In March 2008, Warwickshire Community And Voluntary Action (WCAVA) conducted a survey of 60 organisations from the voluntary sector Compact Signatory Register, together with some other organisations which may have had tendering experience in Warwickshire in the previous 3 years.

A report, Managing Reality, based on findings from the 19 responses, was published by WCAVA in May 2008, identifying some satisfaction with the procurement process and outcomes, but also areas of concern.

The report was discussed and issues were investigated within WCC, and the findings have been collated into a response document.  Please click here to read the full report.

As the roll-out of recent spending cuts to public services continues, Compact Voice is pleased to learn that the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) have both announced new initiatives to promote their commitment to the Compact.  Working alongside Compact Voice, CLG and DH have responded to concerns that many local voluntary and community sector organisations will be facing cuts to their funding without regard to the principles of the Compact.

Recent announcements about cuts to local authority funding have affected many organisations, with changes made to how front-line services are supported locally. Alarmingly, Compact Voice has been made aware of many examples across the country where cuts have been announced without following the principles of the Compact.

Recognising the challenges ahead for many organisations, CLG have committed to working alongside Compact Voice, the Office for Civil Society, and the Local Government Association to  help support the sharing of good practice, encourage discussion, and support the continued application of the principles of the Compact during any changes to spending agreements.

This trend echoes the announcement from Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, in his address to a conference in London last week that one priority for the new cross-departmental big society committee of ministers would be making sure the Compact was observed across Whitehall.

They will support and promote the Compact Voice webpage www.compactvoice.org.uk/cuts, which provides information to both public sector bodies and voluntary groups about the importance of the Compact when making spending cuts.  They also stated that the positive outcomes the Compact can deliver should continue despite difficult spending decisions to be made by local authorities and government as a whole.

Compact Voice has also worked with the Department of Health in exploring new ways to promote changes to their grant application processes, which have been affected by the recent election.

Recognising that changes to application processes – not least in the context of wider spending cuts – might raise concerns in organisations who may have been considering applying, DH have indicated that they will continue to follow Compact principles when announcing new funding and grant opportunities to the Sector. DH have agreed to work with us to ensure that any changes take account of the sector's concerns; and to advise and support organisations in the sector to ensure they understand to any changes made.

Compact Voice has published an article detailing the responses of every prospective Parliamentary candidate in England, who's views were sought on how they would champion the voluntary sector in their constituency.  The responses were positive on how they would work effectively with local groups and also continue to champion the Compact. To read the full article, click here.

This is the fourth yearly review of Compacts in the West Midlands.  It has been undertaken by the West Midlands Compact Panel, the support structure for Compacts in the region.  The Panel brings together representatives from the 14 upper tier Compacts in the Region, representatives from District level Compacts, Government Office for the West Midlands, the Compact Commission, Regional Action West Midlands and Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands.  To read the report, click here.

The two new documents are part of the growing series of Compact Voice briefings to help you get the most out of your Compact.  They are: Make procurement work for you - by using your Compact and Righting Public Law Wrongs: Challenge Unfairness.

Recently, Warwickshire Community And Voluntary Action, Voluntary Action Stratford-on-Avon District and Warwickshire Race Equality Partnership, have become aware, through many of our members, of their concerns regarding the outcome of the Day Service and Low Level Support Services review, conducted by WCC Adult Health and Community Services (AHCS).

A meeting was called on 3rd March with Jon Reading, Commissioning Service Manager of Adult Health and Community Services, and Paul Tolley and Nick Darwen (WCC), as Countywide Compact Champions, to clarify the intentions of the department and address the concerns expressed by the groups and organisations affected.  To read the queries and responses gained within that meeting, please click here.

Research by the Commission for the Compact into the economic and social benefits for local authorities of applying Compact principles in their relationships with local third sector organisations is well underway

All top tier local authority areas have a Local Compact agreement that sets out guidelines for how the local public and third sectors should work together to improve the lives of individuals and communities. Local Compacts are often based on principles in the national Compact but reflect distinctive local partnership working arrangements.

This research has been commissioned to evaluate the economic and social advantages to local authorities of applying Compact principles when working with the third sector. In addition to the development of a tool, which will allow individual local authorities to project the benefits of applying Compact principles themselves, the research will provide case studies from selected local authorities.  To read the document, click here.

Rugby Disability Forum have experienced 5 years of continued excellent partnership working with their local authority and the county council.  David Foster, Chair of the Forum, writes an inspirational article, highlighting just some of the successes the forum has had over the years.  To read the article in full, please click here. 

If your organisation has any similar experiences, please let us know.  Contact Lesley Jackson, lesley@wcava.org.uk, 024 7637 1831.