Maximise your Compact

Local Compacts work best when they have the proper structure and support to maximise their effectiveness. Here are some things that a Local Compact "should be":

• Implemented through an action plan, with the council considering what resources are needed (including training) to achieve the plan

• Outcomes-focussed, so that it is about both good practice in doing the business and realising a vision for a stronger and more engaged community, supported by a thriving sector. Council and local groups should be able to say what difference their Compact is making

• Driving Funding Reform- Councils should know what they are spending on the sector, use both grants appropriately, and should have introduced payment in advance, and 3 year funding

• Championed- both public bodies and individual groups should have champions who help make the Local Compact known and used

• Used as a partnership governance improvement tool and for boosting involvement of groups in policy processes

• Well linked with all policy processes and especially LAAs (The National Audit Office supports the use of the Compact scorecard for Voluntary and Community Sector involvement in Local Area Agreements, produces by Compact Voice). Other key processes include community strategy, scrutiny, and best value.

• Changing the culture to a Compact way of Working Together right from the start between the council and local groups, applying Compact principles in practice and putting things right together when they go wrong. (For instance, the commissioning process should be co-designed)

• Supported by a disputes resolution process to deal with Compact breaches

• Monitored and evaluated- there should be a Compact Implementation Group reporting to the LSP on Compact compliance, wins and progress on a Compact way of working, and a review process (the Local Compact Implementation Workbook contains a menu of 50 PIs) which includes evidence on the direction of travel of the relationship.