The Government wants to remove regulatory burdens to allow the third sector focus on making a difference in their communities and mobilise the Big Society claimed ministers today.

A new task force, headed by the President of NCVO, Lord Hodgson, would examine the impact of regulatory burden on small voluntary organisations and recommend ways to reduce or remove them.

While the task force has a broad remit and would decide its own focus areas. Some suggestions from the government include:responsibilities of trustees and directors, employment law and contractual arrangements when civil society organisations provide public services. The task force would report to Ministers in early 2011.

"This is a tough time for small civil society organisations and we want to make life easier for them," said Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society,

"So I have asked for specific ideas on how we can thin the thicket of bureaucracy and regulation that too often gets in the way."

"I see it very simply. Every pound or hour we can save a small voluntary organisation is a pound or hour that could be better spent," he added.

Lord Hodgson will be joined on the taskforce by:Andrew Hind, retiring Chief Executive of the Charity Commission; Lynne Berry, Chief Executive WRVS, David Tyler, Chief Executive Community Matters, Sir Graham Melmoth, retiring Chair NCVO and past Chief Executive Co-operative Group and David Thompson, Chair of Marstons PLC.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise said:

“This taskforce will build on previous research into burdens on small business to look at how we can encourage more people to work together to improve their communities and help one another. Lord Hodgson has assembled a very strong team and I look forward to their recommendations.”

Lord Hodgson, the Chair of the Big Society De-regulation Taskforce, said:

    “I have accepted this role because I believe that the Government is serious about cutting the burden of red tape for civil society groups.  I relish this opportunity to try to thin out the red tape that puts people off doing more for their communities and that holds back innovative small organisations from growth. I’m very grateful to the taskforce members who have volunteered the benefit of their significant expertise to this important work. I hope very much that the sector will not be backward in coming forward to identify areas where bureaucracy can be reduced and make practical recommendations for action – this is their chance.”

Apart from making its own recommendations, the taskforce will also work with other initiatives, such as Lord Young's Health and Safety review, to help ensure that cuts to red tape are made in ways that are properly joined up and will consider or feed into related work, including:

    * HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs review of bureaucracy associated with Gift Aid; and
    * Home Office work on the criminal records and vetting and barring regime.