AA

Appropriate Assessment.
A requirement of the European Habitats Directive. Its purpose is to assess the impacts of the plans and projects on internationally designated nature conservation sites.

ACA

Area Cost Adjustment.
Additional Government funding given to local authorities in the South East region, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and London to reflect the higher costs of service delivery in these areas.

ACE

Arts Council England.
ACE is the national body for the arts, responsible for policy, research and advocacy.

AoNB

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard them. There are 11 AoNB sites in the South East.

CBI

Confederation of British Industry.
It represents public and private sector companies and trade, employer, and commercial organisations.

CLG

Communities and Local Government.
Government department that promotes community cohesion and equality and is responsible for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government. Formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

CSR

Comprehensive Spending Review.
Government's main tool for deciding how much money will go into schools, hospitals and other public services.

DEFRA

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Formerly known as MAFF, DEFRA is responsible for agriculture, the environment, wildlife, the countryside and sustainable development.

DCMS

Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
It has policy responsibility for museums, galleries and libraries, the built heritage, the arts, sport, education, broadcasting and the media and tourism, as well as the creative industries, the Millennium and the National Lottery.

DPD

Development Plan Documents.
Contain the statutory policies and proposals that guide development in districts and boroughs.

FSB

Federation of Small Businesses.
The largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.

GLA

Greater London Authority.
Its role is to provide strategic citywide government for London. The GLA is made up of a directly elected Mayor - the Mayor of London - and a separately elected Assembly - the London Assembly.

GOSE

Government Office for the South East.
It was created in April 1994 and brings together the activities previously carried out on a regional basis by the separate Departments responsible for Education, Employment, Transport, Local Government, Trade and Industry.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure.
Transport, affordable housing, education, health, utilities etc required for sustainable development

JEC

Joint Europe Committee.
The JEC was established to give strategic direction to a wide range of European activities of a regional nature.

LAA

Local Area Agreements.
A three-year agreement between a local area and Government. The LAA describes how local priorities will be met by delivering local solutions.

LSC

Learning Skills Council.
The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for all post-16 education and training in England.

MAA

Multi Area Agreements.
Agreements to facilitate greater cross boundary collaboration on key economic development issues in towns, cities and other areas.

MMS

Multi Modal Studies.
The aim of an MMS is to investigate problems on or with all modes of transport and to seek solutions to those problems.

PDL

Previously developed land.
That which is, or was, occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings), and associated fixed surface infrastructure. Also known as brownfield land.

RAB

Regional Arts Board.
There are 10 English RABs, which work as arts development agencies in the broadest sense, identifying needs and formulating strategies for arts provision.

RAISE

Regional Action & Involvement South East.
A network of networks for voluntary and community groups in the South East, enabling them to become key partners in policy making.

RDA

Regional Development Agency.
There are eight regional development agencies in England. They were established by Government through the Regional Development Agency Act in 1998 and are responsible for promoting sustainable economic development in each of the regions.

RES

Regional Economic Strategy.
This was published in October 1999 following consultation with 20,000 organisations and individuals across the region, including the Regional Assembly.

RHB

Regional Housing Board.
A partnership board chaired by the Regional Assembly. It focuses on the need for more affordable homes and to bring decent housing within reach of people on lower incomes.

RPB

Regional Planning Body.
Is responsible for reviewing the ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’ (RSS) and preparing draft revisions in partnership with local and regional stakeholders. (The Regional Assembly is the RPB for this region and the South East Plan is the RSS.)

RPC

Regional Planning Committee.
Advises the Executive Committee and/or the Assembly as a whole on matters relating to the Assembly’s role as Regional Planning Body for the South East.

RPG

Regional Planning Guidance.
Current regional planning was issued by the Secretary of State in March 2001. In the South East, the relevant Regional Planning Guidance is RPG9.

RTB

Regional Transport Board.
A partnership board chaired by the Regional Assembly. It advises Government on transport investment priorities for the region, especially reducing congestion and increasing the take up of public transport.

RTS

Regional Transport Strategy.
Now part of the South East Plan, the RTS ensures that the investment programmes of local authorities, transport providers and other key stakeholders in the transport sector complement and support the wider regional objective of delivering a more sustainable pattern of development.

SA

Sustainablity Appraisal.
Mandatory under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, promotes sustainable development through the integration of social, environmental and economic considerations into the preparation of revisions of RSS and for new or revised Development Plan Documents (DPD) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD).

SANGS

Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace.
Alternative green space provided to protect areas protected under law such as SPAs.

SDF

Sustainable Development Framework.
The SDF was published in June 2001 and sets out a vision for the Region and a series of objectives and indicators to guide and help in monitoring the quality of life in the South East.

SEEDA

South East England Development Agency.
The Regional Development Agency for the South East. It was established by the Government through the Regional Development Agency Act 1998, and came into operation on 1 April 1999 to take the strategic lead in promoting the sustainable economic development of the region.

SERPLAN

SERPLAN South East Regional Planning Body.
Prior to April 2001, SERPLAN was responsible for Planning Guidance in London and the wider South East, including Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Essex. With the advent of the Greater London Authority and the Regional Assemblies, SERPLAN passed over responsibilities to the new representative bodies.

SNR

Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration.
A Government policy review to consider how to strengthen economic performance in regions, cities and localities throughout the country.

SPA

Special Protection Area.
Strictly protected sites classified in accordance with Article 4 of the EC Directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC).

SRA

Strategic Rail Authority.
The SRA formally came into being on 1 February 2001, following the passage of the Transport Act 2000. Its responsibilities cover the three sectors of Passenger, Freight and Infrastructure.

SPD

Supplementary Planning Documents.
Used to provide further detail to policies and proposals contained in a Development Plan Document.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development.
Is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone both now and in the future. It means a more inclusive society which achieves and shares the benefits of increased economic prosperity, in which the environment is protected and improved and there is less wasteful use of natural resources.