The collapse of BCAT (see BCAT folds) is a lesson to all community and voluntary sector organisations to ensure that all their expenditure is covered by budgets. It may also be worth voluntary sector organisations checking their accounts for money left behind by funders.
Perhaps more importantly, the collapse of BCAT raises that question of who will manage New Deal’s considerable assets, which have been acquired in the name of Burngreave residents, after the end of the programme. And if, as seems likely, these assets will be managed by the Directors of the New Deal Board, then how will local residents have a say in how these assets are used?
Big questions remain regarding whether Burngreave Community Action Forum can have a role in expressing the will of residents or whether it will be doomed by the ‘crisis of leadership’ which clearly afflicted the Trust. With this in mind – is there a future for Burngreave’s Forum or should we look to the Area Panel to express the will of local residents?