COMPACT

Getting it right together

Bedfordshire & Luton

UNDERTAKINGS BY STATUTORY AGENCIES

In our work with voluntary and community organisations:

1

We recognise and support the independence of voluntary and community organisations to determine and manage their own affairs in the best interests of their members and clients.

2

We recognise the importance of advocacy, including the right to campaign within the law, comment on local policies and to challenge those policies, regardless of any funding relationship that might exist.

3

We recognise and support the role and value of local voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations, for example the Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) and the Rural Communities Charity.

4

We will promote:

·

the value of strategic multi-year funding, where appropriate, to help longer-term planning and stability

·

the allocation of resources against clear and consistent criteria including the principles of Best Value

·

funding policies which take account of the objectives of voluntary and community organisations and their need to work independently, efficiently and effectively

·

open arrangements for agreeing and evaluating objectives, performance indicators (how we measure performance) and their associated targets

·

facilitating prompt payment, consulting on changes to the funding position and letting voluntary and community organisations know about future funding as early as possible before the end of the current grant period.

5

We will promote the appraisal of new policies and procedures, particularly while they are still being developed to help us identify as far as possible the implications for the voluntary and community sector.

6

We will strive to establish consultation processes which are timely and allow for a reasonable time for response. This will help us consult with service users, the people who will benefit and stakeholders.

7

We will not expect voluntary and community organisations to fulfill statutory obligations that are the responsibility of statutory agencies but will, where appropriate, contract with the voluntary and community sector to help us meet our statutory responsibilities. 

8

We will make sure that we take account of the specific needs and contributions of black and minority ethnic, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

9

We will include the voluntary and community sector in local strategic partnerships and in the developing and implementing of community strategies.