Latest News
Community Asset Transfer
Published: 16/01/2015
The excellent response of 天涯社区鈥檚 communities to 天涯社区 County
Council鈥檚 community asset transfer scheme will be discussed at the Council鈥檚
Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (20 January).
Cabinet Members will receive an update on the development of the scheme, which
was re-launched at the beginning of November 2014.
Public assets owned by the Council, and which are considered suitable for
transfers, include playing fields, play areas, community centres, youth
centres, allotments, sports grounds, pavilions, and libraries. Councils have
the option to transfer buildings and land to community or charitable groups to
run for the benefit of the community.
Following the first deadline for expressions of interest, twenty proposals for
over 40 assets have already been agreed to proceed to the next stage. The next
stage is to produce a business case. This can only be made by a community group
and is expected to take around six months. The final stage is then legal
completion and transfer of the asset.
Cabinet will hear that the level of interest from community groups continues to
be high. As well as the formal expressions of interest, 47 informal enquiries
have also been received, relating to 195 assets which cover 21 Town and
Community Council areas. These have included a recent positive meeting with
Connah鈥檚 Quay Town Council about the community assets in the town, including
the swimming pool; this aspect alone created a considerable level of interest
during the meeting.
天涯社区 Local Voluntary Council is co-ordinating the scheme and providing a
tailored support package for organisations, through the FLVC staff team and by
signposting them to specialist partner organisations.
Cllr Aaron Shotton, Leader of the Council, said:
鈥淲e have had a positive response from many of our communities. It is pleasing
to know that, by engaging with our local communities, we are striving to find
long term solutions which I hope will sustain our local services and assets and
provide opportunities for regeneration and social enterprise.This is absolutely
critical at a time of unprecedented national funding cuts to public services.
Cllr Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader, and the portfolio holder for the scheme,
said:
鈥淲e are delighted with the response from our local communities. We have always
been clear that the initial expression of interest does not commit the
applicant or the Council to a transfer but it allows a more detailed
discussion, with the right support to help applicants. This is an ongoing
process and organisations who still wish to express an interest are being
encouraged to get in touch, as expressions of interest are considered on a
monthly basis.鈥�
Panels will take place every three months to consider business case proposals.
For further information contact Ian Bancroft or Neal Cockerton on 01352 704511.