The Office for Civil Society has committed to tell Compact Voice if it believes other government departments are failing in their Compact commitments, in a new joint action plan released by the two bodies.

The joint action plan, unveiled yesterday, outlines obligations for both the Office for Civil Society, or Cabinet Office, and for Compact Voice, which represents the charity sector. The ‘Compact’ refers to the agreed standards of communication and work between the government and the community and voluntary sector, designed to ensure that charities remain independent and strong.

Included in the new action plan is the requirement that OCS flag up to Compact Voice when government policies in development “do not reflect the principles of the Compact”, thus enabling Compact Voice a chance to intervene and lobby for change. The Cabinet Office is also working towards developing a national action plan for transparent and open government.

Yesterday’s joint action plan follows a report by the National Audit Office last year on how to proceed with the Compact.

Last September the Cabinet Office embedded Compact principles within its own procurement strategy, but a report later in the year found that public service procurement policies remained “inherently unfair” towards civil society organisations.  A report by Compact Voice released in December also found that local authorities were cutting funding to the voluntary sector at a level disproportionate to their own funding cuts.

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd (pictured) said that the action plan demonstrated the dedication to Compact principles within his office.

“We look forward to taking this plan forward, and working closely with all departments to help them embed the principles of the Compact in their work in the best way possible,” Hurd said.

“This action plan is indicative of OCS’s ongoing commitment to the Compact, and to ensuring that every department fully understand the benefits it can bring to their relationships with the voluntary and community sector.”

Compact Voice chair Simon Blake commended government for its transparency and leadership on Compact issues.

“We know that there is much more work to be done but this action plan goes some way to addressing this with realistic, practical tasks for both OCS and Compact Voice,” said Blake.

“We are also pleased that the Cabinet Office is announcing steps to develop a national action plan on transparency and open government. This will address some of the more worrying findings from our research into engagement with the voluntary sector.”