Jane’s remit is to work with third sector organisations in a role that engages with each of Birmingham’s ten constituencies, Birmingham Property Services and Legal Services. She shares her thoughts on the progress of the Asset Transfer Development Programme:
The scope of the development programme
- it was apparent that Birmingham City Council needed a simplified and clear model for Asset Transfer
- Birmingham City Council was one of the first Local Authorities to work with the Development Trust Association and act as a catalyst to work at how the process might be changed
- Birmingham didn’t just look at the transfer of a single building but the whole policy and procedure of Community Asset Transfer
Agreeing a lease and reducing costs
- it is crucial for organisations to get around a table (preferably with their lawyers as part of the conversation) from the outset to agree terms
- by carefully agreeing and drafting detailed Heads of Terms, the time and cost associated with drafting a lease can be greatly reduced
What is “measuring value”?
- Birmingham City Council is bound to charge market rent for property. Currently this is offset by grant but can only be agreed on an annual basis
- As part of the programme, the Council have developed a tool to appropriately assess the ‘added value’ of an organisation against local and national objectives which is then offset against the market rent
- ‘valuing worth’ assessments can assist organisations in applying for external funding
Advice for similar projects
- Consultation – speaking to people is crucial. Speak to as many stakeholders as possible, as widely as possible, from the very start
- Building trust and working together is so important to achieve much better outcomes for everyone
- Third sector organisations are very savvy and have great capacity to achieve high quality work especially working with public and private organisations which have very different structures
