Third sector review and Delivery Action Plan
21st December 2006, 1:00 pm
NB This is a follow up to item posted 7th December.
Both ‘The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration - interim report’ and ‘Partnership in Public Services: an Action Plan for Third Sector Involvement’ were published alongside the chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report. Here’s some more detail.
The Interim Report has a lot of background information gathered from “the largest ever consultation with the third sector”. Some interim conclusions and further action to be taken as a second stage are summarised in Chapter 8 - download full report. A new section on the Office of the Third Sector web site (http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/third_sector_review/) will be used for an “interactive consultation” due to open this month. Also, the government over the next few months is to work with partner organisations to examine five broad areas in more depth:
– voice and campaigning - enabling individuals and groups’ voices to be heard;
– communities - building active, strong and connected communities;
– public services - creating an environment where third sector organisations can contribute fully to transforming public services;
– social enterprise - supporting social enterprises to start up and thrive; and
– supporting the environment for a healthy third sector.
NCVO statement on PBR and Third Sector Review: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=3703, Volunteering England.
The Action Plan is easier to take in, includes case studies and gives a good feel of the state of play in the five public service areas focused on to date (correctional services; employment services; children’s services, education and training; health and social care services; other local services). Anyone involved in public service delivery, user advocacy or sector support should read the document, downloadable as quite a large pdf from http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/public_service_delivery/. Some points we have noted:
– (paragraph 85) The State of the Sector panel will …. be simplified to provide rapid feedback on the experience of procurement and commissioning from different public sector organisations (to ensure continuous improvement).
– (paragraph 186) From April 2007 the Office of the Third Sector will provide funding to RDAs (Regional Development Agencies) to improve Business Link’s capacity to broker business support for social enterprises.
– (paragraph 194) the Futurebuilders Advisory Panel has been asked to look at opening the Futurebuilders Fund to third sector organisations working to deliver all public services (not just the original 5 areas).
Some reaction to the Plan’s eighteen action points collected by Charity Finance: http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/charitynewsalert/issue10/planreaction.asp, NCVO statement: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/index.asp?id=3705.