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Third sector made priority by local authorities 1

Finance | Ian Allsop | 1 Jul 2008

Third sector minister Phil Hope has called the news that almost two-thirds of local authorities have chosen to prioritise third sector commitments over the next three years a “defining moment”.

Under a new system in place this year, all top-tier local authority areas will be measured on their performance against 198 new national indicators (NIs), two of which focus on the third sector.

Each area has had the opportunity to prioritise 35 NIs that will particularly meet local needs, and will be the targets that sit at the heart of each council’s local area agreement (LAA). Some 93 of England’s top-tier 150 local authorities have chosen to prioritise one of the two third sector indicators, NI 6 - participation in regular volunteering, and NI 7 - creating an environment for a thriving third sector. However, only 11 have chosen to prioritise both.

Hope (pictured) said: “I’m convinced that more volunteers and a genuine partnership between government and the third sector will strengthen communities and bring real improvements to all our lives, especially for the most disadvantaged. I applaud those councils that recognise they need to do more to support and engage charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises.

“Neither of the third sector national indicators are easy options but investment in them will be paid back many times over. Quite simply, a strong third sector will be a powerful partner in tackling other local priorities from reducing social exclusion to promoting sport.”

‘Recognition of our key role’

Kevin Curley, chief executive of Navca, said: “This reflects the value that the government and local authorities place on the third sector and is recognition of the key role that the sector can play in delivering local services and addressing local needs.

“Navca would like to see any that have not adopted these to adopt them as local priority indicators. Without a thriving third sector it will be impossible to meet many of the other targets.”

Take-up better than expected

Stephen Bubb, chief executive of acevo, said that the take-up of the indicators was far better than he expected. “It is remarkable that so many local authorities are putting third sector relationships at the top of their agenda. This has to be a good thing, as local government is the source of so much of the sector’s funding.”

Performance against the volunteering indicator will be measured using Communities and Local Government’s place survey and the thriving third sector one through the Office of the Third Sector’s new national survey of third sector organisations.

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