John Stoker steps down at Commission for the Compact
7 Sep 2007
John Stoker announced today that he regretted that for personal reasons he is stepping down as Commissioner for the Compact with immediate effect.
John Stoker announced today that he regretted that for personal reasons he is stepping down as Commissioner for the Compact with immediate effect. He will be succeeded, as interim Commissioner pending public competition, by Helen Baker who is a non-executive Director of the Commission for the Compact.
Writing to Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, John Stoker said:
“I regret that I am unable for personal reasons, to serve a full term as the first Commissioner for the Compact.
“Creating the Commission was a wise step. While both greater awareness and better compliance are needed, the Compact and codes provide a robust basis for future development of the relationship between the sectors.
“We have made a start in establishing the Commission and its role. In both sectors, we have established good relationships with the main stakeholders. In the public sector, we have worked productively with some key departments on the development of Compact-compliant strategies, and on the development of a methodology for assessing Departments’ Compact compliance.
The adoption in the Third Sector Review of the Commission’s suggestion for a transparent and accountable framework for the delivery of the Government’s commitment to three-year funding has been especially welcome. We have made a start also on the assembly of an evidence base to support the Commission’s independent role in relation to issues affecting both sectors, and strong teams both of non-executives and staff are now selected and about to come on line.
“Earlier this week the Prime Minister restated the Government’s commitment to the renewal of the Compact with the voluntary and community sector, to give more stability of funding to the sector. Going now will allow the Commission's discussions about this with both sectors to be taken forward in the coming months without interruption. This is also a good time for the newly appointed Board to reconsider the Commission’s priorities and work plan in the light of responses to consultation, which closed on 31 July.
“I should like to thank colleagues in the Commission, and partners and friends in both the third and public sectors, for their help and support”.
Responding to John Stoker’s letter of resignation, Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector said:
“John Stoker has been instrumental in the setting up of the Commission for the Compact and building a foundation for good partnership working. I am confident that the Commission he leaves behind will continue to develop and build on some real achievements in strengthening and implementing the Compact. The Commission is working effectively with Government Departments and the sector to better embed the Compact and I know that the excellent team at the Commission will be focusing all its efforts on maintaining the momentum of progress made to date.
“I’m very pleased that Helen Baker has agreed to act as interim Commissioner of the Commission for the Compact. Helen’s background in both the public and third sectors gives her the experience and expertise to ensure a seamless transition, while continuing the drive to embed the principles of the Compact. “
Chris Kelly, Chair of Compact Voice said:
“We're sad to see John go, but respect his decision, and of course wish him well.
“Going forward, the most important issue remains improving the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector. We welcome the increased profile the Commission has bought to the Compact and are working closely with colleagues at the Office of the Third Sector to ensure the roles and relationships are the best they can be.
“The Compact is an invaluable tool for the sector, and we look forward to increasing awareness and implementation of it in the voluntary and public sectors, in the months and years to come.”
Responding to her appointment as interim Commissioner, Helen Baker said:
“I am delighted to be joining such an excellent team of colleagues at the Commission for the Compact. This is a critical time for developing partnerships between the Government and the voluntary and community sector. The Commission has a fundamental role in strengthening these partnerships and supporting the delivery of high quality and responsive public services. I look forward to building on all that John Stoker has achieved and the opportunity to doing so in close collaboration with key organisations who the Commission is already working alongside.”
Notes for Editors
For enquiries contact Richard Stone, Interim Communications Manager: 0121 237 5909 richard.stone@thecompact.org.uk
1. The interim chair and chief executive will work with the Office of the Third Sector and close stakeholders on the recruitment of the new Commissioner. This will be through open competition. Recruitment will commence as soon as possible.
2. Helen Baker is a registered social worker and has worked in executive and non-executive roles both in the statutory and voluntary sectors across social care, health and education. Before taking up the chair of the Group Board of Advance Housing and Support, she was chair of Oxfordshire Community Health NHS Trust and then Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust. She was a founder council member of the General Social Care Council, the non-departmental public body which regulates social care workforce and social work training and is also a member of the governing council of the National College for School Leadership. She is also a trustee with the Foundation for Conductive Education, a national charity working with children and adults with physical disabilities.
Within Oxfordshire Helen was a founder, then chair, and now a trustee with the Clive Project which supports adults with early onset dementia and their families. She is also on the advisory group of Oxfordshire Common Purpose and a previous member of the Art Room, a charity that works with children at risk of exclusion from school.
3. The Compact www.thecompact.org.uk is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector in England to improve their relationship for mutual advantage. It sets out the statement of intent to work in partnership and is supported by five codes: funding and procurement, community groups, BME groups, volunteers and consultation.
99% of local areas in England are committed to better partnership working between local government, local public bodies and local voluntary and community organisations through Local Compacts. Local Compacts are becoming living documents that inform the whole range of joint working at a local level, from police working with the community sector to tackle anti-social behaviour to social services improving their contracting with social care organisations.
4. Compact Voice www.compactvoice.org.uk is an independent body made up of representative members from national voluntary organisations and umbrella bodies with national, regional and local reach. The purpose of Compact Voice is to represent the interests of the voluntary and community sector in all matters related to the Compact between Government and the VCS in England. Its remit is also to strengthen the Compact and to improve the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector.
5. Celebrating and innovating - sharing good practice is key to the Compact and the aims of the Commission. The Commission will be building upon excellence demonstrated through the Compact Annual Meeting commendations issued each year that demonstrate the Compact in action. A record 28 were awarded in 2006; over 60 commendations have been awarded since 2003 to national, regional and local public and third sectors.