DRAFT Asset transfer - Aims and principles

We are committed to supporting the development and sustainability of a thriving voluntary and community sector across the borough.

The Stockton Council Community Asset Transfer policy is part of a wider package of support to the voluntary and community sector and aims to provide a transparent framework to enable the transfer of assets.

Why have a Community Asset Transfer Policy?

It can contribute towards the regeneration of communities and can act as a catalyst for social, environmental and economic regeneration
Changing ownership or management offers opportunities to extend the use of a building or the piece of land, increasing its value in relation to the number of people benefiting and the range of opportunities it offers
It can stimulate the involvement of local people in shaping and regenerating their communities, and can be a catalyst for local volunteering and increasing community cohesion
It can build confidence and capacity amongst the individuals involved, and can support the creation of community leaders, and inspire others to improve their community
It has potential to create stronger, more sustainable VCS organisations, which can create a wide range of benefits for the communities they serve. An asset can provide VCS organisations with financial security, recognition, and management capacity
It can result in the creation of new organisations, joint ventures or collaborations with the ability to lever in additional resources, which would be unavailable to the Council acting independently
The activities that are stimulated or safeguarded by community asset transfer will contribute to council objectives. Working in partnership with VCOs can help the Council to achieve its outcomes set out in key place shaping strategies, including: the Sustainable Community Strategy, the Council Plan, the Local Development Framework, the Third Sector Strategy and the Voluntary and Community Sector Compact
It can contribute towards efficiency savings (e.g. achieving revenue savings by releasing surplus property), and drive the diversification of public services in an era of austerity spending settlements for local government
It can contribute to the council's objective to rationalise its estate and facilitate more effective and efficient use of its asset base, where the focus is on better services and community outcomes as a result of strategic asset management. It can be a stimulus for partnership working between community and voluntary sector organisations, the council and other partners and can improve the provision and accountability of services within communities.

The Community Asset Transfer policy is underpinned by the following principles:

We will work with community and voluntary organisations to achieve asset transfers where appropriate that will enhance community engagement and empowerment and encourage development and sustainability of the sector
We will take a strategic approach to community asset transfer and identify assets to be transferred through regular reviews of the council's asset base
We will have a transparent process for responding to requests for individual asset transfers
We will seek to implement the policy proactively to encourage appropriate groups to consider transfer
Any proposed asset transfer must be for the benefit of the community, support or enhance the current services provided and demonstrate a clear contribution to the priorities within the Sustainable Community Strategy and/or the Council Plan
There must be a clear proposal, business case and rationale for transfer, which could include opportunities for new and innovative ways of supporting the Council providing services to the community
We recognise the advantage of long and flexible terms of tenure (with appropriate and proportionate safeguards) to enable voluntary and community sector organisations to adapt and change over time, in response to community needs, and to achieve long term sustainability
We will seek to extend our approach to community asset transfer and positively promote it to other public bodies and service providers
We will have a clear process and timescale for dealing with asset transfers.
The decision to transfer an asset will not be considered as setting a precedent. Each asset transfer will be judged on its own merits and the detail of the transfer arrangements will be arrived at through individual negotiation.