NCVO, Navca and Acevo have written a joint letter to all council chief executives asking them to explain how they are applying the three ‘tests of reasonableness’ outlined by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, in their relationships with their local voluntary sector.

Pickles used his speech to the NCVO annual conference on 1 March to threaten local authorities with “statutory powers” if he deemed they weren’t treating their voluntary sector partners with fairness and respect.  He outlined three tests of “reasonable” behaviour:  not cutting more from sector budgets then they cut from their own; talking to voluntary groups at an early stage about how services might need to changes, and giving sector partners at least three months notice of changes to their contract or grant.

The letter to the local authorities asks the council leaders to explain how they see the two sectors working together locally in the tighter fiscal environment.

Kevin Curley (pictured), chief executive of Navca, said there are enough councils engaged in constructive dialogue with their local sector to suggest that it should be possible everywhere.  He has recently written separately to the leaders of Chelmsford and Reading Borough Councils to thank them for increasing voluntary sector grants budgets next year and congratulating them on their leadership.

Curley told Civil Society it was important to highlight the pockets of excellent practice that do exist, "when so much of the focus is on cuts".  He has also written to ministers Eric Pickles, Greg Clark and Nick Hurd to tell them about the good work these councils have done and about Navca’s recognition of their significance.