Public Sector Commitments
Public sector partners endorsing the Compact will:
- Recognise the value of the voluntary sector to South Lanarkshire and understand that this value is not limited to those organisations that they directly fund;
- Support the voluntary sector to build its capacity and develop its diversity and sustainability;
- Recognise and support the independence of the voluntary and community sector including the right to campaign and comment on local and central government policy;
- Follow best practice in monitoring publicly funded work, and apply and promote Best Value processes in ways which secure equality of treatment for voluntary organisations.
Voluntary Sector Commitments
Voluntary sector partners endorsing the Compact will;
- Recognise the legal and financial frameworks within which public sector bodies work including their accountability for the resources provided to voluntary organisations;
- Maintain high standards of governance and conduct, to meet reporting and accountability obligations, and develop quality standards to enhance the operation of their services;
- Ensure that service users, volunteers, members and supporters are informed and consulted, where appropriate, about activities and policy positions
- Support and encourage partnership working in the interests of members, users and the wider community.
Compact Implementation Plan
To progress this vision and commitments, a Compact Implementation Plan will be agreed. The Implementation Plan will highlight the issues and priorities raised through the Compact consultation process. These include:
- Resourcing, funding, and sustainability;
- Representation, engagement and communication;
- Rural aspects;
- Volunteering.
Compact Structures and Implementation
The South Lanarkshire Compact Development Group was established in May 2008 to direct the development and launch of the Compact.
The Group has representation across public and voluntary sector partners. Upon acceptance of the Compact the group will become the Compact Implementation Group tasked with overseeing that phase of the Compact.
The South Lanarkshire Compact Implementation Group will:
- Oversee the actions contained in the Compact Implementation Plan;
- Be the forum for considering relationship issues between the voluntary and public sector partners in the area;
- Report on progress of the Compact to the Community Planning Partnership;
- Feedback voluntary sector issues arising through the Compact to the Community Planning Partnership to inform planning and decision-making processes;
- Develop and agree appropriate structures for dialogue between the voluntary and public sectors and ensure regular dialogue and engagement occurs over issues of mutual interest.
To support these actions a monitoring and evaluating process will be developed to ensure the progress of the Compact is tracked, reviewed and reported to the Community Planning Partnership, and to all partner organisations who have endorsed the Compact.
