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The chief executive of a voluntary-sector professional body has warned that government plans to expand the sector's role in the delivery of public services will falter unless it agrees to pay core costs.

Stephen Bubb, of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (Acevo), told delegates at a conference last week that the government "must commit" to a strategy that ensures local and central government pay core costs.

A lack of leadership in the sector meant organisations "still act like a disparate group of individuals happy to be patronised and grateful for private sector handouts or government contracts", said Bubb. He added that a survey carried out by Acevo had shown that funding of leadership and professional development within the sector was "pathetically small".

Acevo will publish a guide on core cost allocation in November, and Acevo and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations will jointly commission a major study of support and funding for leadership within the sector.

Outlining the role the sector could play in delivering public services, Bubb said: "We have an added advantage over the public and private sectors in our relative lack of bureaucracies and slavery to shareholder value, and our ability to harness voluntary activity."