communities and Local Government
Central government decisions and activities to redress the regional imbalances, implemented by regions.
A strategy setting out how the region should look in 15-20 years' time, with regard to housing, transport, retailing and other issues. This is produced by the Regional Assembly.Further informationEach Regional Planning Body (such as the North West of England) is preparing a regional spatial strategy. This sets out things such as how many homes are needed to meet the future needs of people in the region, or whether the region needs a new major shopping centre or an airport. For an example of a regional spatial strategy, see the North West Regional Assembly's website.» Department for Communities and Local Government
Sets out the investment and infrastructure required in each region for transport.
These are landlords that are registered with the Tenant Services Authority to provide social housing. RSLs run as businesses but don't trade for profit, working closely with local authorities to provide additional housing, as well as to manage temporary accommodation properties on their behalf.Further informationThe Registered Social Landlord factsheet explains the role and legislative framework of RSLs. A list of current registered social landlords is available on the Tenant Services Authority website.
Renewable energy is energy that is taken from natural sources which can be replenished.
A Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) is a green certificate issued to an accredited generator for eligible renewable electricity generated within the United Kingdom and supplied to customers within the United Kingdom by a licensed electricity supplier. One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated.
A system of government based on the election of decision-makers by the people. Representatives act in their interests, but not as their proxies.Further informationThere is a whole host of academic literature on representative democracy. One important recent article is from the University of Manchester: Making representative democracy more representative. can new froms of citizen governance in the UK open up democracy (pdf).» The Journal of Representative Democracy
Building resilience into both human and ecological systems is a method by which to deal with future surprises, or unknowable risks related to climate change. It is becoming increasingly important to deliver strategies that build social and ecological resilience, with societies needing to enhance their response capacity to face future climate impacts which lie outside their experienced coping range.
Guaranteeing the protection of funds for a project. Ringfencing is the way the government earmarks money for national priorities such as health and education.
