How it helps local authorities provide 3-year funding streams to third sector agencies.

The Scottish Government aims to provide local authorities with three year funding allocations (year one final and years two and three provisional) in order to give them certainty in longer term financial planning, which in turn should help them to provide three year funding streams to third sector agencies.
The Joint Statement on the Relationship at Local Level between Government and the Third Sector states that: “As a general rule funders will aim to take a three year approach to both grant and contract funding” and would encourage authorities to operate in this way. The joint statement is clear that where three year funding is declined, local authorities will be clear on the reasons for taking such a decision.
Full and early involvement of the third sector in the co-production of service design and planning is likely to lead to funding packages that are satisfactory for all parties.
In addition, the Scottish Government supports the third sector by supporting the network of local third sector interfaces and through Ready for Business and Just Enterprise. One potential benefit of this support is likely to be the development of sustainable funding arrangements to the benefit of all parties.