The Cabinet Office has suffered a significant blow in its efforts to develop delivery of public services by the third sector. Campbell Robb, director general of the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office, announced last week that he had been appointed the new chief executive of housing charity, Shelter. He was brought into the department from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) to improve links between the Government, charities and not-for-profit organisations which wanted to run public services. Ministers believe the third sector is better-connected with socially-excluded groups, and more able to provide complex services, but relations between the two sides have been poor. Mr Robb had effectively been the voice for the sector inside the Government and his leaving the post in January means there will be an uncertain gap until the general election. He said: ‘Shelter has consistently fought and won many battles for some of the most excluded people in our society. ‘Shelter is more crucial than ever, and I look forward to working with clients, staff, donors and partners to make sure everyone in this country has the right to a safe, affordable and decent home.'
