Agenda item

This report summarises the contents of the Quirk Review of community management and ownership of public assets, details the work this Council has already done in encouraging community management of assets, sets out options for future progress and details the Community Asset Fund, with a proposal to make a bid to this 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.

Members considered a report which summarised the contents of the Quirk Review of community management and ownership of public assets, detailed the work already carried out by the Council in this area and options for future progress, and proposed a bid to the Community Asset Fund.

The three principle conclusions of the Review report were that:

• asset transfer should take place where it could realise social and community benefits;
• benefits of community ownership of assets could outweigh the risks;
• risks could be minimised and managed by a business focused approach.

The Government had set up a £30m Community Asset Fund to which suitable schemes could apply to bring an asset into a fit state for transfer.

In York, the Corporate Landlord had already worked with council services and local community groups in seeking to transfer management and responsibility of community assets to local community groups; for example, the Oaken Grove Community Centre in Haxby.  A summary of properties occupied by community type groups which could make an application under this initiative was attached as Annex A.  The report suggested criteria to ensure an objective approach to applications and set out the following options for dealing with the resulting transfers:

Option 1 – transfer by means of a long lease.  This was the recommended option, as it would allow the occupier freedom to manage and operate the property within the parameters of the lease, whilst enabling the Council to retain strategic control.

Option 2 – transfer by means of a freehold disposal

Option 3 – do not follow the Review recommendations, but continue current practice.

Work with York CVS and community groups had identified only one project which met government criteria for the Community Asset Fund.  This was the project to refurbish and convert a redundant church hall and accommodation at St Clement’s Hall, Nunthorpe Road.  A project team would take this bid forward, and Member approval was sought, to maximise its chances of success.

Having considered the advice of the Shadow Executive and the comments made under Public Participation, it was

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.

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.