ANNEX B
GRANTS AWARDED BY DETR (SEE
PARAGRAPHS 33 AND
34)
SCOPE
1. Question 31 is taken to refer to grant award
schemes administered by DETR. This Annex does not cover other
funding arrangements, such as grant-in-aid and appropriations
in aid for NDPBs and other external bodies, which account for
much of the DETR's expenditure in support of its strategy for
sustainable development and the environment. Nor are research
programmes covered.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AND WATER
VOTE
2. The Environmental Protection Group operates
a number of grant schemes aimed at helping achieve sustainable
development and environmental objectives.
| Environmental Action Fund (EAF)
|
|
| Details of programmes | £000
|
|
| 1989-99 Proposed provision | 4,190
|
| 1997-98 Original provision | 3,690
|
| 1997-98 Final provision | 3,701
|
| Difference 1997-98 to 1998-99 | +489
|
|
3. The EAF is a discretionary grant programme, which helps
English voluntary groups to advance the Government's environmental
policies, supporting work which does not qualify for grant under
other programmes. Priorities are to: help to educate the general
public, or specific sections of the public, in the importance
of sustainable development, or promote sustainable behaviour;
encourage waste minimisation, recycling, reusing materials and
using energy efficiently; and improve local environments and encourage
biodiversity.
| Support for low income households (including Home Energy Efficiency Scheme)
|
|
| £000 |
|
| 1998-99 Proposed provision (net of VAT reclaims)
| 75,126 |
| 1997-98 Original provision (net of VAT reclaims)
| 75,104 |
| Difference 1997-98 to 1998-99 | +22
|
|
4. Under this scheme householders are eligible for grant
if they, or their spouses, receive an income-related or disability
benefit, or are aged 60 or over. The measures available are loft
insulation, cavity wall insulation, controls for heating systems,
draught-proofing, energy efficient lamps and water tank insulation.
In addition, personal energy advice is offered. Provision also
covers annual grant to National Energy Action (the national energy
action charity) and Energy Action Scotland. As a result of changes
in VAT regulations, the number of grants supported by the programme
is expected to increase by 10 per cent in 1998-99 compared with
previous years.
| SCEEMAS (Small Company Environmental and Energy Management Assistance Scheme)
|
|
| £000 |
|
| 1998-99 Proposed provision | 800
|
| 1997-98 Original provision | 550
|
| Difference 1997-98 to 1998-99 | +250
|
|
5. The SCEEMAS programme aims to help manufacturing companies
improve their environmental performance and encourages them to
register under the EC Eco Management and Audit Scheme. The programme
is being reviewed in order to achieve a wider range of environmental
improvements in small businesses and to achieve a greater take-up.
| Darwin Initiative
|
|
| £000 |
|
| 1998-99 Proposed provision | 3,000
|
| 1997-98 Original provision | 3,000
|
| Difference 1997-98 to 1998-99 | No change
|
|
6. This is a UK initiative launched at the 1992 Rio summit.
It is a grant scheme which supports the Biodiversity Convention's
objectives of conservation and sustainable use by drawing on UK
scientific and educational expertise to undertake projects throughout
the developing world.
WATER SERVICES
7. DETR also operates a number of demand-led grant schemes
relating to Water Supply and Sewerage (particularly in Assisted
Areas) which reflect the objectives of sustainable development,
although their criteria do not specifically refer to it.
| Housing, Construction and Regeneration Vote
|
| | |
| £000 |
|
| ERCF | PSR
| SGP | SRB-CF |
|
| 1998-99 Provision | 159,514
| 226,987 | 1,287 | 101,569
|
| 1997-98 Original Provision | 118,210
| 196,869 | 1,287 | 96,320
|
| 1997-98 Final Provision | 102,136
| 196,269 | 1,047 | 81,754
|
| Difference 1997-98 to 1998-99 | (57,378)
| (30,718) | (240) | (19,815)
|
|
Note:
This table gives figures for the grant schemes outlined below. ERCF includes £36.153 million in 1997-98 (final provision) and £95.500 million in 1998-99 disbursed via the Housing Corporation.
|
HOUSING
8. The following housing programmes make a contribution towards
DETR's strategy for sustainable development and the environment.
Estates Renewal Challenge Fund (ERCF)
9. ERCF supports transfers which could not proceed without
financial support to compensate for low or negative valuations
or poor asset cover. The ERCF 1998-99 Bidding Guidance which sets
out the basis against which applications for the third round of
the scheme would be assessed stated that: "Successful applications
will involve freehold transfers which . . . contribute to regeneration
and long term sustainability and are part of a wider package of
proposals designed to alleviate the multiplicity of social, economic
and educational deprivation concentrated on some large local authority
estates."
Private Sector Renewal (PSR)
10. There are no specific terms and conditions about sustainability
attached to most private sector renewal grants. But group repair
assistance is concerned about the environmental impact of poor
housing. Such schemes require the approval of the Secretary of
State and one criterion for approval is that the authority are
satisfied that group repair is the most satisfactory course of
action for dealing with disrepair having regard to the long-term
costs and benefits, both financial and non-financial.
11. DOE Circular 17/96 (Private Sector Renewal: a Strategic
Approach) provides guidance to authorities on the development
of private sector renewal strategies which also encourages authorities
on the development of private sector renewal strategies which
also encourages authorities to consider the long-term sustainability
of the works they carry out. In particular, authorities can declare
"renewal areas" (RA) to deal with poor housing in the
context of wider, more holistic regeneration strategies. In deciding
whether to declare a RA, authorities are required to carry out
a comprehensive area appraisal. They are recommended to use a
method known as Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment which again looks
at the long-term socio-economic costs and benefits of the proposed
action.
12. In assessing bids from local authorities for resources
for private sector renewal under the Housing Investment Programme
(HIP) process, the Department looks critically at the strength
of local authority strategies. Issues such as energy conservation
measures are expressly mentioned as factors to be taken into account.
(See also the Special Grants Programme below)
CONSTRUCTION
13. No relevant grants other than those targeted at Housing.
REGENERATION
Special Grants Programme (SGP)
14. This programme provides grants to voluntary organisations
carrying out national projects relevant to the DETR's housing
and regeneration policy objectives. It operates on the basis of
an annual bidding round.
15. Grants are mainly intended to help voluntary organisations
with revenue costs e.g., salaries, office running costs. While
the Programme does not immediately contribute to sustainable development,
it makes an indirect contribution by supporting projects which
complement DETR's housing and regeneration policy interests. Although
there is no single definition of "local regeneration",
applicants are encouraged to bear in mind the current objectives
of the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund set out below.
Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund (SRBCF)
16. The objectives of the SRBCF are to achieve the comprehensive
regeneration of local areas and Challenge Fund schemes must meet
one or more of the following overall objectives:
— enhance the employment prospects, education and
skills of local people, particularly the young and those at a
disadvantage, and promote equality of opportunity;
— encourage sustainable economic growth and wealth
creation by improving the competitiveness of the local economy,
including support for new and existing businesses;
— protect and improve the environment and infrastructure
and promote good design, mixed development and landscaping in
line with the Secretary of State's Quality Initiative;
— improve housing and housing conditions for local
people through physical improvement, better maintenance, improved
management and greater choice and diversity;
— promote initiatives of benefit to ethnic minorities;
— tackle crime and improving community safety;
— enhance the quality of life, health, and capacity
to contribute to regeneration of local people, including the promotion
of cultural and sports opportunities.
17. The supplementary guidance for the current Round 4 of
the SRBCF also emphasises the important role that Challenge Fund
schemes can play in the Government's new measures to tackle multiple
causes of social deprivation and economic decline.
18. Initiatives supported by the Challenge Fund must work
with the grain of national policies and programmes. Challenge
Fund Partnerships must take account of relevant national strategies
and targets, including the national Strategy for Sustainable Development,
as reflected in local authorities' work to develop their own sustainable
development strategies under local government's Local Agenda 21
Initiative. Annex H of the SRBCF Round 4 Bidding Guidance, on
Sustainable Development, states:
1. A generally accepted definition of sustainable development,
contained in the 1987 Brundtland report "Our Common Future",
is:
"Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs".
2. Application of the principles of sustainability involves
balancing the objectives of economic development with protection—or
enhancement—of the environment and conservation of natural
resources. Treated as an opportunity rather than an obstacle,
and taken into account at an early stage in project development,
the objective of sustainable development need not be incompatible
with that of economic development. Energy efficient buildings,
for example, help minimise fuel costs and reduce harmful emissions
to the atmosphere; greening schemes benefit local communities
but can also help to attract inward investment to urban areas.
3. The potential and long-term impact of regeneration proposals
on the environment should be taken into account in framing bids,
along with the other factors described in this guidance. The following
checklist provides a brief guide to some key aspects of sustainability
in relation to urban regeneration.
— In developing your proposals, have you considered
the opportunities to:
— Reclaim and reuse brownfield sites, including
derelict and contaminated land, or make use of vacant urban sites?
— Locate new developments where they are readily
accessible by public transport, cycling or on foot?
— Regenerate and enhance existing urban centres
by promoting mixed uses which enable people to live near their
work and reduce their overall need to travel?
— Improve access to public transport networks to
discourage dependency on private cars?
— Reuse existing buildings and recycle building
materials or use local sources of supply?
— Set targets for energy efficiency in housing or
other types of development, or exploit renewable sources of energy?
— Promote community-based initiatives which enable
local people to participate in environmental improvements and
contribute to their long-term management and maintenance?
— Separate or protect residential areas from sources
of noise or pollution from traffic or other sources?
— Promote greening as an easily-integrated source
of economic, environmental, social, educational benefits in infrastructure
and development projects?
EUROPEAN FUNDING
19. DETR is also responsible for the implementation of the
European Regional Development Fund in England (worth nearly £6
billion). Types of project generally supported includes: sites
and facilities for industry and business; infrastructure projects;
and environmental protection and improvement measures linked to
regional economic development.
20. The regulations governing the Community's Structural
Funds are laid out in Council Regulations, but it is up to Member
States to implement them. These include environmental requirements,
which the UK has fully implemented.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES
21. Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are being set up
in England from April 1999 to provide effective, properly co-ordinated
regional economic development, to underpin wider regeneration,
and to enable the English regions to improve their relative competitiveness.
One of the specific functions which the RDAs are due to take over
is the administration of the SRB Challenge Fund. RDAs will
have a specific purpose of contributing to the achievement of
sustainable development, and this will be relevant to all that
they do.
PLANNING, ROADS,
LOCAL TRANSPORT
AND VEHICLE
SAFETY VOTE
22. Freight Grants Scheme
|
| TAG | FFG
|
|
| 1998-99 Proposed provision | 17,123
| 22,529 |
| 1997-98 Provision | 18,411 |
12,750 |
| Difference 1997-98 to 1998-99 | -1,288
| 9,779 |
|
The purpose of Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) and
Track Access Grant (TAG) is to purchase environmental benefits.
Grant can only be paid in cases where it can be demonstrated that
the goods concerned would otherwise go by road. It is paid only
up to the level necessary to tip the balance in favour of rail.
Applications for both grants are assessed by reference to "lorry
miles avoided".
23. Transport Supplementary Grants and grants under s.56
of the Transport Act 1968 are given as part of the Transport Policies
and Programmes process which considers all aspects of local authority
capital spending plans for local roads and public transport. Bids
for new works have to include environmental impact and noise assessment
reports, and public transport schemes are appraised on likely
contribution to modal shift from car. Recent grants have given
priority to pedestrians, cycling and public transport.
DETR/SDU
13 March 1998
|
