A3- Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
GLOSSARY OF TERMS (May 2017)
The purpose of this glossary is to give a concise summary of some of the more common financial, managerial and operational terminology which Members, Officers and the public are likely to meet during their day to day contact at the Council. It is not, however, intended to be a definitive document. Useful acronyms are also included.
Access to Information
By law the public must be given reasonable notice of matters to be discussed at a Council, committee or sub-committee meeting. They must be enabled to see copies of reports and background papers/materials. Councillors will have access to any information required to fulfil their duties as a Councillor.
Affordable Housing
“Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the open market. Affordable housing should:
- meet the needs of eligible households including availability at a cost low enough for them to afford, determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices
- include provision for the home to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or, if these restrictions are lifted, for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision”
Allocated Site
Land or site proposed in Forest Heath District Council’s Local Plan for a specific type of development e.g. housing.
Approved List
A list of contractors and consultants which may be maintained by a Council. They will have been vetted by the Council in terms of quality and cost. The Town Council may also use Approved lists compiled by the district or county councils (see Financial Regulations & Standing Orders for contracts)
Area of Special County Value for Landscape
An area which is particularly important in the County because of its quality of landscape.
Audit
An independent review of a Council’s financial activities to develop sound and efficient systems to minimise the risk of errors and to detect fraud. As well as an external auditor appointed by a sector led body, the Council must appoint an internal auditor.
Audit Commission
An independent body set up by the Local Government Finance Act 1982 and abolished by the Localism Act 2011 from April 2015. It was responsible for the appointment of external auditors to local councils.
Best Value
The Local Government Act 1999 placed a duty on principal councils and large local councils to demonstrate Best Value in all its services and to secure continuous improvement to their quality and efficiency. This has now been superseded, although the term is still often used.
Billing Authorities
These defined authorities calculate the amount to be raised through the Council Tax after taking into account the precept of all precepting authorities and issue the appropriate bills and collect the relevant amounts. Forest Heath District Council is our billing authority. The Town Council is a precepting authority.
Blue Collar
An out-of-date description of employees engaged in jobs of a manual nature, who were paid on a weekly basis. Also commonly referred to as ‘manual’. (The different conditions of service associated with white collar and blue collar employees has been combined under a Single Status Agreement for local government.)
Boundary Committee for England
This was part of the Electoral Commission, to undertake periodic electoral reviews of local authorities in England. It was abolished in 2010-see Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
A method of environmental assessment and measure of environmental performance. Used to set best practise standards for sustainable design.
Brownfield Site
Any land which has previously been used for any purpose and is no longer in use for that purpose.
Business Link
Business Link was a service badge used nationally by the Small Business Service for delivery of their services. The network of local/regional advisors (under the auspices of BIS) was axed in 2011.
The online portal was replaced by the new GOV.UK website on 17 October 2012.
Cabinet Office
Government Department responsible for supporting the Prime Minister, in leading Government and security & intelligence.
Capital Expenditure
Whereas revenue expenditure covers daily running costs and is financed from current income, capital expenditure is expenditure on something which will produce an asset capable of providing benefits to the community for several years to come. Such expenditure can be financed from a number of sources, including borrowing, capital receipts arising from the sale of other assets, capital grants from an external body, by leasing land or buildings owned by the local authority, via agreements with the private sector, or by a contribution from the authority’s current account. Examples of capital expenditure might include building a new leisure facility, modernising buildings, or purchasing computer equipment.
Census
A survey of all persons present in the UK normally undertaken every 10 years by the Registrar General. The 2011 Census may be the last.
Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH)
The CSH is an environmental assessment and measure of environmental performance for new homes. It differs from BREEAM, which is a general assessment of any type of building’s environmental performance; CSH focuses specifically on the performance of new residential dwellings.
Committed Land /Site Development
Land which is already considered as being acceptable for a particular purpose by virtue of having a current or past planning permission or which is presently under construction.
Community Care
The provision of services and support which people who are affected by the problems of ageing, mental illness, mental handicap or physical or sensory disability need to be able to live as independently as possible in their own homes, or in “homely” settings in the community.
Community Infrastructure Levy
A charge levied by local authorities which raises funds from owners or developers of land undertaking new building projects in their area. Part of this is to be passed to Town councils, the percentage of which increases from 15% to 25% if a Neighbourhood Plan has been adopted. Forest Heath District Council has currently not adopted a CIL Scheme
Complaints Code
The Council have adopted a written Customer Care &Complaints Policy and which is set out in its Constitution.
Comprehensive Area Assessment
A comprehensive view of partnership working in an area, and looks across principal councils, health bodies, police, fire and others responsible for public services. Now abolished since the decline of the Audit Commission.
Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
Linked to Best Value. A detailed inspection by the Audit Commission of a principal Council’s corporate governance and service delivery. CPA was replaced by the Comprehensive Area Assessment in April 2009
Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT)
A process whereby authorities were required to tender services to competing contractors. The legal requirement for CCT has now been abolished and was replaced by a requirement for Best Value under the Local Government Act 1999
“Computer” (or “computer system”) means any device for automatic storing and processing of data and includes mainframe computer, minicomputer, microcomputer, personal computer(whether hand-held laptop, portable, standalone, network or attached to a mainframe computer), workstation, word processing system, desk top publishing system, office automation system, messaging system or any other similar device;
“Computer data” means any information stored and processed by computer and includes programs, text, geographic, pictures, video and sound.
Connexions
A career advice service which provided a personal adviser service to support 13-19 year olds, to stay in education or undertake training. Connexions is no longer a coherent National Service following the announcement of changes to the delivery of careers in England by the Coalition government
Conservation Area
An area designated by the planning authority as having architectural or historic value the character of which is worthy of protection and enhancement. The demolition of certain buildings within its boundaries may only be undertaken if the consent of the local planning authority is sought and obtained. Special consideration is given to planning applications made within a designated Conservation Area. Grants may also be available for the cost of certain repairs to buildings of architectural and historic interest.
Contaminated Land
Defined in Part 11A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as “land where there are substances in, on or under the land which are causing significant harm by identified pathways to identified targets or are causing pollution of controlled waters, or are likely to do so”.
Contingencies
Money set aside in the revenue estimates to meet unforeseen items of expenditure.
Contractor
External service provider which provides services as agreed in a contract.
Core Values
Principles on which a council’s policies are based and by which it operates.
Corporate Strategy
The broad strategy of the authority which identifies the major issues which are to receive priority in discharging its business and services.
Cost Centre
A cost centre is a local authority function or service area for which a specific budget is prepared and costs identified within the authority’s accounts.
Council Constitution
A statutory document for principal authorities but a voluntary one for local councils, which sets out how the Council runs its affairs and its power and duties.
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It includes 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European Union. Its work programme includes the following fields of activity: human rights; media; legal cooperation; social and economic questions; health; education; culture; heritage; sport; youth; local democracy and trans-frontier co-operations; the environment; and regional planning. It is an entirely separate body from the European Union (EU), which has only 28 member states. Unlike the EU, the Council of Europe cannot make binding laws. The two do however share certain symbols such as the flag and the anthem.
Council Tax
A banded property tax set by local authorities and levied on domestic properties. Each domestic property is allocated to one of eight bands, depending on its open market value at the 1 April 1991.
Council Tax Benefit
An allowance to persons on low income to meet in whole or in part their Council Tax liability. Administered by the unitary Council, but a nationally funded scheme. Replaced by Council Tax Support from April 2013.
Council Tax Support
Each collection authority must adopt a local scheme which is only 90% funded by Government. There is protection for the elderly and most vulnerable, but out of work will now have to pay a larger proportion, which can differ from area to area. Government expect a well designed scheme to mean that people currently on 100% benefit, will pay no more than 8.5%.
Current Expenditure
Day-to-day revenue spending on, for example, employees’ salaries and wages, the purchase of goods and services, the rent of premises and maintenance costs of assets.
Data Protection Act
The Data Protection Act 1998 computer systems for council tax must be registered with the Data Protection Registrar. The provisions of the Act also cover the processing of council tax information held on document image processing systems and microfilm/microfiche systems with computer-aided retrieval as well as in hard copy. This is being replaced by the General Data Protection Regulation which seeks to create a harmonised data protection law framework across the EU. The regulations apply in the UK from May 2018.
Delegated Powers
By law the Council can give power to its Committees, Sub Committee and officers to make certain decisions.
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for food, water, farming & fishing.
Department of Health
Government department responsible for health and social care.
Department of Trade and Industry
Government department responsible for enterprise and business.
Department of Transport
Government department responsible for transportation.
Department of Work & Pensions
Government department which brings together benefits and job search agencies.
Department of Culture, Media and Sport
Government Department for arts, sports, national lottery etc.
Department for Communities and local Government
Government department responsible for local government.
Department of Education & Skills
Government department for education, learning and workforce development.
Derelict Land
Land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment. This includes disused spoil heaps, worked out mineral excavations, abandoned industrial installations and land damaged by mining subsidence. It excludes land derelict from natural causes, land still in use and land with a planning permission containing conditions requiring after-treatment.
Development
Defined in Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as “The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over, or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land’”.
Development/Planning Brief
A document, approved by the planning authority, relating to a specific site to assist the manner in which future development of the land is carried out. It aims to clarify and expand upon the physical and policy constraints affecting the development of the site, and offers information and guidance to prospective developers. The document also acts as the basis for the consideration of any planning applications which may subsequently be submitted in respect of the site.
District Audit Service
Formerly auditors employed directly by the Audit Service to audit the accounts of principal local authorities. (see Audit Commission)
DLO (Direct Labour Organisation)
A distinct in-house organisation set up by a local authority to carry out construction/maintenance work set up under compulsory competitive tendering. Under Best Value, no longer a legal requirement and now often integrated into client departments. Sometimes referred to as Direct Service Organisation (DSO).
Electoral Commission
An independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections. The Commission is independent of Government and answerable to Parliament.
English Heritage
A Government agency to look after the Countries’ Heritage. Their responsibilities include listed buildings and conservation areas.
English Partnerships
A Government agency set up in November 1993, to stimulate the reclamation and development of land across England to produce jobs and environmental benefits, including the administration of derelict land grant. In December 2008, its duties passed to the Homes and Community Agency.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and a Welsh Government sponsored body that serves England and Wales. The Environment Agency’s stated purpose is, “to protect or enhance the environment, taken as a whole” so as to promote “the objective of achieving sustainable development“. Protection of the environment relates to threats such as flood and pollution.
Environmental Audit
A management tool comprising a systematic, periodic and objective evaluation of how well environmental organisation, management and equipment are performing with the aim of helping to safeguard the environment by :- Facilitating management control of environmental practices; and Assessing compliance with company policies which would include meeting regulatory requirements. In essence an audit provides the means for ensuring compliance with legislation and for verifying the adequacy and efficiency of organisational systems.
European Social Fund (ESF)
Funds, training, human resources and equal opportunities schemes to promote employability of people in both Objective 1 and 3 areas (see below). In Objective 2 areas, ESF may be used to complement ERDF activities.
EU Structural Funds
The European Union’s main instruments for supporting social and economic restructuring across the Union, including the ESF.
European Regional Development Fund
Aims to improve economic prosperity and social inclusion by investing in projects to promote development and encourage the diversification of industry into other sectors in areas lagging behind. The fund is available in Objective 1 and 2 areas.
External Audit
The independent examination of the activities and accounts of local authorities to ensure the accounts have been prepared in accordance with legislative requirements and proper practices, and to ensure that the authority has made proper arrangements to achieve economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
Financial Regulations
Internal rules and regulations concerning all financial transactions and related matters for all members and officers.
Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public bodies to make information publically available and to make this known in a Publication Scheme.
General Permitted Development Order
Sets out those categories of development which may be carried out without the need to apply for planning permission, i.e. “permitted development”. The Local Planning Authority can seek to make a legal direction requiring planning permission to be obtained for development that would normally be allowed by the Order (Article 4 Direction).
Government Offices for the Region
Set up in 1994, they formed a national network which brought together the regional offices of several departments. In addition to delivering the Government main spending programmes, they were also largely responsible for coordinating the Government’s main regeneration programmes. GOWM is the office for the West Midlands. They have been abolished and their functions wound down or transferred elsewhere.
Green Belt
An area designated to be subject to special protection from built development in order to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, to safeguard the countryside from further encroachment, to prevent neighbouring towns from merging with one another, and to assist in urban regeneration.
Greenfield
An area of undeveloped land often in agricultural use which may have potential for new built development but where no infrastructure services are available and is outside the built up area of an existing settlement.
Guillotine
A set timetable agreed by resolution to limit debate and bring a meeting to a close.
Hereditament
A unit of property capable of separate occupation which would be shown as a separate item on valuation for rating purposes.
Heritage Asset
A building, monument, site, place area or landscape indentified as possessing a degree of significance warranting consideration in the planning making process resulting from its heritage interest. Heritage assets can include designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority.
Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)
A non-departmental public body that funds new affordable housing in England. It was established by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 as one of the successor bodies to the Housing Corporation, and became operational on 1 December 2008.
Household Waste Site
Established by the waste disposal authority (locally Suffolk County Council), where householders can dispense of bulky refuse which cannot be collected by the District Council’s refuse team. They are often now known as recycling centres.
Housing Associations
Independent, non-profit making organisations which exist to provide affordable accommodation to those in housing need. They are now the United Kingdom’s major providers of new housing for rent, while many also run shared ownership schemes to help those who cannot afford to buy a home outright. More often referred to as social landlords
Housing Needs Survey
A survey undertaken to ascertain the housing needs of a district council’s area to assist in establishing affordable housing policies and the Council’s Housing Strategy.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
The definition of HMOs is broad, and includes hostels, nurses’ homes, bed-sit accommodation and dwellings where residents share kitchen/bathroom/living room facilities, but have separate rent arrangements with the landlord for their bedrooms.
Housing Strategy
A principal Council’s Housing Strategy is a comprehensive document which sets out how the Council will achieve its aims and objectives in meeting housing need both through partnership and as a major provider of social housing.
Infill Sites
An area of land, often between existing buildings, relatively small in scale and capable of development.
Intermediate affordable housing
Housing at prices and rents above those of social rent, but below market price or rents, and which meet the criteria set out above. These can include shared equity products (e.g. Home Buy), other low cost homes for sale and intermediate rent.
Internal Audit
Internal auditors appointed by Council must undertake an effective review to evaluate the efficiency of risk management, control and governance procedures, taking account of public sector auditing standards as currently set out in Governance and Accountability for Local Councils: A Practitioner Guide (England) 2014.
Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was a non-departmental public body jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in England. It closed on 31 March 2010 and was replaced by the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People’s Learning Agency.
Listed Building
A building included in a list compiled by the Secretary of State for National Heritage as being of special architectural or historic interest as defined in Section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Buildings are classified in grades to show their relative importance (Grade I, II* and II). The effect of listing on a building, in planning terms, is to safeguard it from unauthorised demolition or insensitive alteration.
Local Agenda 21
Local Government’s strategy on sustainability, following the adoption of Agenda 21 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Local Development Plan
This is a comprehensive document produced by a planning authority, required by statute and subject to public consultation which sets out that Council’s policies and proposals with respect to land use and planning over a period of years. Its major tasks are to:
- Identify appropriate sites for new development;
- Meet local needs for facilities and amenities; and
- Protect the national and built assets.
Local Enterprise Partnership
In England, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are voluntary partnerships between local authorities and businesses set up in 2011 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to help determine local economic priorities and lead economic growth and job creation within the local area. They carry out some of the functions previously carried out by the regional development agencies which were abolished in March 2012. To date there are 39 local enterprise partnerships in operation.
Local Government Association
Represents all principal local authorities as a national voice.
Local Government Review (LGR)
The 1992 Local Government Act established a Local Government Commission with the express remit to review the boundaries of English non‑metropolitan local authorities. A further review of two tier areas took place in the three northern regions. No changes resulted from this.
Further reviews were undertaken in some parts of the country in 2007/8.
Local Strategic Partnership (LSPs)
Local strategic partnerships draw the key service providers in a local area into a single partnership with which the community is actively engaged, giving communities a greater say in the running and delivery of public services.
Local Transport Plan
A periodic plan which the highways authority ( Suffolk County Council) have to forward to the Government, identifying their plans for sustainable transport.
Market Towns Initiative
Government funding from the Countryside Agency and the Regional Development Agencies to support market town regeneration. This is now discontinued as a national initiative but many more local market town initiatives continue.
Mayor
The Mayor of the Council is elected by Members from among their number and the appointment is ratified at the Annual General Meeting of the Council. The office is ceremonial rather than political and involves representing the authority at civic functions and other events and chairing Council meetings.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
This is the Government’s planning policy guidelines for England. it details how the policy is to be applied and implemented. Local and neighbourhood plans should take in to account the policies of the NPPF in their preparation.
Neighbourhood Planning
A proposal under the Localism Act 2011. Neighbourhood plans will enable communities to permit development – in full or in outline – without the need for planning applications. New Neighbourhood Plans will be designed to help lift the burden of centralised controls and give neighbourhoods and local areas the flexibility to innovate, be creative, access new resources and control their own futures.
National Association of Local Councils
NALC represents all local councils which are members to act as a national voice. There is also a County branch for Suffolk (SALC).
National Non-Domestic Rates
These are paid on commercial, business and non-residential property, i.e. any property which is not a domestic dwelling. The level of NDR is determined by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, although local (billing) authorities are still responsible for its billing and collection. The proceeds from the tax have been pooled and redistributed amongst local authorities in proportion to the Registrar General’s mid-1992 resident population (all ages). From April 2013, collection authorities will be allowed to keep a percentage of business rates generated to encourage economic development.
Mandatory Relief: Where the ratepayer is a Charity or Trustees for a Charity and the hereditament (business premises) is used wholly or mainly for charitable purposes. Collection authorities can also grant discretionary relief above the mandatory levels and their discretion has increased from April 2013.
National Vocational Qualifications
Introduced in 1993. NVQs are a nationally recognised qualification geared towards studying whilst in employment.
Natural England
The Government’s statutory landscape advisor with responsibility for landscape designations such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Beauty and Heritage Coasts.
Need to Know Rule
A rule which allows Councillors who are not on a committee to inspect background papers for that committee if it affects their constituents.
Outcome
The measurable effect of schemes or projects.
Output
The physical products, or measurable results, of schemes or projects.
Performance Indicators
Indicators used to enable people to gauge the progress against pre-determined targets.
Performance Review
A system of monitoring an organisation’s standards of service against specific targets.
Permitted Development
Certain permission to carry out specified limited forms of development without the need to make an application to the local planning authority. Granted under the terms of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order.
Planning Policy Guidance
A series of National policy guidance notes published by Government on specific planning matters or issues. Now largely superseded by the National Planning Framework.
Precept
The levy made by precepting authorities on billing authorities, requiring the latter to collect income from council taxpayers on their behalf. (see precepting authorities).
Precepting Authorities
Those authorities which are not billing authorities, such as town and parish councils and police authorities.
Point of Order/Information
A question raised to clarify whether the procedural rules are being adhered to/ A question raised to clarify something that has been said at a meeting.
Principal Councils
County, Borough (district), Unitary, Metropolitan and London Borough Councils
Privilege
Councillors seeking to carry out their duties, for example in a Council meeting, are given qualified privilege. This means that a Councillor who was being sued for defamation would have limited protection if (s)he honestly believed what was said and was not motivated by malice.
Public Open Space
Land normally held within the ownership of the Council over which all members of the public have rights and access to, for the purpose of informal recreation.
Public Right of Way
A footpath, bridleway or carriageway over which all members of the public have right of access.
Publication Scheme- See Freedom of Information
Quango
Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations. The term ‘quasi government’ for which Quango is a popular acronym refers to both government-created and semi-private organisations which are both distinct from, but usually relate at ‘arms length’ to central government departments or local authorities. Quango is essentially an umbrella term under which a wide variety of organisations may be categorised.
Quorum
The number of Members that must be present at a meeting to make proceedings valid. In a local council this is a third of eligible Members, or three, whichever is larger. These are set the Standing Orders.
Regional Development Agency (RDA)
Regional Development Agencies were set up by Government to promote the economic prosperity of the region. Suffolk was within the East of England RDA. The coalition government abolished regional development agencies and replaced them with Local Enterprise Partnerships in 2012.
Register of Members Interests
The Localism Act 2011 and the Members Code of Conduct place requirements on Members for the registration and declaration of their interests and the consequences for the Members participation in consideration of an issue in light of these interests. Councillors need to review their situation regularly.
Guidance is available from the Town Council Manager or Forest Heath District Council’s Monitoring Officer, however, the ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the requirements rests individually with each Councillor.
Reserves and Balances
These are accounting terms which refer to the amount of money still held at the end of the financial year, after allowing for all the expenditure and income that has taken place.
Resolution
A motion agreed by a meeting is subsequently referred to as a resolution.
Revenue Expenditure
Current expenditure plus debt charges.
Revenue Support Grant (RSG)
The main grant paid by Central Government to pay for day-to-day expenditure on principal Council services.
Ring Fencing
The identification of a separate sum of money which may only be used for a specific purpose.
Scheduled Ancient Monument
Monuments of national importance designated by the Secretary of State for the Environment on advice from English Heritage by virtue of their historic or archaeological value.
Service Level Agreements
An agreement between organisations setting out the standards and terms on which one undertakes a service for another. SLAs may also be referred to as TAGs or Trading Agreements, although some authorities use TAGs as the agreement itself, which then refers to the detail contained in the SLA.
Settlement Zone Line
The boundary which defines the existing and proposed extent of the built-up area of a town or village, beyond which the land and buildings therein are classed as being in the open countryside or Green Belt.
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Sites of national importance designated by English Nature and given statutory protection as areas of special interest by reason of flora, fauna, geological or physiological features.
Skills Funding Agency
The Skills Funding Agency funds adult Further Education (FE) and skills training in England. It forms part of a network of organisations in England who commission, manage and promote training for adults.
Slippage
Where a revenue or capital scheme does not progress at the expected rate of physical progress or spending originally forecast.
Social rented housing
Rented housing owned and managed by local authorities and registered social landlords, for which guideline target rents are determined through the national rent regime. It may also include rented housing owned or managed by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with the Homes & Community Agency as a condition of grant.
Standing Orders
Detailed rules, governing the order and conduct of the Council and committee business. They are designed to ensure that meetings are conducted in an organised and orderly manner. Matters covered include the procedures for giving notice of motions, the raising of questions at Council meetings and rules of debate.
Structure Plan
Document produced by former County Councils which sets out the broad strategic planning framework over a fifteenyear period. These are now replaced by Local Plans produced by district or unitary authorities.
Supplementary Estimate
If an area of expenditure arises during the year, for which there is no appropriate budget, then a formal request will be made of council to grant the approval of a Supplementary Estimate. This procedure is only used where all other possibilities (e.g. Virement, etc.) have been totally exhausted.
Supplementary Planning Guidance
A series of documents prepared and approved by the Local Planning Authority following public consultation which give advice and explain the Council’s approach to particular aspects of development. They are intended to be a guide to developers and indicate the requirements and standards that will be applied in the determination of planning applications. They will become part of the Local Plan.
Sustainable Development
As defined by the Brundtland Report – ‘Our Common Future’ (1987) “development which meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to achieve their needs and aspirations”.
Tax Base
The council tax base or resources of each authority is expressed in terms of its equivalent number of dwellings with two or more residents in valuation band D. This is used to set the tax rate of the authority and in the calculation of the authorities entitlement to Revenue Support Grant.
Tenant Services Authority (TSA)
The operating name of the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords, the current regulatory agency of registered providers of social housing in England. The Tenant Services Authority first took over the regulatory work of the Housing Corporation, inspecting housing associations and responding to concerns. Its remit was then expanded to regulate local authority housing, ALMOs and housing cooperatives from April 2010.
Tendering
The making of an offer by a contractor to carry out work. Usually invited on a competitive basis but sometimes negotiated. Competitive tenders are returned on a given date and time.
The Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE)
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 by which the UK implemented the European Union directive on the acquired rights of workers.
Total Places
A pilot by Government to judge the performance of an area by monitoring all public agencies working together rather than individually.
Town & Town Plan
A community led plan identifying what people feel about various aspects of living and working in the community and their priorities for change.
Tree Preservation Order
An order made by the Local Planning Authority to prohibit the felling or lopping trees specified in the Order without the consent of the Local Planning Authority.
Two Tier Local Government
A system in which responsibilities for local functions and services are divided between two separate principal (district and county) councils. Scotland and Wales have only unitary local government as do some areas of England. Many areas are actually “three tier” if town or Town (local) councils are established.
Ultra Vires
Local authorities are empowered to do only those things authorised by statute. If they do anything not authorised by statute that action is said to be ultra vires (beyond the powers of). Under the Localism
Act 2011, all principal councils and qualifying local councils are given a general power of competence to do anything that an individual can generally do.
Unitary Local Government
A system of single tier “all purpose” principal councils which are each responsible for all local authority functions in an area. In England this includes unitary district councils, metropolitan district councils and London borough councils.
Use Classes Order
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 specifies use classes for different categories of buildings and land use. Generally, where a change of use falls within the same use class then development is not involved and no planning permission is required. A change of use from one class to another may constitute development and consequently would require planning permission.
Virement
This is an accounting term which refers to the transfer or resources between budget heads. Finance Regulations detail the levels at which virement may take place and the levels of authorisation required.
White Collar
Mainly office based staff paid on a monthly basis, also commonly referred to as ‘staff’’. (The different conditions of service associated with white collar and blue collar staff are to be combined in the near future under a national Single Status Agreement.)
Windfall sites
Sites which have not been specifically identifies or allocated, in the production of the Local Development Plan for future development.
USEFUL ACRONYMS
ACAS Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
ANPA Association of National Parks Authorities
BIGS Bought in Goods and Services
CCT Compulsory Competitive Tendering (see glossary)
CHS Code for sustainable homes
CIEH Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
CIL Community Infrastructure Levy
CIPFA Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
CPA Comprehensive Performance Assessment
CPRE Campaign for the Protection of Rural England
DBFO Design, Build, Finance, Operate
DCMS Department for Culture, Media & Sport
DCLG Department of Communities & Local Government
DEFRA Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DfES Department for Education and Skills
DLG Derelict Land Grant
DLO Direct Labour Organisation (see glossary)
DSO Direct Service Organisation (see glossary)
DTI Department of Trade and Industry
DWP Department for Work and Pensions
EA Environment Agency (see glossary)
EFQM European Foundation Quality Model (Formerly Business Excellence Model)
EMU European Monetary Union
ERCF Estate Regeneration Challenge Fund
ESF European Social Fund
EU European Union
GDPO General Development Procedure Order
GPDO General Permitted Development Order
HRD Human Resource Development
ICT Information and Communications Technology
ILAM Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management
IRRV Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation
ISRM Institute of Sport and Recreation Management
IT Information Technology
LA Local Authority
LEA Local Education Authority
LEP Local Enterprise Partnership
LGA Local Government Association
LGC Local Government Chronicle or Local Government Commission
LGIB Local Government International Bureau
LHC Local Housing Company
LSP Local Strategic Partnership
LSVT Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (of Housing Stock)
LTP Local Transport Plan
MBO Management Buy Out
MEP Member of the European Parliament
MJ Municipal Journal
MTI Market Town Initiative
NABMA National Association of British Markets Authorities
NALC National Association of Local Councils
NNDR National Non-Domestic Rate (Business Rates)
NPPF National Planning Policy Framework
NSALG National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners
NVQ National Vocational Qualification (see glossary)
OFWAT Office of Water Services
PC Personal Computer
PFI Private Finance Initiative
POS Public Open Space
PPG Planning Policy Guidance
PROW Public Right of Way
PSA Public Service Agreement
PSBR Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
RIBA Royal Institution of British Architects
RTPI Royal Town Planning Institute
SAM Scheduled Ancient Monument
SBI Site of Biological Importance
SCA Supplementary Credit Approval
SEA Single European Act
SEM Single European Market
SMEs Small and Medium Enterprises
SOLACE Society of Local Authority Chief Executives
SALC Suffolk Associations of Local Councils
SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest
TIC Tourist Information Centre
TIP Tourist Information Point
TPO Tree Preservation Order
TPP Transport Policies and Programme
VFM Value for Money
VOA Valuation Office Agency
Next revision September 2021