The petition
Signatories to this petition are concerned by the growing speculation that from April 2008, Newham Council intends to withdraw funding from Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium, one of the borough's leading second-tier organisations and the umbrella body for third sector involvement in the Newham Partnership. This speculation is fuelled by the emergence of a draft Service Specification that covers most of NVSC’s current work.
However, this document has not been cleared by the council’s Strategic Procurement Unit (a requirement for all service specifications), does not include any financial information and has no timescale for when consultation on its contents might be completed. It is equally unclear how this consultation will be carried out.
Having signalled its intention to cease funding NVSC at the end of March 2008, it seems clear that Newham council hopes that NVSC will close down, so that the local authority can invite bids from other organisations
There seems to be a worrying acceptance in some quarters that even though such a course of action would, if pursued, be an attack on the independence of an important voluntary sector group, it is somehow inevitable. We reject this assumption wholeheartedly.
NVSC has played a vital role in developing networks within the voluntary, community and faith sectors, in articulating local groups' concerns about the relationship between the council and the third sector and in defending the interests of not-for-profit groups in the borough. Moreover, it has taken the lead in creating opportunities for better, more meaningful partnerships with the council and other statutory bodies, through the development of the Newham Compact.
Any steps to close down Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium - and to contract with another organisation to fulfil its current role - would be a rejection of the Newham Compact's core principles and constitute an attack on the whole of the borough's voluntary, community and faith sectors.
We call upon Newham Council to scotch the rumours about NVSC's future by confirming a financial settlement for the organisation as soon as possible, so that NVSC can continue to provide support to local groups to participate in and influence the Newham Partnership.
UPDATE: PLEASE SEND LETTERS EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS TO:
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor's Office, Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, London E6 2RP
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, Office of the Third Sector, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ.
Please copy letters to Lyn Brown MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
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