The NCVO, ACEVO and NAVCA have teamed-up to write to all council chief executives, asking them for their views on how local authorities and the voluntary sector can work best together in the current economic climate.

The letter calls on council leaders to share how they are applying the three ‘tests of reasonableness’ in their work with voluntary sector organisations.

The tests, first mentioned by Eric Pickles at NCVO’s Annual Conference on 1 March, set out to provide a benchmark to reassure organisations that even in the toughest of financial climates the voluntary and community sector won’t be unfairly treated.

Councils are asked to:

Avoid passing on disproportionate cuts to local and voluntary groups;

To talk to voluntary and community groups at a very early stage about how services need to change; and

To give at least three months notice about the need to end or alter a grant or other support.

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of ACEVO, said: "Some local authorities have joined the twenty-first century and are working with the voluntary sector to ensure the best services in difficult times. Others seem to think it's back to the eighties. It's time they caught up."

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, commented: "In the current climate, we feel it is more important than ever that local authorities and VCOs work together effectively, to help identify ways of mitigating the impact of cuts on individuals and communities.

"Strengthening this crucial relationship will be fundamental to improving services for local people, achieving the best outcomes for communities, and ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard."

Kevin Curley, chief executive of NAVCA, added: "We all know times are hard, but there are enough councils engaged in constructive dialogue with the local voluntary and community sector to suggest that it should be possible everywhere. Sadly, too many are dragging their feet."

The full letter reads:

Dear

As I am sure you will appreciate, strong partnerships between local authorities
and their voluntary and community sector (VCS) is fundamental to improving
services for local people, achieving the best outcomes for communities, and
ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard.

However, the current financial climate is putting this relationship under considerable strain.

We are aware that some councils have worked closely with their local VCS to
identify ways of mitigating the impact of cuts on local people. For example they have agreed:

Not to pass on disproportionate cuts to local and voluntary groups;

To talk to voluntary and community groups at a very early stage about how services need to change; and

To give at least three months notice about the need to end or alter a grant or other support

Although decisions may be different according to the unique factors of each
local area, there are, as Secretary of State Eric Pickles stated, ‘reasonable
expectations’ that voluntary sector organisations should be able to rely on
wherever they are and whatever decisions are made.

NCVO, ACEVO, and NAVCA are keen to build a sound and comprehensive understanding of how local authorities and the voluntary sector can work best together in these difficult times. The thoughts, insight, and experience from you and your councillors will make a valuable contribution to this understanding.

In particular, we would like to hear what action your council is taking to ensure
that local organisations are able to rely on these reasonable expectations.

Examples of positive action that you are taking, or of barriers or obstacles that stand in the way of you being able to work towards meeting these expectations would be welcome.

Please direct any comments through to Daniel.fluskey@ncvo-vol.org.uk

Yours sincerely
Sir Stuart Etherington
Chief executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Sir Stephen Bubb
Chief executive, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

Kevin Curley
Chief executive, National Association of Voluntary and Community Action

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