History and Policy behind Commissioning
As part of the Government’s 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review, the Treasury conducted a cross-cutting review of the role of the voluntary and community sector in public service delivery 2002 Cross-cutting Review.
The 2002 Review identified that, in some cases, voluntary and community sector organisations could deliver services more effectively to certain groups than other public or private sector providers.
In 2004 the Gershon Review recommended a transfer of funds, from management and administration to frontline services, to increase efficiency and quality.
Procurement was one of six potential areas for savings that the Gershon Review focussed on. It made a specific mention of a role for the voluntary and community sector in delivering public services. It also made a number of recommendations to improve the Government’s funding relationship with the sector.
In 2004 the Home Office published more guidance in “Think Smart…Think Voluntary Sector”
“Think Smart… Think Voluntary Sector”:
- Committed the government to extending the role of the voluntary and community sector in delivering public services contracts.
- Provided further guidance on best practice to those commissioning from the voluntary and community sector.
HM Treasury’s “Guidance to Funders” gives additional support to funders. It aims to help organisations that distribute public money to the voluntary and community sector.
The National Audit Office has developed a decision support tool. This provides support to funders to help them decide if a particular programme, for which voluntary and community sector groups are potential providers, should be funded by a grant or through a commissioning process.
As more public services were being commissioned from the voluntary and community sector (or third sector), the Office for the Third Sector was established in the Cabinet Office in May 2006. It subsequently released an action plan for third sector involvement in public service delivery, in December 2006. This takes the Government’s plans for the voluntary and community sector to deliver public services further forward.
Specific commissioning strategies with a focus on engaging the voluntary and community sector have already been written for health, social care, and education
Joint Planning and Commissioning Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (2006)
Commissioning Framework for health and well-being (2007)
Further strategic documents on commissioning for local authorities are expected from Communities and Local Government. The Department for Work and Pensions' Strategy is in development.
Last updated 11th August 2009
