Community Asset Transfer in Birmingham

Persuading Local Authorities to understand, support and resource Community Asset Development can be quite a challenge. Through the Advancing Assets for Communities Programme however, 100 local authorities rose to the challenge of developing a robust and strategic approach to Asset Transfer.

This has resulted in the production of several tools and guidance documents to help you and Local Authorities navigate the development of  a good policy and procedure. If you are unsure whether your Local Authority has an existing policy in place contact the AT on 0845 345 4564 or email info@atu.org.uk

Partnership Routemap

Designed to guide partners through the process of developing and delivering a successful Asset Transfer

Strategy Development Guidance

Written specifically to aid Local Authorities in the development of a robust and clear Asset Transfer Strategy

Legal tools

Written by Anthony Collins Solicitors, this is a suite of documents including models Heads of Terms and Leases designed to help third sector organisations and Local Authorities become better informed about the legal issues related to Asset Transfer.

The current environment of public sector cuts, public service transformation and the Big Society has shone a spotlight on the opportunities afforded by transferring assets into community ownership. The Asset Transfer Unit has responded to this emerging challenge by offering support around a whole range of different asset types.

Swimming Pools

Heritage Assets

Libraries

For the past four years the Development Trusts Association has been delivering a programme for CLG called Advancing Assets for Communities. We’ve been working closely with local authorities and community organisations to help pilot transfers to happen, and to develop tools and support for all those involved.

The ATU was established to help support and promote Community Asset Transfer.

It has developed a body of resources and case studies as a result of supporting the delivery of the Advancing Assets for Communities programme across England on behalf of Communities and Local Government over the last 4 years.

The Programme was about delivering two related strands of work to support asset transfer. Helping Local Authorities to develop a strategies, policies and procedures so that they could make the asset transfer process as transparent, accountable and fair as possible and understand how to value a quality project. This involved helping to develop partnerships with third sector organisations in new ways. Model strategy guidance, legal toolkits, Risk Management guidance and a partnership routemap are just some of the resources to now be available to support local authorities.

The other strand of work involved pilot transfers to community organisations. These are now case studies, have produced good practice guidelines and To Have and To Hold.

An Asset Transfer Routemap, outlining the sources of support is also available via the Asset Transfer Website. This is an interactive web based guide to navigating the pitfalls, challenges and great opportunities of asset transfer.

For further details contact the ATU on 0845 345 4564 or email info@atu.org.uk

As part of the Every Voice Counts community empowerment programme, the Development Trusts Association and the Asset Transfer Unit, with support from Community Matters have been doing some work to find out about opportunities for Asset Transfer in the West Midlands.

I’m going to use this site to update you on what we’ve found so far, resources and tools which can help those looking at developing a community asset, and contacts and details of where to get further support and advice.

At a time of great change in the relationship between the citizen and the state, a remodelling of public service delivery, service cuts and the “Big Society”, helping communities to take control of assets to help regenerate neighbourhoods is more vital than ever. I hope you will find this information useful and inspiring.

A short video from the Asset Transfer Unit on their site Building Community – one which describes the essence of community driven change – the desire to just get it done.

Of course a lot of the lessons found on this site and others show that getting things done might be the driver – but success depends on much more being in place.