Commission for the Compact publishes local guidance

The Commission for the Compact has today published guidance for local authorities on managing budget revisions that can be due to the loss of expected income or pressure from increased demand for services.

Local Compacts provide a framework for developing and improving partnership working between local public bodies and local third sector organisations.

Richard Williams, policy adviser at the Commission for the Compact, said: "The current economic climate has created significant budgetary pressures for local authorities.

"The Commission recognises that local authorities are facing many tough decisions and believes that national Compact principles often outlined in Local Compacts are now more important than ever.

"Principles outlined in this guidance provide a blueprint for local authorities to meet and manage spending priority decisions that involve third sector organisations and ensure that the decision making process minimises the impact on local communities."

The guidance note states that recognising and applying Compact principles helps local authorities to:

• Make robust decisions that minimise long term risk to service users
• Identify new approaches to services
• Minimise impact on Local Area Agreement targets
• Maintain partnership working with third sector organisations

Sir Bert Massie CBE, commissioner for the Compact, said: "We've produced this guidance to help local authorities in these challenging times.

"It highlights how and why Compact principles are vital tools to help make effective spending decisions, where third sector organisations are involved, and how to ensure that any negative impact on local communities is kept to a minimum.

"The guidance clearly explains the value of using Compact principles to make robust funding decisions, the benefits of early and ongoing engagement with third sector organisations in the decision making process, and the importance of maintaining effective partnership working to meet Local Area Agreement targets. We want local authorities to use this guidance as they manage budget revisions during this difficult economic period."

The Commission for the Compact is the public body responsible for the Compact, the partnership agreement between government and the third sector in England.