Council accused of breaking compact with the voluntary and community sector

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th Nov 2004

Councillor David Ward campaigning with at Milan Centre against the loss of their support from the Council

Councillor David Ward ( Lib Dem Chair of Bradford north Area Committee ) has accused the Conservative Executive of the Council of driving a coach and horses through the recently agreed ' General Compact '.

The Compact was developed by the Building Communities Partnership supported by Bradford Vision and signed in May 2004.

He said,

" The Council has signed up to certain principles and agreements with the voluntary and community sector on key issues which include good communications and dialogue, accessibility of resources, and ' early and meaningful consultation' about changes to resources.

On these grounds alone I think that the Council has broken the Compact and I have written to the Chair of the Building Communities Partnership to get her views.

The Voluntary and Community sector may well have a case to take to the Compact Advocacy Programme which can lobby Government over breaches of the Compact on behalf of aggrieved voluntary organisations.

This could be very embarrassing for the Executive if it turns out that they have breached the Compact only 6 months after signing it."