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Last updated: 23 November 2008
13 December 2007
The eighth annual meeting to review the Compact on relations between government and the voluntary and community sector took place on 13 December 2007. It was chaired jointly by Phil Hope and Sir Christopher Kelly (Chair of Compact Voice).
This annual event brings together central and local government, the Commission for the Compact and a range of sector representatives to discuss the successes and shortcomings of the Compact over the past year. It aims to build a shared understanding for the priorities for the coming year.
Opening the event, Phil Hope announced his regret that Sir Christopher Kelly would be standing down as Chair of Compact Voice in January, congratulated him on his appointment as the new Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and thanked him for his contribution to embedding the principles of the Compact.
The Minister continued to outline the action taken by the Government over the year to improve the relationship with the sector. This included publishing the Third Sector Review report following the largest consultation ever conducted with the sector, and highlighting that 27 out of 30 Public Service Agreement delivery agreements for the period 2008-11 now incorporate a strong role for the third sector. He also pointed out that one year on from the publication of the ‘Public Service Delivery Action Plan’, the Government has started work on all 18 of the actions it promised including; training 2000 public service commissioners about working with the third sector, piloting social clauses in contracts, and establishing an innovation exchange to support third sector innovators.
Helen Baker, Interim Commissioner for the Compact then addressed the audience and announced Commendations for Excellence in Compact Work.
She continued to spell out the Commission for the Compact's four priorities for the coming year:
On the final point, Helen pledged to look at the Compact and ensure its codes were up to date with the current legislative and policy environment. The challenge is to make sure they remain relevant and fully fit for purpose.
Also speaking at they event were ministers from across government, including Caroline Flint, Department of Work and Pensions, Stephen Timms, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Baroness Andrews, Department for Communities and Local Government.
Each brought positive news of action in their departments to further embed the principles of the Compact and reaffirmed their commitment to the agreement.