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Central Beds Council's Compact Commitment
Central Bedfordshire has agreed to adopt the Bedfordshire and Luton Compact, a working document aimed at developing a close, efficient and more effective equal working partnership between local, voluntary and community organisations and statutory agencies.
The Compact was agreed in 2002 and sets out a series of principles which should underpin the relationship between all parties who are working towards a common goal. It also shows their commitment to:
- Work in partnership for the improved quality of life in society.
- Encourage and support voluntary and community activity.
- Jointly influence planning and policy, where appropriate.
South and Mid Bedfordshire District Councils and Bedfordshire County Council originally signed up to the Compact in 2002 and have seen many positive outcomes achieved through the commitment.
One example is the change that Mid and South Bedfordshire District Councils made to key voluntary sector partner’s funding - changing from annual funding to three-to-five year agreements provided them with long term security rather than annual uncertainty.
Colin Poulter, Coordinator for Mid Beds Link a Ride said: “Compact had a direct impact for Link a Ride as it enabled us to enter into a lease agreement for our fleet of vehicles. This provided brand new minibuses and removed the need for capital to repair and renew them. It also gave job security for the drivers and enabled investment in staff training”.
Richard Ellis, Director of Business Transformation for Central Bedfordshire said: “Central Bedfordshire and it’s voluntary and community organisations enjoy good working relationships and share many aspirations; dedication to public life, support for the development of strong and healthy communities, and the pursuit of inclusiveness. The community and voluntary sector in Bedfordshire deliver high quality services across all sectors of our communities, and in doing so help us deliver our strategic objectives.
“The Compact builds on these good relationships and will continue with the development of genuine working partnerships that deliver our joint priorities in Central Bedfordshire”.
Martin Trinder, Chief Officer for Community and Voluntary Service added: “In adopting the Compact, Central Bedfordshire has made a clear statement that it values the local voluntary and community sector, which has a unique role as an advocate for local people, particularly those marginalised in society, and as a service provider”.
John Gelder, Director of Voluntary and Community Action summed up: “The Compact will provide an excellent framework for consultation and partnership working and we welcome the opportunity this presents to engage with Central Bedfordshire in the development of services to improve the quality of life for local residents and those who use the services provided by the sector”.
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What is the Compact?
The Bedfordshire and Luton Compact is a working document aimed at developing a close, efficient and more effective equal working partnership between local voluntary and community organisations and statutory agencies.
'The Bedfordshire & Luton Compact' was launched at the Rufus Centre on 19th September, 2002, with leaders of local statutory and voluntary sector bodies signing up to this historic document. More detailed Codes of Good Practice in respect of Funding, Volunteering, Consultation & Partnership and Equality & Diversity were published in July 2004, together with a Monitoring & Mediation Policy.
You can download the following Compact Documents: -
The above documents have been produced as an Adobe Acrobat portable document format (PDF) which requires you to have the free Acrobat software on your computer. If you do not have the necessary software, please click here to go to the Adobe website where you can download it. To download the documents – simply hold your cursor over the name above, click the right button on your mouse and then choose ‘save target as’, and choose where you want to save the file on your hard drive (usually 'My Documents').
Taking the Compact Forward in Bedfordshire & Luton
Whether you represent a voluntary or statutory organisation, please carry out these three simple stepsthat will assist in taking the Compact forward in the County:
1) Get a copy of the Bedfordshire and Luton Compact
You can download a copy of the Compact and the four Codes of Practice (details are set out above).
Make sure that your colleagues and trustees are aware of the ompact and the Codes of Practice.
2) Get your organisation to sign up to Compact
You can either download a signup form:
or contact the Compact Secretariat for a copy . A list of those organisations already signed up can be found
on the Bedfordshire & Luton Compact Website.
3) Download: Commission for the Compact Report: What makes a Successful Compact
The more organisations that sign up to the Compact,
the stronger the relationship between statutory,
voluntary and community organisations
Some Practical Examples of How Compact is Working
Bedfordshire and Luton Learning and Skills Council
As
the
agency responsible for planning and funding local education, the
Learning and Skills Council has been working with voluntary sector
organisations to develop a voluntary sector
workforce development strategy. The ‘Working
Together’ Group was established in part due to the
positive relationships developed though Compact.
Mid Beds District Council
The
Compact was a driver for the Council
to pilot multiyear
funding with its key voluntary sector partners. Both
LinkaRide
and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau negotiated five and
threeyear
funded Service Level Agreements respectively which
meant longer financial security and cut the red tape which was
involved in making annual funding applications. Due to the success of
the pilots the Council agreed to fund seven key voluntary sector
partners with multiyear
funding agreements
and cited Compact as a driver for change in
the funding of voluntary sector partners who
help contribute to the Council’s strategic
objectives.
Beds & Luton Compact Secretariat
If you would like more information please contact Secretariat at Community & Voluntary Service (CVS). They can also provide you with more information information about how your organisation can become a signatory and advise you on support should your group come in to conflict with a local authority.
Compact Secretariat
Bedfordshire and Luton Compact
The Bedford Centre for Voluntary Services
43 Bromham Road
Bedford
MK40 2AA
Tel: 01234 354366
info@yourcvs.org
For Full details of the Compact visit the Bedfordshire and Luton Compact Website at: www.bedsandlutoncompact.org.uk
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