NCVO: New report shows hike in Compact disputes between charities and local public bodies
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Wednesday, 05, Dec 2007 12:00
The Compact Advocacy Programme, based at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), has produced its 2006/07 case report, which shows that cases between charities and local public bodies, such as local councils and Primary Care Trusts, have more than tripled, rising from 14 in 2005/06 to 50 in 2006/07. As Government is increasingly seeking to devolve power and decision making to a local level, the Compact Advocacy Programme has seen local cases overtake national cases, taking on 30 national cases in 2006/07 compared to 50 local.
While the report shows that charities are using the Compact in order to resolve disputes, it also shows worrying practice at a local level. Top local Compact breaches were ending funding without proper notice, not consulting organisations in a meaningful way and not involving charities in designing new programmes of work.
Jess Crocker, Compact Advocate with the Local Compact Advocacy Programme said:
'We are delighted that organisations are using the Compact to resolve disputes with local public bodies. However, the statistics show that many local public bodies are still not respecting the Compact and our experience has been that some of the best and worst practice is at a local level. It is high time that the good practice was shared and the Compact understood and implemented across the country. We hope that this report will be a catalyst for that to happen.'
Marilyn Jones, Voluntary Action Shrewsbury, said:
'We have had serious issues getting our local council to see the benefit of signing up to the local Compact and resolving disputes through dialogue and partnership. Once they did agree, it promptly disappeared from view having apparently fulfilled the council's requirement to tick a box to this effect
Sufficient resources and funding should be made available to ensure that each council has the requirement and the means, to enable its local voluntary sector to deliver its services effectively. Surely, with mutual support and the implementation of a Compact, the increase in knowledge, understanding and respect would allow the local community to reap the benefits.
The report also sheds some light on implementation of the Compact at a national level. One of the key findings is that non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), such as the Learning and Skills Council and the Legal Services Commission are persistent offenders. 11 out of 30 national cases were with NDPBs.
A summary of some of the other national findings is below:
83% of cases were related to funding or procurement issues
The number of breaches of the consultation code has risen. The majority of
these complaints were not the result of a lack of consultation, but a lack of meaningful consultation, with government bodies carrying out 'token'
consultations that do not input into government decisions
The majority of national cases are still with Government departments; the
Home Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families being repeat offenders
National public bodies are passing on over-burdensome and disproportionate
reporting and monitoring requirements from the EU onto charities
Ingela Andersson, Compact Advocate with the National Compact Advocacy Programme
said:
'A key problem is the breakdown of communication between different Government bodies. All too often the voluntary sector falls through the gaps of different institutions, and groups are being passed from pillar to post trying to resolve issues. A good example of this is regarding EU funding, with some non- departmental public bodies claiming that the Compact doesn't apply to them or to EU funds. We would welcome Government resolving this issue.'
Overall, the Compact Advocacy Programme dealt with 80 cases, involving more than £3million between November 2006 and 2007.
Key recommendations from the Programme include:
Improved support and resources for local authorities on their
implementation of key Compact commitments, such as 3-months' notice when ending funding;
Improved consultation processes which ensures consultations are clear,
transparent and meaningful;
Clarity on how the Compact can be applied to EU funding.
For a copy of the report, or an interview please contact Siobhan Wakely in NCVO's Media Office on 020 7520 2569 or Siobhan.wakely@ncvo-vol.org.uk, or Pete Moorey on 020 7520 2468 or pete.moorey@ncvo-vol.org.uk.
Notes to Editors:
The 2006/07 report of case statistics is being published ahead of the Compact Annual Meeting, which is being held on 13 December at 11.00 in Church House. The meeting will review the Compact on relations between government and the voluntary and community sector in England. Speakers will include Minister for the Third Sector, Phil Hope and Sir Christopher Kelly, Chair of Compact Voice. For more information please contact Paul Barasi at paul.barasi@ncvo- vol.org.uk or 020 7520 2453.
The Compact is an agreement between the Government and the voluntary and community sector made in November 1998. It aims to improve the relationship between the two sectors for mutual advantage. The Compact is made up of five codes of good practice. These documents act like a legal agreement with clear points that outline both government undertakings and undertakings by the voluntary and community sector. The five Compact Codes of Good Practice are:
Funding and Procurement
Consultation and Policy Appraisal
Black and Minority Ethnic Groups
Volunteering
Community Groups
There are also local Compacts which are agreements between the public bodies and the voluntary and community sector in a particular locality. The specific undertakings from the national Compact such as paying on a full cost basis, paying on time and in advance of expenditure, giving twelve weeks for organisations to apply to consultation etc still apply to local authorities - its more that local Compacts build and develop partnerships beyond the national undertakings.
The Compact Advocacy Programme advocates on behalf of the voluntary and
community sector to ensure government treats the sector fairly. It uses the Compact and its codes of good practice to ensure that Government for examples pays organisations on time, in advance of arrears, pays the full costs, consults widely, giving a minimum of 8-12 weeks, engages BME and Community organisations properly etc. The Compact Advocacy Programme will handle cases for individual organisations when they are having problems with government at a national and local level and campaigns on a wider level too. The Programme is based at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. For examples of what the Programme does please see our case studies at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/compactadvocacy
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) www.ncvo-vol.org.uk is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NCVO has over 5,450 members, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer centres, and development agencies working at a local level. With over 280,000 staff and over 13 million volunteers working for our members, we represent and support almost half the voluntary sector workforce.
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