Birmingham Third Sector Assembly – February 28 th, 2012 Birmingham Community Asset Transfer – Protocol and new way of working Karen Cheney and Jane Edwards

Introduction  Community Asset Transfer… there are risks but they can be minimised and managed…there is plenty of experience to draw on. The secret is all parties working together” ( The Quirk Review )

Birmingham Context  A revised protocol and new way of working was approved by Cabinet in March 2011 with a roll out phase during 2011/12  Developed from the lessons learnt and experience gained during the Birmingham Community Asset Transfer Development Programme  The protocol – a consistent, corporate pathway from an initial expression of interest by a community organisation to the point of transfer  In Birmingham CAT means… Leasehold not freehold Economic Rent offset by Valuing Worth to bona fide “not for profit” community organisations

B’ham context contd.  Protocol Group – citywide made up of BCC and third sector partners  Each BCC Directorate / Service area has a named CAT lead  Process – (i) Expression of Interest Form and outline business case (ii) Selection process (iii) Full Business Case (iv) Preferred Community Partner  Opportunities for support – Third sector infrastructure plus BCC link with Community Matters  Advise that groups also seek out independent advice

Website, podcasts and flips…   Website: progress of programme warts and all – mutual learning, trust and understanding – see what we do  Accountability – putting names to faces (both BCC and community) podcasts rather than just dry reports – give programme a bit of soul and celebrate sucesses  Honest dialogue – no editing/ accessible/ open and transparent - disintermediation  Repository for learning material from programme

Website…

Valuing Worth Methodology  Development of toolkit to measure social value and impact of asset transfer  Developed with third sector partners on Protocol group and piloted with Norton Hall and Witton Lodge CA  Social Value Tool – values activities of the third sector organisation which currently are either not valued or undervalued – “splash”  Offsets economic rent  Qualitative process

Contd…  Second part of toolkit is impact assessment based on completion of an “impact map” – the so what factor / “ripples”  Process requiring “grown up” dialogue and negotiation  Tools are by no means perfect BUT emphasise the need for change in mindset to take account of the contribution/ value of third sector organisations and their tangible worth in the delivery of desired outcomes in neighbourhoods  B’ham context for CAT but concept easily transferable and adaptable to measure the value of coproductive activity and to make decisions about investment in coproduction between local authority and communities.

reflections on journey so far and key Learning points  We did it ! - Come a long way very quickly but complex – acknowledge that need to be in it for the long haul and lots of patience for all partners  AWARENESS -CAT is not resource neutral for either side – time, capacity and finance  LEARNING is key for everyone – LA, other public agencies and not just TSOs and learning from our mistakes and change as well as the good practice and success!  HONESTY - CAT is not the easy option and not for everybody - not enough to be a good idea need sound business plan, governance and finance  RELATIONSHIPS first -Asset Transfer is so much more than the building/ asset but more to do with relationship building and strengthening communities. Physical regeneration/ refurbishment can be the catalyst for social regeneration, social enterprise and entrepreneurship  LINKAGES-Importance of joint approach linking property function and community development process – strategic context and embedding

Personal reflections and learning contd.  VALUING not just cost - investment and commitment  FLEXIBILITY – of all partners especially LA  Vision, Innovation and Risk – essential on both sides  Key has been the PARTNERSHIP WORKING, engagement and empowerment with Third Sector Partners and internally with colleagues  COMMUNICATION and use of language – honest robust dialogue and challenge to build mutual trusting mature relationships adult to adult rather than parent/ child – usefulness of neutral facilitators  Importance of Celebrating Success – reward and recognition of largely voluntary input from TSOs  Useful / Essential to have Champions – political and key officer(s) –stat and vol sector  Information and Learning should be open and accessible to as many people as possible – website development