The panel appointed to review the state of the voluntary sector’s independence has brushed off criticism that it is not up to the job because it is not sufficiently independent itself.

The panel has been sifting through responses to the consultation document it issued to kick off the debate that would inform its work.  One submission, from the National Coalition for Independent Action, argued that the panel could not be relied upon to properly conduct the inquiry because it is comprised mainly of the sector's “great and good” with strong links to government instead of people at the frontline of local voluntary action.

But the Independence Panel’s chair Dame Anne Owers (pictured) did not accept that the appointed representatives could not be sufficiently impartial.  She said: “The Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector has only just started its work and is very much looking forward to making its first assessment of the state of independence later this year.
  
“Our next step is to take a thorough and robust look at the available evidence and to consider all the responses to our consultation. 

“The Panel includes a broad range and depth of experience and expertise from the voluntary sector and is also consulting widely to make sure it is fully in touch with the issues.”

The Baring Foundation, which is funding the work and was accused by the NCIA of a “failure of imagination” in choosing the Panel, declined to comment, referring enquiries to the Panel itself.  So did Civil Exchange, the think tank appointed as secretariat, whose closeness to the public sector was also highlightedin NCIA's submission.