National Policy Context
There is a strong national policy across different government parties to encourage the transfer of public land and buildings to community organisations. This is seen as a way to improve local communities by:
- Encouraging active citizenship and civil renewal
- Enhancing local public services
- Reducing poverty
- Promoting economic growth
Community Right to Challenge
The Localism Act of 2011 introduced the Community Right to Challenge, which gives community groups and voluntary organisations the right to express interest in managing council services.
Local authorities are also required to keep a list of assets nominated by the community as having "community value." Both these initiatives are like community asset transfers. However, the Act does not automatically grant the organisation that expresses interest the right to deliver a service or manage an asset of community value, it also does not guarantee their success in any mandatory procurement process.
Other statutory provisions
Other laws provide community organisations and social enterprises with new ways to obtain and develop land, buildings, and privately owned assets. The Public Request to Order Disposal provisions, now known as the Right to Reclaim Land, and revisions to Compulsory Purchase guidance aim to increase community involvement in proactive regeneration efforts.
Local strategic context and links to other strategies
This guidance must align with the approach and desired outcomes of other council strategies, policies, and initiatives.
All transfer proposals must explicitly contribute to and impact the borough's needs as set out in the following documents:
- Strategy for Knowsley
- Corporate Plan
- Medium Term Financial Strategy
- Corporate Property Plan
- Cooperative Principles
- Social Value Model
- Unitary Development Plan
- Supplementary Planning Documents
- Economic Regeneration Plan
- Green Spaces Standard
- Specific regeneration and development plans
- Any other policies relevant to a particular proposal
This guidance is not a standalone document, and in many cases, other outcomes and benefits may outweigh those derived from community asset transfers.