Decision details

Purpose of report: Summarises the contents of the Quirk Review of community management and ownership of assets & details the work this Council has already done in encouraging community management of assets. It sets out options for future progress and details the Community Asset Fund with a proposal to make a bid to this fund.

Members are asked to:
1. note the contents of the report
2 approve the recommendation for dealing with the ownership and management arrangements for potentially qualifying properties
3.support the proposal to make a bid to the Community Asset Fund

RESOLVED: (i)         That Option 1 be approved: that is, that in appropriate cases, where community groups wish to take on a greater responsibility for maintaining, improving and managing the publicly owned buildings that they may occupy, they be offered a lease, of up to 99 years depending on the needs of the community group, on a nil rent basis, and with full responsibility for repairs, management and payment of all other outgoings, including insurance, business rates and utility costs.

REASON:      To show that the Council is responding to the Quirk review in a positive way, which maximises the benefits of transfer of assets to community groups whilst retaining the strategic control to ensure these benefits are delivered to the local community.

                        (ii)        That the community groups be subject to a test of public acceptability for their management constitution (e.g. charitable status).

REASON:      To ensure that transfers are made only in appropriate circumstances.

                        (iii)       That this revision to the Council’s policy not apply to areas of public open space.

REASON:      It is considered that such areas should remain within the Council’s full control

                        (iv)       That the bid to the Community Assets Fund for the development of St Clements church hall be supported.

REASON:      The St Clements church hall proposals have the best potential to meet the criteria for a successful application and would result in an example of Best Practice in how to deal with transfers to the community.