The County Durham Compact was launched during Local Democracy Week in October 2001. With active participation of members of the then Compact Implementation Group the local Codes of practice on funding and the Code of practice on community groups were developed and published in the revised edition of the Compact in 2004. The Code of practice on volunteering was developed in 2006 although not fully incorporated into the Compact document.
The Co Durham Compact stands alongside the regional and national Compacts as a statement of principles and practice intended to promote and support partnership working between the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and statutory bodies.
The National Compact itself has just been reviewed and refreshed and was launched on 16th December 2009. Capacity Builders has recognised the value that a good local Compact brings to an area and has given us funding to enable a Compact Officer to facilitate work on refreshing the Compact in the County.
AT OVN we are of the firm belief that following the changes in Local Government, NHS and other statutory bodies in the County and encouraged by the response of senior figures within those agencies the time is now right for a review and refresh of the County Durham Compact. We have formed a working group: the Compact Implementation Group (CIG) that is considering how to refresh the County Durham Compact. The CIG members include representatives from the CVS’ and other voluntary and community sector organisations, Durham County Council, Co Durham and Darlington NHS, Police, Faith networks, GO-NE, VONNE and the elected membership.
As we are all aware central government is placing increasing focus and importance on statutory engagement with local communities and the democratic process. As an ingredient in that process it is our view that an active up-to-date County Durham Compact would be a very timely and useful document for all those who would sign up to it.
Part of reviewing the refresh of the Co Durham Compact is to evaluate the document against the refreshed National Compact. The CIG has made the decision to use the National Compact as framework document for the Co Durham Compact. It will adapt wherever possible the national document, but will include reference to the particular issues that affect Co Durham. The intention is also to include reference to the Implementation guidance documents produced by the Commission for the Compact.
We aim to have a framework document ready to go out for twelve-week consultation from April 2010. We will identify potential signatories during the consultation period and intend to launch the refreshed Co Durham Compact November 2010.
Click here for the full text of the existing County Durham Compact.