[WiLT] New report shows hike in Compact disputes between charities and local public bodies

[WiL Admin]

New report shows hike in Compact disputes between charities and local
public bodies

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.

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 at 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
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/C2B/document_tree/ViewACategory.asp?CategoryID=44
* Consultation and Policy Appraisal
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/C2B/document_tree/ViewACategory.asp?CategoryID=43
* Black and Minority Ethnic Groups
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/C2B/document_tree/ViewACategory.asp?CategoryID=43
* Volunteering
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/C2B/document_tree/ViewACategory.asp?CategoryID=45
* Community Groups
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/C2B/document_tree/ViewACategory.asp?CategoryID=42

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
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/compactadvocacy

Source http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=7324

Download the Compact Report at
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=3396

Posted on WiLT blog at
http://www.freecharity.org.uk/~womeninlondon/?p=472