Community Asset Transfer is about giving local people and community groups greater control in the future of their area in line with promoting our co-operative agenda. Local groups own or manage council owned community buildings and land, such as community centres, rugby pitches, allotments or changing rooms.
The benefit of Community Asset Transfer is it can help foster a sense of belonging and bring together people from different backgrounds. Community ownership of buildings can also play a part in raising local people's aspirations, enhancing the local economy, environment and have the capacity to strengthen the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector.
The Community Asset Transfer Policy sets out:
- Who can apply for a community transfer
- How to apply for a community transfer
- The basis of transfer
- How we will assess each application
Assets of community value: Community right to bid
Communities have the right to bid for buildings or land which are used for the well-being or social interest of the local community. These may include parks and open green spaces, libraries, cinemas and other cultural spaces, swimming pools and other leisure facilities, community centres, youth centres, nurseries or pubs. Once listed as Assets of Community Value with the local authority, the local community will be informed if they are listed for sale within the five year listing period. The community can then enact the Community Right to Bid, which gives them a moratorium period of six months to determine if they can raise the finance to purchase the asset. Further information on Community right to bid.
Community right to challange
The Community Right to Challenge is the right for community organisations to submit an expression of interest in running services of local authority and fire and rescue authorities on behalf of that authority. Community Right to Challenge: statutory guidance.
Community right to build
A Community Right to Build Order is a type of Neighbourhood Development Order, which can grant planning permission for small scale community-led developments. This could include things like housing, community centres, business/enterprise hubs or community energy schemes. This type of order means the community can use any proceeds from development for the benefit of the community.