Public Servant Lifestyle

Better communication and co-operation, between government agencies, and the voluntary and community sectors, can improve public service delivery, says financial secretary Paul Boateng.

Mr Boateng said that: "The voluntary and community sector already makes a significant and extremely valuable contribution to the delivery of high quality public services." He was speaking at the announcement of the terms of reference of a cross-cutting review of the role of the voluntary sector, in public service delivery.

"We now need to explore further ways," added Mr Boateng," in which central and local government can work more effectively, with the voluntary sector, on public service delivery, to ensure that, together, we are delivering high quality services.

Cross-Cutting Review

"The cross-cutting review is an important part of that process. I very much hope that the widest possible range of individuals, and organisations, working in this area, and benefiting from the work being done, will let us know their views on how this initiative can be taken forward, to develop new and better ways to work together."

The terms of reference for the review, which Mr Boateng will chair, are: "To examine the relationship, between the voluntary sector, and the government, in public service delivery, taking account of the key role that the sector can play in strengthening civil society and building capacity in local communities."

The review aims to do this, by:

- Mapping the extent, and the variety of means, by which the voluntary sector is already involved in overseeing and delivering public services.

- Examining best practice, in effective partnership between the voluntary sector and the public sector, suggesting practical ways in which the principles in the Compact can be applied in the delivery of public services.

- Drawing common lessons, to guide the public sector in working in partnership with the voluntary sector.

- Establishing whether, and how, barriers to voluntary sector involvement, and lack of capacity, might be overcome to promote successful partnership with the public sector and how the Government might be able to assist to that end.

More information available in Advice