Prime minister sets out new partnership model

Topics: policy, partnership, community and voluntary sector

The Prime Minister Tony Blair has set out a new, customer-focused, model of partnership working at a Future Services Network conference today.

Today the Government set out its vision for a partnership approach between public, private and third sectors to deliver the services that people want in the way that suits them best.

... the Prime Minister described an enhanced role for the third sector in working with the Government to deliver public services that are more focused around the needs of individuals and communities.

Marking an important step forward in the Government's public service reform agenda, today's event saw a range of announcements from different departments designed to ensure the work of the third sector is expanded on and properly supported.

Michael Lyons - heading the Lyons review of local government- concurs:

"Local government and the voluntary sector share a common root stock – a commitment to improving the social fabric; protecting the weak and engaging people in the life and governance of their own communities. "This needs to be strengthened and renewed if we are to rise to the challenges of greater devolution and local choice."

As does Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Chair of the Local Government Association:

The Local Government Association will heed the Prime Minsters call for greater voluntary and business sector involvement by announcing a major summit to be held in the autumn to join up public, private and third sectors around delivering for local people and customers.Sandy Bruce Lockhart will say that councils should move to put the financing of voluntary groups and community organisations on a longer term basis.

I guess we're all agreed then. But the next question is how? Many "third sector" organisations are savvy about performance management and government reporting, but some smaller organisations aren't. I remember sitting in on a Local Area Agreement meeting for one London council last year - and some of the officers were worried about frightening off some community organisations with the reporting and monitoring requirements. Certainly, those spending public money, no matter who they are, must be accountable - but the system is likely to require more flexibility as we work with a range of partners across sectors. Part of the answer, too, is raising the capacity of both local government and the community sector as they work together.

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