Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has today instructed councils to help ensure voluntary and community groups are not subject to ‘disproportionate cuts'.

Issuing guidance on how local authorities should fulfil their Best Value Duty, the move follows earlier warnings from Mr Pickles that local authorities subject to front-loaded cuts should not ‘pull up the drawbridge' but instead consider offering greater support to local groups.

Central government departments have already signed up to new principles that public bodies should not impose on third sector organisations and small businesses reductions larger than they themselves face.

Under the new standards councils are expected to adhere to, both voluntary organisations and their service users should receive at least three months notice of planned cuts, be consulted on the impact of changes and given the chance to offer proposals for reshaping services.

Mr Pickles said: ‘Community and voluntary groups provide vital and valuable services to our communities, often aimed at some of the most vulnerable in our society. They deserve a fair deal.'

‘That's why I'm introducing new guidance on councils to consider how they fulfil the Best Value Duty for their communities, not just in stark money terms but also in terms of the wider benefits to residents above and beyond the services that these organisations provide.'