Monitoring & Mediation

Monitoring Process

A Compact Development Group will be established whose primary purpose is to encourage good practice and promote positive relationships between voluntary and community organisations and the statutory sector in Bedfordshire and Luton, within the spirit of the Compact framework.

1	The Compact Development Group will ensure the monitoring process.

2	The Group will set up procedures and timescale's for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the effects and contents of the Compact and its Codes of Good Practice. It will report regularly to stakeholders to make sure the Compact remains relevant and effective.

3	The Compact Development Group will review the operation of the Compact annually. All stakeholders within the statutory and voluntary and community sectors will have the opportunity to review the operation of the Compact at least every three years.

4	The Group will work to widen the effect of the Compact and the commitment

Mediation Process

1	Mediation will only be considered for those organisations that have already signed up to the Compact.

2	Disagreements can only be considered in relation to the Compact framework, and organisations will be expected to have exhausted other methods of resolution before bringing the matter to the Compact Development Group.

3	Organisations should submit their disagreement in writing and in confidence to the Compact Secretariat, who will arrange a Compact Mediation Panel meeting.

The Compact Development Group will establish a pool of individuals trained in mediation, from which panel members will be selected. The panel will consist of two members from each of the statutory and voluntary and community sectors; plus a fifth external person with appropriate mediation skills, who understands both sectors and the Compact process, and who will take the Chair.

5	Any pool member who has a vested interest in the dispute will be excluded from membership of the panel.

6	Both parties will be invited to attend, submit information and make representation.

7	Support with or through this process can be available to voluntary and community organisations through the designated Network of contacts in all sectors.

8	The panel will endeavour to obtain an outcome agreeable to both parties and if this is possible, the procedure ends. If this is not possible, the panel will report back to the Compact Development Group with its recommendations.