20 May 2005
The public sector inspectorates should regulate charities' services to cut down on duplication, according to the voluntary sector's chief regulator.
Geraldine Peacock, chair of the Charity Commission, told Public Finance that she was concerned by the amount of overlap in public service regulation.
'If we could identify the unique added value of non-profit related activity and stick to regulating that and subcontract service delivery regulation off to the Audit Commission or the Housing Corporation or whoever the sector regulator is, we'd have a leaner, meaner machine,' she said.
Peacock questioned the need for the 'growing breed' of regulatory agencies, citing the new regulator for Community Interest Companies.
'The function needs doing but surely you could put it out to tender. The private sector might want to tender for it, the Audit Commission might want to have a go, we might want to have a go but you don't need another 12 men and a dog in an office doing nothing,' she told PF.
Peacock also welcomed the re-emergence of the Charities Bill in the Queen's Speech this week as 'great news'.
'We're really pleased that this legislation has been given the priority it deserves to help equip all those involved in running and regulating charities to move forward,' she said.
The Bill, which will modernise UK charity law, was just two days short of becoming law when the general election was called. Included in it is a modern definition of a charity and measures to make it easier for charities to merge.
Peacock will be addressing CIPFA's annual conference on June 15.
PFmay2005
