The Charity Commission intends to focus most of its attention over the next three years on its objectives relating to accountability and compliance, according to its new strategic plan.

Published today, the plan sets out the regulator’s vision, mission, values and strategic priorities for the three years 2012 to 2015 – a period when its funding will effectively be cut by a third. The five-page plan has been devised following extensive consultation with stakeholders including charities, the government, parliament, the public and its own staff.

It highlights the message that the Commission must focus on the things that only it can do.

Its two main priorities are developing the compliance and accountability of the sector, and developing the self-reliance of the sector. But most of its attention “will be concentrated on our objectives relating to accountability and compliance”, it said.

This will involve “a rigorous approach to registering charities” to ensure the integrity of charity is maintained; a review of the type of information the Commission requires from charities, to ensure its relevance, and a commitment to taking “timely action where there is malpractice or misconduct, to protect charitable funds and the people that the charity serves”.

The regulator also outlines its plans to use technology to improve its services, promising that eventually “all transactions that charities and the public need to carry out with the Commission are fully digitised”.

Sam Younger (pictured), chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “This is a clear, understandable plan for the future which explains our role in acting on behalf of the public when regulating the charity sector. 

"This plan should give the public confidence in what they can expect to see both from us and from the charities they are interested in regardless of whether they are a donor, volunteer or employee or beneficiary.”

Read the full plan here.