1. Community Asset Transfer Ruth Rogan 9 th April 2013

2. Context The council’s budget. Direction of travel in the city. Review of community buildings (2010/11). Coproduction, empowerment and devolution. Previous leisure and community building asset transfer. Localism and the national policy context.

3. The council’s asset programme All assets affected by the council’s 3 year budget (2013-2016). Focus on the current financial year. Assets include; community buildings, leisure centres, libraries, social care buildings and a depot. Will identify a preferred option for each asset, including but not limited to asset transfer.

4. Our values and principles We will be honest, transparent and realistic about the programme. It will be underpinned by the following values and principles: Fair. Co-operative. Liberating. Accountable. Forward thinking. Confident and we will; Show leadership.

5. What we mean by asset transfer A way to transfer the ownership of buildings, land and or services from the council to a community organisation at ‘less than best consideration’. This means at less than its full market value, in order to further local social, economic and/or environmental objectives.

6. Why the council is interested in asset transfer Asset transfer can: Empower local communities. Strengthen VCS organisations. Improve the use of the asset and services provided from it. Unlock additional forms of investment. Help the council to deliver its budget. But we are clear that asset transfer will not be appropriate in all cases.

7. The process for asset transfer Council publishes list of assets. Group/org contacts named lead officer. Council provides you with information relating to the building. Group/org completes an expression of interest. Council evaluation of the EOI. (If EOI is successful) group/org completes a business case. Council evaluation of the business case (if successful) confirmation by the council in writing Support – direct from the council and from independent organisations If there is no interest or none are sustainable the council’s property policies apply.

8. Support available for asset transfer Dependent on the type of asset you are interested in. Support is available for groups/organisations at different stages of asset transfer. The council will provide some resources including: Assets Capital Fund. We recommend that organisations interested in asset transfer also obtain external independent advice. Grants from the SIB Group/Locality to fund independent advice at the pre feasibility and feasibility stage.

9. Contacts In the first instance please contact the following officers: Community buildings – Bryan Beverley (0191 2773593). Leisure buildings – Tony McKenna (0191 2773591). Libraries – Tony Durcan (0191 2115383).