Compact Voice ousts chair of Local Compact Voice

Finance | Vibeka Mair | 20 Oct 2009

The Compact Voice board has asked the chair of Local Compact Voice, Carl Allen, to stand down after passing a vote of no confidence in him.

In response, Allen has asked the Office of the Third Sector to investigate the board's behaviour and competence.

Last month, Charity News Alert exclusively reported that Allen had asked for his complaint about the behaviour of the chair of Compact Voice, Simon Blake and the head of the Compact Team, Oliver Reichardt to be added to the agenda at the next Compact Voice board meeting.

Charity News Alert has learned that the tabled complaint was not accepted. However, a vote of no confidence in Allen, tabled by board member Seb Elsworth, head of policy at Acevo (who was not present at the meeting) was passed.

The motion of no confidence said: “Irrespective of any criticisms that Carl Allen has about the CV board leadership, the manner with which he has approached this issue is not compatible with being a board member. His actions to go to third parties to solicit support are actions which bring CV into disrepute.

"For a board member to go to the press to publicly attempt to discredit the CV chair and head of team is contrary to how we see the role of a board member. Such behaviour is not acceptable and therefore we see no place for Carl Allen on the CV board.”

But Allen has not stood down from the board and told Charity News Alert: “I am deeply concerned with the board behaviour...and its competence, bearing in mind this is a board that raised two hands when asked who had read the Compact and codes. I have asked for an OTS investigation.”

A Compact Voice spokesman said: “The Compact Voice board values Carl's substantial contributions over the best part of a decade as a board member, and this decision was not taken lightly. However the board agreed this was the most appropriate course of action to ensure it continues to function effectively.”

Chris Frost, chief executive of CVS Merton, who represents NAVCA on the board, said she found the situation very sad.

"In the meeting yesterday we came to the difficult decision to ask Carl to stand down. His actions were not conducive to safeguarding the good name of the Compact. Sadly, often he was the lone voice in meetings. Going forward we will focus on support for the voluntary sector in this critical time."

An Office of the Third Sector spokesman said they had not received a formal complaint but they have had informal discussions with board members on the matter.

Directory: Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) | Commission for the Compact | National Association for Voluntary and Community Action
Who's Who: Vibeka Mair | Seb Elsworth

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Carl Allen
21 Oct 2009

So what was the correct action for a Board is the question?

This but some of the event ...

Following a tabled and passed motion of no-confidence, I was asked to leave the meeting. The circumstances for the motion included that the tabling had no proposer, at the meeting the proposer was stated as being Seb Elsworth who was not present and an uncirculated statement from Elsworth was read out by the chair. I have no sight of the Elsworth statement. I have not stood down from the Board.

The tabled complaint from me was not accepted. It included that an employee with the approval of the chair sent an e-mail stating instances of inappropriate behaviour on my part and in it inviting me to discuss that I have used the organisation to receive parcels such as a box of compact refresh documents for my personal use and that I have been requesting CV staff to print compact documents for my use as a board member. This is but the tip of an iceberg.

I am deeply concerned with the board behaviour including ... its competence bearing in mind this is a board that raised 2 hands when asked who had read the compact and codes; its refusal to look at its future legal status until forced to do so bearing in mind that it has an unclear legal status; its performance noting the public concern from the community sector over the proposed refresh compact and the variety of additional issues that have arisen.

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