What does Community Asset Transfer mean for Community and Voluntary Organisations?
Community Asset Transfer involves the transfer of responsibility for an asset from the Council to a voluntary or community organisation.
Part 5 of the Community Empowerment Act empowers Community and Voluntary Organisations (CVOs), also known as Community Controlled Bodies, to request the transfer of publicly owned buildings or land. This process is known as a Community Asset Transfer Request.
CVOs can apply to purchase, lease, or manage assets that they believe would benefit their organisation and the local community. For example, a CVO might seek ownership of a community hall currently owned by a Local Authority. Alternatively, they could request management or lease rights without purchasing the asset.
Any publicly owned building or piece of land can be the subject of a Community Asset Transfer Request, provided the CVO has identified it as meeting the needs of their organisation and the local community.
What is the process for making an Asset Transfer Request?
First it must be ensured that the organisation has suitable governance to proceed with an asset transfer request. Organisations must be incorporated and must have membership of at least 20 members made up of organisations or individuals from the local community. This means that a SCIO would require to be a two tier SCIO or be an Incorporated Company with a membership (this should be detailed in the articles of association).
Once an organisations governance is in place to proceed, the next move would be to contact the Community Asset Transfer rep in the Local Authority for more detailed information about the property they are interested in.
A dialogue will them be opened to go through the process of a decision being made by the local authority of the suitability of the request (what the community impact will be, are the organisation in a good position to take it on etc.). It should be noted that the Local authority can choose to decline the request if there are reasonable grounds.
Who can provide support in Asset Transfer?
- As the West Lothian TSI, VSGWL can support organisations through the process, particularly around ensuring that an organisations governance and legal structure is suitable.
- The Community Ownership Support service as an organisation funded by the Scottish Government who provide support to organisation in all aspects of a Community Asset Transfer
https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/34944/Community-Asset-Transfer
