Local authorities reminded to follow best value guidance
NAVCA, ACEVO and NCVO have written a joint letter to all local authority chief executives to remind them of the need to follow the Best Value Statutory Guidance when reviewing voluntary sector budgets. The guidance is important because it offers local voluntary organisations and community groups some protection from badly imposed cuts.
The letter, signed by the chief executives of all three national umbrella organisations highlights the key points of the statutory guidance that requiring local authorities to:
- Consider overall value, including economic, environmental and social value, when reviewing service provision
- Consult representatives of a wide range of local persons at all stages of the commissioning cycle, including decommissioning
- Avoid passing on disproportionate reductions by not passing on larger reductions to the voluntary and community sector and small businesses as a whole, than they take on themselves
- Give at least three months notice of funding reductions
- Follow the commitments in your local Compact
Neil Cleeveley, NAVCA’s Policy and Communications Director said;
“We have already seen the impact of the Best Value Statutory Guidance in Derby. The local voluntary sector used the Guidance to challenge council cuts and grants to 16 local charities were extended as a result. Every NAVCA member should make themselves familiar with this guidance. You should be prepared to use it if your local authority is making unfair budget decisions.”
- Read the full letter
- Read more about the Best Value guidance
- Please continue sending in information about cuts in your local area to cuts@navca.org.uk
