A sector-led group tasked with overseeing the government’s plans to make it easier for small charities to win contracts has not met since April, with none of the government's initiatives having launched.
In December 2016, Rob Wilson, who was then minister for civil society, announced a package of measures to help small charities win government contracts. He appointed Sir Martyn Lewis, former chair of NCVO, to chair a voluntary sector-led implementation group to offer advice on the proposals and “put them into practice”.
The government had said it would introduce a Public Services Incubator to support voluntary organisations with “high potential” to build relationships and collaborations, and a commissioning kitemark to set a “best practice standard”.
Last month Tracey Crouch, in response to a written Parliamentary question from Steve Reed, Labour’s shadow minister for civil society, said that the government was now “considering” proposals from the working group.
However, she did not say what those proposals were, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport press office also did not answer questions.
15 meetings
Civil Society News requested more information under the Freedom of Information Act and was told that 12 people from the charity, social enterprise and the public sectors had been involved in the group (full list below).
The group met 15 times between February and April, with the most recent meeting taking place on the 18 April, the day that the election was held.
Former minister for civil society, Rob Wilson, attended one meeting – the first.
From Charity Finance magazine
Refusal to say what is in the proposals
Civil Society News also asked for details of the proposals under consideration, but DCMS declined to share the information, claiming that it is “exempt from disclosure under section 35 (a) (formulation of government policy)”.
Full list of participants.
- Nick Davies, public services manager, NCVO
- Elizabeth Chamberlain, head of policy and public Services, NCVO
- Neil Cleeveley, chief executive, Navca
- Rebecca Bunce, policy and engagement manager, Small Charities Coalition
- Pauline Broomhead, chief executive, FSI (Foundation for Social Improvement)
- Tina Holland, programme manager, LGA (Local Government Association)
- Terry Brewer, divisional director Commercial, Contracts and Procurement Harrow Council
- Mark Simms, chief executive, P3
- Steve Smith, partnerships and policy officer, Community Southwark
- Mark Hubbard, head of commissioning and collaboration, Voscur
- Andrew Donaldson, head of strategic policy and partnerships, Staffordshire County Council
- Joanne Hay, chief executive, Teens and Toddlers
Editor's note: NCVO has said that Nick Davies, who was public services manager until April 2017, was not involved, but did cover for Elizabeth Chamberlain on one occasion.
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