This joint action plan from Communities and Local Government and the LGA, is designed to take forward a shared community empowerment agenda. It forms an important strand of the Government’s overall strategy for constitutional renewal set out in the Governance of Britain’s Green Paper. The cross-government strategy aims to give citizens the means of participating in decision-making at every level. 

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has called for a dedicated Third Sector Skills Council to limit the growing skills gap. The sector recognises that not enough time is being devoted to the training and development of its employees, yet it does not have the access to the skills support currently available to the public and private sectors. The call comes as new figures reveal the continuing growth of the sector and its increasing need for professional and highly skilled people. 

Less Whitehall control and greater power at local level will result from the Royal Assent of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act. John Healey, Local Government Minister, has promised that new opportunities for local action will be in place within six months.