Paymaster to highlight importance of voluntary sector
Government minister Dawn Primarolo will visit Portsmouth next week to launch the national and local Pathfinder reports.
The project is designed to explore the voluntary and community sectors potential ability to deliver public services and the visit of the paymaster general is sure to highlight its importance.
Portsmouth has been praised as it one of only five authorities in the country to have Pathfinder status, thereby outlining the dedication to the voluntary and community sector in the city.
Local authority funding up 39% in ten years
Since 1997, local authority funding has increased by 39 per cent, according to official figures published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
In the coming tax year, council grants are guaranteed to rise by at least 2.7 per cent, with a floor of 3.6 per cent for police authorities.
Manchester ALMO to receive £47m
Northwards Housing will have access to £47 million to repair and improve its homes in Manchester, after receiving a glowing assessment from an independent watchdog.
An arms-length management organisation for the north-west of England, Northwards was found by the Audit Commission to provide ‘good’ housing services, with ‘excellent’ scope for future improvement.
English Partnerships and Housing Corporation to merge
English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation will merge to form a new agency set with the task of delivering affordable new homes in sustainable communities, the government has announced.
Communities England will also encompass some of the roles currently undertaken by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), including housing standards regulation, housing market renewal, urban regeneration and housing growth.
Charity Commission proposes register revamp
The Charity Commission has proposed a rethink of voluntary organisation annual returns, which is designed to improve public access to the register of charities.
Under the plans, returns will be completed online and changes to the public register completed overnight, so that the public have access to the latest information more swiftly.
