The Commission for the Compact stands by its earlier comments that the renewed Compact has been "significantly weakened" by changes made by the coalition government, after the agreement was launched last night.

The renewed Compact, which governs relationships between civil society organisations and the government, was published yesterday, weeks after its expected publication date in November, with a new slimline template following an open consultation with the sector.

However the Commission for the Compact has hinted that its criticisms of the renewed draft over the consultation period have been ignored, with a spokesperson for the organisation stating: "We approve of the brevity of the renewed Compact but our comments made on the draft remain." 

The Commission, which has been culled as part of the quango review and will cease all activities by April next year, advised in October that it believed two-thirds of the renewed Compact were unfit-for-purpose, either requiring further detail or being impossible to comply with without amendment.

In its response to the draft, Navca had also warned that some of the wording based around campaigning was subjective, and the organisation was critical of the removal of principles on European funding from the Compact.

Blake - new Compact has 'teeth'

But minister for civil society Nick Hurd said at its launch last night that: "The renewed Compact is more relevant to current priorities, it's shorter, clearer and is backed by full parliamentary accountability." He added that the National Audit Office will conduct a review of the Compact across government next year. "This sends a big signal to Whitehall that the Compact must work," he said. 

The renewed Compact is backed by a new accountability and transparency guide. Simon Blake (pictured), chair of Compact Voice which co-published the renewed Compact, said that the new agreement would mean these areas would be enhanced:

"The sector has wanted a Compact with teeth for a long time. This new Compact with greater accountability provides just that.

"With major changes in relationships and funding across the country, more than ever both parties need to know, and stick by, the 'rules of the game'. I call on the voluntary and community sector and government to get behind and use this Compact now as a compass for effective partnership."

 

 >>Download the renewed Compact as a PDF<<