Congratulations to Reading Borough Council, which the Conservatives gained from Labour last May, on increasing funding for the voluntary sector. The funding is £6,818,281 million in the current year but will rise to £7,039,519 million in financial year 2011/12.
Looking at the details we see greatly increased used of commissioning of the viluntary sector in an array of fields. There is more help for the vulnerable – the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, the victims of domestic violence. Rather than assume that the council should provide all the services itself it has looked to work with the voluntary sector to get the best value for residents.