Treasury identifies spending priorities

The government wants the £125m allocated to the voluntary
sector in chancellor Gordon Brown’s spending review to be spent on
front-line service delivery and modernisation.

Treasury chief secretary Paul Boateng outlined what the
government wanted the money spent on when he met with the voluntary
sector representatives at a recent breakfast meeting at 11 Downing
Street.

Boateng said that he was looking for ways of enhancing
productivity and overcoming barriers to service delivery. He added
that part of the fund would be for long-term capital investment. He
was also seeking views from the sector on how the money should be
spent.

Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief
Executives of Voluntary Organisations, who was at the meeting,
called for spending on leadership development.

He said:”A lot of money is spent on developing leaders in
education and health, and we know there is a strong link between
better leadership and improved performance in schools and
hospitals.

“If the government wants the voluntary sector to be more
involved in service delivery we need good leadership skills,” Bubb
added.

A second meeting will be held in August to firm up plans.