CONSULTATIONS

Public Services Survey - What drives third sector innovation?
In June, the Cabinet Office published Excellence and Fairness: Achieving world class public services , which detailed their aspirations for the future of public services. Building on this, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury are jointly surveying third sector providers to better understand what supports and drives their innovation in public service delivery.

The third sector's approach to public service delivery is often described as innovative. To build upon Excellence and Fairness, this survey aims to identify what enables and encourages third sector providers to develop and deliver innovative public services.

Deadline: 8 September 2009

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/
news/news_stories/080811_survey.aspx

The consultation includes a number of proposed measures aimed at increasing the use of exemptions for as wide a range as possible of low risk activities (including most of those operating under an Environment Agency low risk position) whilst removing or restricting the availability of the exemptions for higher risk waste operations by seeking to regulate higher risk operations through one or more standard permits.

Deadline: 23 October 2008

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waste-exemption-review/

The Empowerment Fund: Consultation on proposals for funding third sector organisations to empower communities across England
This consultation paper seeks views on a draft of the Empowerment Fund Prospectus which the Government intends to issue. This fund will provide support for existing national third sector organisations operating across England to help local communities turn key proposals into practical action on the ground.

Deadline: 30 September 2008

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/
empowermentfund

Third Sector Partnership Board: Consultation Paper on the third sector's strategic voice within Communities and Local Government
Consultation paper on proposals to enhance the Communities and Local Government Third Sector Partnership Board covering its future role and remit, membership and way of working.

Deadline: 30 September 2008

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/
thirdsectorconsultation

Transforming Places; changing lives: a framework for regeneration
This consultation proposes extending existing regeneration activity and to tackling the remaining economic challenges that hold back deprived areas, in particular supporting the poorest in society to access employment.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/citiesandregions/
transformingplaces

Time to Train – Dept for Innovation, Universities & skills
This consultation seeks views on proposals to give employees in England a right to a serious conversation with their employer about their skills development. This new right would help encourage and support adults to develop their skills and rise as far as their talent will take them. And, by helping to raise their employees' awareness and aspirations in relation to skills, the proposed right would support and encourage employers to invest in the skills of their employees as a driver of future business performance.

Closing date: 10 September 2008

http://www.dius.gov.uk/consultations/con_180608_timetotrain.html

Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation - BERR
This consultation seeks views on how to drive up the use of renewable energy in the UK, as part of the overall strategy for tackling climate change, and to meet a share of the EU target to source 20% of the EU’s energy from renewable sources by 2020. Responses to this consultation will help shape the UK Renewable Energy Strategy, which will be published in spring 2009, once the UK’s share of the target has been agreed.

Closing date: 26 September 2008

http://renewableconsultation.berr.gov.uk/

Vehicle registration for waste carriers two-tier system
The Environment Agency is going to remove its ‘one-size fits all' system of vehicle registration for waste carriers in favour of a two-tier system.  The change is needed due to the varying size of registered carriers currently operating.  Taking into account the fact that small businesses, self-employed builders and landscape gardeners need to carry small amounts of waste infrequently it was deemed important that the system was changed to reflect this.

The proposed upper tier of the system would include annual compliance checking and apply to those carrying others' waste as a normal and regular part of their business and also to producers of construction and demolition waste who transport waste themselves. The lower tier would be formed of businesses carrying others' waste infrequently, the charity and voluntary sector and also agricultural waste. Registrations for the lower tier would be a one-off £30 charge, while new applications in the upper tier would cost £60 for a year with one-year renewals costing £45.

Closing date: 8 September 2008

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waste-controls/

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). www.ctrg.org.uk/home

REPORTS

Gate Fees Report 2008 - WRAP
A study outlining the relative cost of different waste treatment options and how they are expected to change in the future.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/applications/publications/
publication_details.rm?id=698&publication=5755&programme=wrap

No One Written Off: Reforming Welfare to Reward Responsibility Department for Work and Pensions
This welfare green paper puts forward a raft of radical proposals for overhauling the benefit system the measures include channeling the long-term unemployed into full-time community work courses to help them get back to work, the proposals could increase the opportunities for charities to be involved in providing public services.

Report into the Nature and Scale of Waste Produced by Schools in England - WRAP
This report presents the findings of a piece of research conducted in December 2007, examining the quantity and composition of waste produced in schools in England; intended to improve upon existing knowledge of this area of waste arisings.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/
Report_into_the_Nature_and_Scale_of_Waste_
produced_by_schools_in_England.28e8f89b.pdf

Barriers to Recycling at home - WRAP
The Recycle Now campaign commissioned research to explore people's barriers to recycling at home. The objective of the research was to generate a more rigorous and in-depth understanding of what prevents householders from recycling. The research has led to some important fresh thinking about how different population groups might be engaged more effectively by recycling campaigns especially at a more local level.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/local_authorities/
toolkits_good_practice/barriers_to_1.html

Vehicle Procurement Checklist
A clear checklist that can be used online or printed. It contains a series of questions and factors to consider when devising a specification for kerbside recycling collection vehicles and equipment.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/local_authorities/
toolkits_good_practice/kerbside.html

The Wood Recycling Industry Code of Practice
The Wood Recyclers Association have published a wood recyclers' code of practice, funded by WRAP and designed to raise the level of the industry. Along with the code of practice comes a guidance workbook covering all aspects of wood recycling business practice.

http://www.woodrecyclers.org/documents/COP_latest_COP.pdf

Third sector guide for public sector commissioning
A new guide has just been produced by Voluntary Norfolk to give commissioners and procurement staff a better understanding of how involving the third sector can help meet local service outcomes. The guide includes a checklist of questions designed to work alongside existing commissioning frameworks. Download the guide at

http://www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk/thirdsectorguide.php

Recyclate Recovery an Analysis of Scottish Recycling Schemes 2006/2007 - Remade Scotland
In spring 2008 Remade Scotland surveyed all 32 Scottish local authorities to gather data on recycling at both kerbside and recycling centres/point, with 28 full sets of data being gathered for the financial year 2006/7.

The report looks at the following materials:

• paper, glass, plastic, metal, tyres, wood, textiles, organics and WEEE

http://www.remade.org.uk/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=318

Communities in control: real people, real power – Communities & Local Government
Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Communities in control tells the story of power, influence and control and how people can use existing and new tools to access it. The White Paper looks at who has power, on whose behalf is it exercised, how is it held to account, and how it can be accessed by everyone in local communities.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf
/886045.pdf

Reuse Capacity in London - July 2008
This research addresses the reuse step of the waste hierarchy and builds on the reuse policies set out in the Mayor’s Municipal Waste Management Strategy. Funded by Defra it was commissioned and managed by the Greater London Authority, Government Office for London, London Councils and North London Waste Authority.

http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/environment/
reuse-fullreport.pdf

The Evaluation of Energy from Biowaste Arisings and Forest Residues in Scotland
Looks at the potential use of secondary and tertiary biomass for the generation of heat and electricity. The report demonstrates how diverting millions tonnes of waste from landfill could create some 7,200 jobs and produce 12.5 million MWh of energy.

http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/nws/research/energy_from_biowaste.pdf

Development of a policy framework for the tertiary treatment of commercial and industrial wastes
SEPA was commissioned to explore and make recommendations on the range of options available for commercial and industrial waste processing in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The treatment options were evaluated by assessing both the technology and environmental costs.

http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/nws/research/jacobs_report.pdf

Building a low carbon economy: unlocking innovation and skills

Government response to the commission on environmental markets and economic performance (CEMEP).

This sets out how Government will make the UK one of the best locations in the world to develop and introduce low-carbon and resource-efficient products, processes, services and business models.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/commission/
index.htm

The Open University Household Waste Study: Key findings from 2007

This report contains key findings and detailed statistics relating to household waste analyses conducted in 2007 by Open University students on the course 'Environmental Control and Public Health'. This work forms part of The Open University's on-going study of household waste generation and disposal which is undertaken on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/
waste /research/download/ou-rpt-200802.pdf

What Happens When Every Action Counts

Case studies in this publication illustrate each of the five themes - Save Energy, Travel Wisely, Shop Ethically, Save Our Resources and Care for Your Area - and demonstrate that imagination, commitment and energy can make a difference.

www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=230&n2=281

Your Community Building Counts

This guide looks at helping you make your community building even more of an asset by minimising its impact on the environment and maximising its role as a place to inspire, inform and strengthen your community.

www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=230&n2=281

The Good Practice Handbook - Goldstar

This handbook looks at promoting good practice in managing volunteers from socially excluded groups.

It includes practical case studies that demonstrate how a range of organisations have approached the recruitment and retention of volunteers.

http://www.goldstar.org.uk/downloads/
GoodPracticeHandbook.pdf

Procurement and Negotiation Briefings - ACEVO

Acevo and the DTA have undertaken a project commissioned by the Finance Hub on Successful Procurement & Negotiation in the Third Sector. The Hub has responded to the need for a greater national picture of co-operation between statutory and voluntary agencies to promote and standardise funding advice. This includes building understanding of good practice, and ensuring that the need for services to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector are aligned.

Tendering and Bidding Briefing : Give your tender a winning chance

Impact Briefing : Putting impact at the heart of the tendering process

Negotiation Briefing : Effective negotiating to secure better outcomes

VAT Briefing : VAT made simple when working in partnership

Using Quality Compost to Benefit Crops - WRAP

Farmers and growers can find out more about the benefits of quality compost in this new booklet. It provides comprehensive information about the many benefits of using and applying quality BSI PAS 100 compost made from garden and food waste.

It also highlights the results of a variety of WRAP-sponsored scientific trials on the use of compost, including ones conducted on potatoes, wheat, barley and sugar beet on a number of farms across the country.

www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/
news/wrap_launches_28.html

Delivering good practice waste management, Practical guidance for construction design teams and contractors - WRAP

Guidance document on the delivery of good practice waste management on construction projects.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/
Waste_man_technical1.2fdb098d.pdf

Win-win

The National Housing Federation and The Furniture Re-use Network have produced this new booklet outlining how social landlords and their tenants can reap enormous benefits by teaming up with a local furniture re-use organisation.

http://www.frn.org.uk/publications.asp

Charity Forecast: a quarterly survey of sector leaders

Are you a chief executive, a director or a trustee of a charity?   NCVO is inviting voluntary sector leaders to give their views on the health and prospects of their organisations in its new confidence and trends survey.  'Charity Forecast: a quarterly survey of sector leaders' is the first survey of its kind in the sector, and is designed to provide voluntary organisations with valuable information that they can use in their planning processes

http://www.ncvo-consult.org.uk/survey.asp?s=
01249004220084206

Social Enterprise Action Plan Scaling New Heights - Cabinet office of the Third Sector

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/
se_action_plan_2006.pdf

The Rules of Thumb Guide, Calculating & declaring recycled content in construction products - WRAP

This guide will help manufacturers of products containing recycled content to accurately calculate and declare the amount of recycled content. This in turn will be useful for the building industry when wishing to select products with higher recycled content.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/construction_procurement/
tools_publications/index.html

Changing the Way We Work guide for voluntary sector - Every Action Counts

The Every Action Counts Consortium have published 'Changing the Way We Work', a guide for the voluntary and community sector on how your organisation can change how it works in ways that will benefit your environment and save you money.

http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/guides/greenofficev1.pdf

Community Money Matters

In co-operation with CASH (Community Accountancy Self Help) Community Matters have produced this comprehensive guide to financial management and accounting for small charities and community organisations. It has been written by Paul Boielle, who is one of CASH's Community Accountants and is also a trustee and treasurer of a Community Association. The book is available as a free download.

http://www.communitymatters.org.uk/resources/docs/
Moneymatters.pdf

Briefing note on local government National Indicator 7 'An environment for a thriving third sector'

The Office of the Third Sector has published a briefing note to provide Local Strategic Partnerships (local public, private and third sector representatives) with more information and guidance on National Indicator 7 - 'An environment for a thriving third sector'.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/
news_stories/080229_nibriefing.aspx

What a Waste! Surplus Fresh Foods Research Project - S.C.R.A.T.C.H

This study investigates the issue of surplus fresh food, exploring the position in the waste hierarchy that products get classed as waste.

http://www.veoliatrust.org/docs/Surplus_Food_Research.pdf

Managing Your Community Building - Community Matters

A practical handbook for people running buildings in local communities. The book is a very useful guide to running a community building; however some of the legal information will now be out of date. Members are advised to consult the information sheets (also available on the website) for up to date information on individual topics.

http://www.communitymatters.org.uk/membership/docs/
community%20buildings%203ed.pdf

Buying packs from furniture projects - CRNS

Scottish Community Recycling Network (CRNS) toolkit provides information on furniture projects, the different types of packs they provide and the various methods of purchasing packs, including Service Level Agreements, contracts and Public Social Partnerships. Some of the information may not be relevant outside Scotland.

http://www.crns.org.uk/index/publications

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

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive)
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill. It seeks to achieve this by making producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment, and by obliging distributors to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.

BERR has published specific guidance for local authorities, producer compliance schemes, distributors, re-use and refurbishment organisations, and approved authorised treatment facilities to explain their roles within the WEEE system.

http://www.berr.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/
weee/page30269.html

Factsheets on WEEE explaining the obligations for producers, distributors, approved exporters, treatment facilities, business users and consumers

http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee
/Factsheets/page41148.html

The Department of Work and Pensions commissioning strategy interim report
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) published their commissioning strategy in November 2007 - an interim report, which outlines the emerging thinking, for changes to the way in which employment support is delivered. The strategy follows the consultation on the Green Paper ‘In work, better off’
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2007/
com-strategy/cs-interim-report-07.pdf

Business Link Social Enterprise Guide
The government’s Business Link agency has produced a guide which aims to explain the reasons why you might consider setting up a social enterprise and the benefits of doing so. It will also look at some of the issues you will need to think about and will give examples of existing social enterprises working in the commercial and public sector environments.

www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/ layer?r.l1=1073858805&
topicId= 1079870761&r.l2=1073859137

The New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators
The new national indicator set for local authorities and local authority partnerships. The new national indicators will be the only means of measuring national priorities that have been agreed by Government. The number of national indicators has been radically reduced, from the around 1200 that local authorities and their partners report on at present, to 198. The headline definitions for the 198 are contained in the document.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/
localgovernment/nationalindicator

Municipal waste arisings and management
The total amount of collected municipal waste has increased to an estimated 29.1 million tonnes in England in 2006/07 compared to 28.7 million tonnes in 2005/06, an increase of 1.4 per cent.  The average annual increase in municipal waste from 2001/02 to 2006/07 was 0.2 per cent. In total, 41.8 per cent (12.2 million tonnes) of municipal waste had some sort of value (recycling, composting, energy from waste and fuel manufacture) recovered from it in 2006/07, a rise from 37.2 per cent (10.7 million tonnes) in 2005/06.

The proportion of municipal waste being recycled or composted increased from 27.1 per cent in 2005/06 to 30.7 per cent in 2006/07. The proportion of waste incinerated with energy recovery increased from 10 per cent in 2005/06 to 11 per cent in 2006/07. The proportion of municipal waste being disposed of in landfill has continued to decrease from 62 per cent in 2005/06 to 58 per cent in 2006/07.

The actual tonnage of municipal waste disposed of in landfill has also decreased again from 17.9 million tonnes in 2005/06 to 16.9 million tonnes in 2006/07.

Household waste and recycling
In 2006/07, household sources accounted for 89 per cent of municipal waste, 25.9 million tonnes, which equates to around 509 kg of household waste per person per annum. 

The amount of waste collected from household sources increased by 1.6 per cent in 2006/7, from 25.5 million tonnes in 2005/06 to 25.9 million tonnes in 2006/07.  The average annual change in total household waste over the last five years is 0.3 per cent.

The proportion of household waste recycled (including composting) has continued to increase, rising from 26.7 per cent in 2005/06 to 30.9 per cent in 2006/07. This increase in the national recycling rate of 4.2 percentage points is the same as the growth rate achieved last year.  

In absolute terms the amount of household waste sent for recycling or composting has increased by 17 per cent, from 6.8 million tonnes in 2005/06 to 8.0 million tonnes in 2006/07.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/
wastats/index.htm

Third Sector Review
The conclusion of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), published on 9 October 2007, confirms the resources available to the Office of the Third Sector to implement the policy programmes originally set out in the third sector review. It also outlines how the third sector contributes to the delivery of key priority outcomes through the new Public Service Agreement (PSA) framework.

Over the period of the spending review (2008-11), the Office of the Third Sector will invest over £515 million in third sector programmes.
£80 million small grants programme for community action and voice
£50 million local endowment match fund, which will enable local independent foundations to develop community endowments to provide sustainability in future grant making
£117 million of new resources available for youth volunteering, through the organisation
£85 million for Capacitybuilders, for third sector infrastructure development
£65 million for Futurebuilders
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/
third_sector_review/csr.aspx
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/
spend_csr07/spend_csr07_index.cfm

Volunteering Works
This report providing overwhelming evidence that volunteering affects key areas of government policy has been launched by Volunteering England. This publication from the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR), brings together for the first time the best evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of volunteering in five key policy areas: development; safer and stronger communities; social inclusion; quality of life and lifelong learning.
http://www.volunteering.org.uk