Glossary

Consumer:

In this context, we use the term consumer in a broad sense to describe an individual or household unit.

Consumer behaviour:

Refers to the choices made by individuals or household units on a daily basis about what resources to consume. This includes purchasing behaviour, but also wider resource use behaviour such as riding a bicycle, or walking rather than travelling by car.

Evaluation:

A process that aims to assess, systematically and objectively, the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of activities in the light of their objectives.

Impact:

Direct or indirect changes in the existing situation, whether beneficial or adverse, planned or unplanned, resulting from a specific act or series of acts.

Indicator:

A substitute measure for a concept that is not directly observable or measurable

Intervention:

The activities or processes being evaluated.

Monitoring:

The regular collection and analysis of information.

Organisation:

The Local Authority, Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) as an entity, or individual LSP partners.

Organisational decision:

Strategic decisions made by the organisations listed above.

Partnership:

Organisations working within a structured framework to develop a relationship that exhibits full mutual support for the identity and all aspects of the work, as well as the well-being of each organisation.

Sustainable communities:

Sustainable communities meet the diverse needs of communities both now and in the future. Sustainable communities will contribute to a high quality of life, provide opportunity and informed choice and contribute to global sustainable development.

Sustainable communities will achieve this by:

  • Making effective use of natural resources
  • Enhancing the environment
  • Promoting social cohesion, inclusion, equity and fairness
  • Strengthening economic prosperity in order to support responsible consumption, within environmental limits