Former chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, Sir Bert Massie, has been appointed as the new Commissioner for the Compact.
His appointment comes as minister for the third sector Phil Hope pledged £7m to boost the Compact’s implementation. The Commission for the Compact will get an extra £6m over the next three years, while the Compact’s campaign group Compact Voice will receive nearly £1m extra.
Hope said: “I am determined that the Compact underpins all our dealings with the third sector and I am pleased we now have the people, the money and a plan to make the state a better partner.”
Sir Bert (pictured) said that under his leadership, the Commission would ensure the Compact is a “living document that influences action”.
The plan, which sets milestones for implementing the Compact in 2008-9, marks the first time Compact Voice, the Commission and the Office of the Third Sector have agreed a partnership.
Key actions in the plan at national level include resolving problems with implementing the Compact in priority departments by March 2009 and producing a Compact good practice report by September 2008.
At local level, there will be more guidance on implementing full-cost recovery into funding and information on the number of grant programmes available from October 2008, by the autumn. The OTS and Compact Commission also plan to examine the relevance of three-year funding by November 2008.
Studies on the role of the Compact in promoting equality and community cohesion and research to help strengthen the independence, voice and campaigning work of the third sector is also planned.
Chair of Compact Voice Simon Blake said: “Compact Voice looks forward to working closely with the new Commissioner to get the Compact implemented and ensure better outcomes for the people both sectors serve.
“These are exciting times for the Compact and now is the time for action. We welcome the government’s continued investment in the partnership.”
The Compact Commissioner post has been vacant since last September when incumbent John Stoker left abruptly citing personal reasons. His departure followed that of the Commission’s chief executive Angela Sibson three months earlier.
The OTS is now seeking a new chief executive for the Commission. Richard Corden has been interim chief executive since Sibson’s exit.
