CONSULTATIONS

Consultation on the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation sets out the basic principles for conducting effective government consultations. The Government has launched its review of consultation policy 'Effective Consultation: asking the right questions, asking the right people, listening to the answers'. This document forms the centre piece of the Cabinet Office's review of central government consultation policy.
The consultation is aimed at anyone with an interest in responding to government consultation exercises, from those who regularly respond to the government's consultations to those who might be interested in doing so. These might include business organisations, voluntary and charitable sector organisations, campaigning bodies, trades unions, citizens, etc.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/consultation/

Consultation on Government Guidance for EU Directives and Waste Technical Competence Environmental Permitting Guidance will be replacing existing lengthy guidance for the waste management licensing (WML) and pollution prevention and control (PPC) systems. It will be a simple, single reference point explaining how the new, streamlined Environmental Permitting Regulations work and, where possible, how they will be implemented. 
Deadline: 10 October 2007
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/envpermitprog4/index.htm

National minimum wage and voluntary workers - DTI consultation
In January 2007, the government announced that it was carrying out a review of the provisions in the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 that relate to voluntary workers. Those working in the third sector, and others where these proposals might be relevant, may therefore wish to consider the proposal in this consultation document and provide comments.

Consultation document
National minimum wage and voluntary workers:
consultation document (230KB)

Questions about the issues raised in this document related to National Minimum Wage can be addressed to: patrick.walsh@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Consultation deadline: September 2007

Simplifying Business Support - DTI Consultation
It is estimated that there are over 3000 publicly-funded business support schemes available in England. The DTI feel businesses are confused by the array of schemes, which can put them off seeking support. To address this problem they want to simplify business support in England to no more than 100 schemes by 2010. This consultation seeks views on how the public sector should support business in the future and meet the commitment to consult made in the Budget 2007.

Consultation document: http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file39908.pdf

Additional information: http://www.dti.gov.uk/bbf/small-business
/streamlining-government/bssp/index.html

Consultation deadline: 14 September 2007

Petition: Charity exemption from VAT
Charities incur substantial amounts of tax when they spend the money that is generously donated to them. This is because the VAT system, which is based on the EU's Sixth VAT Directive, treats charities as the final consumer - even when they are not. A new petition has been set up on the Downing Street website calling for charities to be exempt from all Value Added Tax (VAT).
http://www.ctrg.org.uk/home

REPORTS

Waste Strategy for England 2007
The Government published Waste Strategy for England 2007 on 24 May 2007; it sets out their vision for sustainable waste management.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/index.htm

Third sector action plan
'Partnership in Public Services: an Action Plan for Third Sector Involvement'. The plan aims to remove barriers to third sector organisations wishing to become involved in delivering and designing public services. The report covers a range of areas from the National Offender Management Service to Jobcentre Plus. Part of the plan includes a national programme to train 2000 of those who commission public services on how to involve the third sector in services.
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/public_service_delivery/

Measuring Real Value: a DIY guide to Social Return on Investment
A new step-by-step guide to calculating social returns on investment produced by the New Economics Foundation. It is intended to allow sector organisations to demonstrate and quantify their wider social value when applying for grants and bidding for contracts.
SROI shows how social and environmental outcomes translate into tangible monetary value, helping organisations and investors of all kinds to see a fuller picture of the benefits that flow from their investment of time, money and other resources. This investment can then be seen in terms of the 'return' or the value created for individuals, communities, society or the environment. Link

The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration: final report
The final report of the joint Cabinet Office/Treasury review into the future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration, it sets the framework for government working in partnership with the sector for the next 10 years, and responds directly to the largest ever public consultation Link

Alternate weekly collections revised guidance
WRAP have re-issued their guidance on alternate weekly collection schemes. Included within the revised guidance is a suggestion that to meet Landfill Directive requirements it will be necessary to deal with food waste. The best way to do this the guidance suggests is through a weekly collection of food waste and to process it either through composting or preferably through processes like Anaerobic Digestion. Link

Tender Readiness Toolkit - SCEDU

Sheffield community enterprise development unit (SCEDU) has released an updated version of their Tender Readiness Toolkit , it is aimed primarily at organisations considering their long term future and looking at procurement and contracting as an option .
http://www.scedu.org.uk/products.htm

House of Commons Refuse Collection Fifth Report
Covering refuse collection, dealing with waste, collection methods (specifically alternate weekly collections, recycling versus co-mingled), financial incentives & charging etc.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/
cmselect/cmcomloc/536/536i.pdf

Waste Shipment Regulations
New Waste Shipment Regulations came into force on 12 July 2007. These will make a number of changes to the controls on international waste movements to and from the UK. Under existing rules many types of low hazard or 'Green List' waste can be exported to many countries for recovery under minimal regulatory controls. Under the new rules stricter procedures must be followed.

Further guidance is available on the environment agency website
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wasteshipments

Poverty indicator for Wales updated
An updated analysis of poverty and social exclusion in Wales published July 2007
http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/reports.shtml#wales *

'Setting Up and Running Charity Shops - an Essential Guide' by John Tough
http://fp.charityshops.plus.com/JohnToughBook.html

Adding Value Beyond Funding
A report has been published to help the Big Lottery Fund and other grant makers to understand the nature, benefit, cost and outcome of adding value to grant programmes. The report, 'Investing in our programmes - maximising grant making', goes beyond standard good practice in grant making and investigates different rationales and methods of doing so, and provides practical recommendations.
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Defra Municipal waste management statistics 2005/06
First set of estimates from the Department's 2005/6 survey of municipal waste. Based on information supplied by local authorities in England to WasteDataFlow. For 2005/6, there was a 100% response rate to WasteDataFlow.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wastats/index.htm

A Rough Guide to Individual Carbon Trading.
Defra published Centre for Sustainable Energy report on personal carbon allowances
http://www.cse.org.uk/pdf/news1270.pdf

A Better Way to Recycle: Co-operative and Community Approaches to Recycling 
Waste management is fast becoming a key political issue. Using case studies from across the world, Erik Bichard, CEO of the National Centre for Business and Sustainability, shows in this new report how problems can be turned to our advantage with a little innovation and a determination to invest in the future. Full report downloadable from:
www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=1047

Understanding Food waste - Research Summary prepared by Eunomia for WRAP
http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/FoodWasteResearchSummary .

Dealing with Food Waste in the UK prepared by Eunomia for WRAP
http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Dealing_with_Food_Waste

DTI WEEE Regulations Government Guidance Notes
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations guidance notes - Covers the obligations the WEEE regulations place on distributors and the roles and implications for LA's, Waste Management Industry, community sector, and implications for users and consumers
http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file37923.pdf

Code of Practice for collection of WEEE from designated Collection Facilities
http://www.doeni.gov.uk/final_code_of_practice.pdf