|
109/01
12
October 20
THE ROLE OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR IN PUBLIC SERVICE
DELIVERY
Background
Better
communication and cooperation between central and local government
agencies and the voluntary and community sector has a key role to
play in improving public service delivery, Financial Secretary Paul
Boateng said today.
Announcing
the terms of reference of a cross cutting review of the role of the
voluntary sector in public service delivery, Mr Boateng said:
“The
voluntary and community sector already makes a significant and extremely
valuable contribution to the delivery of high quality public services.
We now need to explore further ways in which central and local Government
can work more effectively with the voluntary sector on public service
delivery to ensure that, together, we are delivering high quality
services.
“The
cross cutting review is an important part of that process. I very
much hope that the widest possible range of individuals and organisations
working in this area and benefiting from the work being done will
let us know their views on how this initiative can be taken forward
to develop new and better ways to work together.”
The
terms of reference for the review, which Mr Boateng will chair, are:
“To
examine the relationship between the voluntary sector and the Government
in public service delivery, taking account of the key role that the
sector can play in strengthening civil society and building capacity
in local communities. The review will do this by:
i. Mapping
the extent and the variety of means by which the voluntary sector
is already involved in overseeing and delivering public services;
ii. Examining
best practice in effective partnership between the voluntary sector
and the public sector, suggesting practical ways in which the principles
in the Compact can be applied in the delivery of public services;
iii.Drawing common
lessons to guide the public sector in working in partnership with
the voluntary sector;
iv.Establishing
whether and how barriers to voluntary sector involvement, and lack
of capacity, might be overcome to promote successful partnership with
the public sector and how the Government might be able to assist to
that end.”
The
cross cutting review, one of seven announced by Chief Secretary Andrew
Smith on 25 June, is an important initial phase of the wider Spending
Review 2002 and aims to report early next year.
There
are important links between this cross cutting review and work in
other Government Departments:
- the Performance
and Innovation Unit (PIU) review: Modernising the Legal and Regulatory
Framework for Charities and the Voluntary Sector;
- the Regional
Co-ordination Unit Review of Regeneration Funding for Voluntary
Sector and Community Groups
- ongoing work
within the Active Communities Unit, including the current consultation
on the funding of Community Groups.
The
cross cutting review will build further on the principles set out
in the Compact on relations between Government and the voluntary and
community sector, including the continued independence of the sector.
Organisations
and individuals wishing to register an interest in the review should
email voluntarysector@hm-treasury.gov.uk.
Further information on this and other cross cutting reviews and
SR2002 are available on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.
NOTES
FOR EDITORS
1.
Chief Secretary Andrew Smith announced seven cross cutting reviews
as part of the Spending Review 2002 (SR2002) process in a written
Parliamentary answer to Jackie Lawrence MP on 25 June (Treasury press
release 72/01).
2.
SR2002 will take a thorough look at all programmes to ensure that
the new plans fully reflect Government priorities and the scope for
greater efficiency and effectiveness in public service delivery. The
priorities for SR2002 are:
-
delivery
of high quality, efficient and responsive public services;
-
raising
productivity, in the public sector and outside, through improved
skills, research and infrastructure;
-
spreading
opportunity and prosperity more widely, and tackling child poverty
and social exclusion;
-
improving
the quality of life in both urban and rural areas; and
-
securing
a modern international role for Britain through co-operation
with our European and international partners.
3.
The seven cross cutting reviews which will feed into the SR 2002 process
will look at issues affecting:
- the role of
the voluntary sector in public service delivery
- the public
sector labour market
- improving the
public space
- health inequalities
- science and
research
- public services
for small business; and
- children at
risk
4.
The Compact on relations between Government and the voluntary and
community sector were announced for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern
Ireland in 1998. This provides a framework for enhancing the relationship
between these bodies, recognising the added value in partnership towards
common aims and objectives.
5.
The Compact fully supports the independence of the sector, including
its ability to campaign, comment on Government policy and to challenge
that policy while working closely together. The Compact is underpinned
by detailed codes of good practice in five key areas: funding; policy
appraisal and consultation; volunteering; the Black and minority ethnic
voluntary sector; and community groups.
6.
The Compact follows the Deakin Commission Report on the Future
of the Voluntary Sector (1996) and the policy document Building
the Future Together (1997). These concluded that Government and
the voluntary and community sector had a number of complementary functions
and shared values, and that a compact to develop their relationship
would be highly desirable.
7.
Media enquiries about SR2002 should be addressed to Charles Keseru
at the Treasury press office on 020 7270 5188. Media enquiries
about the voluntary sector cross cutting review should be addressed
to Shazia Ejaz at the Treasury press office on 0207 270 1755.
Out
of hours media enquiries on 0207 270 5000.
|
