Policy Briefing

As part of BVSC's policy and research work, from February 2007 BVSC will be providing third sector policy briefings on topics of relevance and interest to the sector. These will cover national, regional and Birmingham based policy issues and developments with a particular focus on implications and actions for the voluntary and community sector.

February 2010 Total Place Briefing: Total Place was announced in the budget in April 2009, following recommendations made in Sir Michael Bichard’s chapter of the Operational Efficiency Review. Total Place looks at how a “whole area” approach to public services can lead to better services at less cost. It seeks to identify and avoid overlap and duplication between organisations, delivering a step change in both service improvement and efficiency at the local level, as well as across Whitehall.
April 2009 Duty to Involve Briefing: The new duty came into force on 1st April 2009. It seeks to ensure people have greater opportunities to have their say. The duty requires authorities to take those steps they consider appropriate to involve representatives of local persons in the exercise of any of their functions, where they consider that it is appropriate to do so.
September 2008 Community Empowerment White Paper Briefing: The main theme running through this White Paper is the transfer of power from official and political decision makers to active citizens, in a move towards more ‘vibrant, participative local democracy’.
July 2008 Health Policy Briefing: July 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service. Aside from political debates about funding, waiting lists, and NHS structures and management, the core principle of the NHS has remained true, namely equal access to care and treatment based on clinical need and not ability to pay.
May 2008 Policy Round Up: Worklessness Policy Round Up
March 2008 The Leitch Review of Skills: In 2004, the government commissioned Sandy Leitch to lead an independent review of skills, in terms of qualifications and accredited training, in the UK.
Policy Round Up, Autumn 2007: This Policy Briefing summarises some important national and local policy developments with points on implications for Birmingham's Third Sector.
2007 - Third Sector Review: This forms part of the Government 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review that aims to set departmental spending plans to 2011.
2007 - Budget 2007 (third sector): Budget 2007 sets out how the Government is seeking to achieve a strong economy and fair society, building on economic stability and sustained growth to ensure the UK can continue to succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy.
2007 - Public Service Reform and the VCS: This Select Committee Enquiry looks at the increasing role of the voluntary and community sector in shaping and delivering services to improve quality of life.
2007 - Opportunities and Challenges for the UK: As part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review this report examines the long term trends and challenges that will shape the next decade in the UK.
2007 - Local Government White Paper: As part of the debate on the future of local government, the Local Goverment White Paper sets out the Government's vision for more involvement of local people in decision making, more local freedom and powers to make positive changes and improvements in public services and quality of life.