Transcript powerpoint - council - sunderland partnership

The Sunderland Compact –
Working Together For a Better
Future
Graham Burt
Strategy Development Manager
Community Development
Community Development Plan Suite of Documents
Policy
Context
Policy
Principles
Communities
and CD
Consultation
Process
Compact
Renewal
Community
Development
Plan
Evidence
Report
Resources
Grants
and Contracts
Project
Actions
Sunderland
Partnership
What is the Sunderland Compact?
The Sunderland Compact (our Local Compact)
provides a framework to improve partnership
working between voluntary and community sector
organisations in Sunderland and organisations of
the Sunderland Partnership, of which the
Sunderland Community Network is a partner. The
Compact recognises the complementary role and
diversity of organisations across the Voluntary and
Community Sector; the value of the sector in the
development and delivery of policy and services; the
critical role of the sector; and the importance of its
continued independence.
The journey so far
• Development work since July 2007
– Forum, Codes of Practice Working Groups & VCS Co-chairs
– Does not seek to set policy but standards for relationships
• Background policy context:
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Empowerment White Paper (2008)
NI 7: Environment for a Thriving Third Sector
CAA: emphasis on partnership working
Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act (2007)
Increased emphasis on VCS as public service delivery
agents
– Challenge but balance between Community Leadership role
and environment of trust with the VCS – equal partners
– Tension between participative and representative democracy
and role of elected members
Where we are now
• Consultation period Complete
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Main Compact
Involvement and Consultation Code of Practice
Volunteering Code of Practice
Voluntary and Community Groups Code of Practice
Funding and Procurement Code of Practice
• Launching New Consultation today
– 2 Equality Codes:
– Older People
– Disability
Where we are now (2)
• Corporate response:
– EMT Agreed
– Cabinet Approval by June 09
• Seek Partnership Approval
– Same timing as Council
The Sunderland Compact – key
commitments
• Transparency and Accountability
– Processes to be as simple as possible and proportionate to
the level of risk involved
– In line with the role of the sector in promoting broader
community development outcomes, monitoring and reporting
should also be permitted to take account of ‘soft outcomes’
such as distance travelled and changes in attitudes /
perception
• Financial viability
– Recognition that VCS infrastructure requires stable funding
– Partners will work to develop a consistent approach to
financial support to the VCS which is effective and
appropriate balance between the sectors
The Sunderland Compact – key
commitments (2)
• Representation
– VCS contribution to service and programme design at an
early stage where appropriate
– Joint review of new policies and procedures to identify
implications for all partners
– Build on, develop and improve existing empowerment and
involvement mechanisms – hard to reach groups
• Quality standards
– Work towards embedding appropriate Quality Standards in
contracts
– Embrace the values and principles of the National
Occupational Standards in Community Development Work
Involvement & Consultation Code of
Practice – key commitments
• Early engagement and involvement of the VCS in policy design
and development where appropriate
• Developing a coordinated approach to consultation and
involvement across partner organisations. Identifying, in
partnership with the VCS, and ensuring appropriate and
proportionate methods of consultation and communication
• Having a named contact for each consultation who will also
have responsibility for communicating progress with all relevant
organisations or individuals
• Giving a minimum period of 12 weeks for VCS organisations to
respond to formal consultation (generally a minimum of 12
weeks, except in circumstances where reasons for variance can
be demonstrated and communicated to the relevant parties)
Voluntary and Community Groups Code of
Practice – key commitments
• Give community groups better access to information
via umbrella organisations / forums
• Put in place steps that enable VCS groups to be
effectively involved in planning and policy
development
• Help VCS groups to access funds and encourage
community ownership of assets
• Encourage greater use of community facilities such
as neighbourhood buildings
• Be aware of the impact of new regulations on
voluntary and community groups
Volunteering Code of Practice – key
commitments
• Work to eliminate current barriers, including financial
barriers to volunteering
• Increase awareness of the value of volunteering and
promote opportunities to volunteer
• Increase the number of volunteering opportunities
• Gather relevant data on volunteering
Funding and Procurement Code of Practice
– General Commitments
• Implement longer term funding arrangements where
these represent good value for money
• Ensure there is prior discussion and reasonable
notice before any policy changes or decisions which
would lead to withdrawal or significant reduction of
grants
• Demonstrate commitment to the principle of FCR
• Funding to be aligned to the objectives of the
Sunderland Strategy and LAA
• Monitoring and funding will be proportionate to the
complexity of service delivery and any issues
identified in relation to risk management
Equalities Code of Practice
• Move from sole focus on BME groups to IAGs
• Each IAG given the opportunity to develop their own
code of practice
• Cross reference with existing Codes of Practice to
ensure minimal duplication of commitments
• Will draw out particular issues for the particular
equalities strands
• Led by Diversity and Inclusion Team
• Each IAG is at a different stage of development
which will impact the development of their Code of
Practice
Monitoring and Reviewing – proposed
arrangements
• Compact Review Group:
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Quarterly meetings
Chair of Sunderland Partnership
Key stakeholders
Compact Champions and Leaders
• Initial review of all documentation in 2009
• Annual review presented at Compact Conference
Compact Compliance
• Embedding the Compact in organisations 2009/10
• Internal action plan being developed
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Risk management
Service planning process
Marketing, communications and training
Role of elected members
• Scrutiny Committees
• Area Committees
• Compact champions
– Drawn from all sectors
– Remit to publicise and sell the benefits of the compact
– Training programme
What can we hope to see happening
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Much more Corporate activity
Proposals for larger CDT
Better understanding/ Partners/ VCS
Volunteer Toolkit
Champions - levels
Contact details
Graham Burt
Strategy Development Manager
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (0191) 561 4622