Decision details

Report of the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure outlining progress on implementing the Community Asset Transfer Programme including a recommendation to approve a community asset transfer policy.

(i)  To note progress on transferring community centres and buildings since implementation of the Community Asset Transfer Strategy.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Service Director (Growth) following consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, the Cabinet Member for Finance, the Service Director, Legal and Governance and the Associate Director, Capital Assets to transfer Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre at Less than Best Consideration (where appropriate) to the current tenants following the new application process and to subsequently agree detailed disposal terms and negotiate and carry out all ancillary matters to enable disposal of the site.

(iii)  To approve the new Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Policy.

(iv)  To approve changes to the CAT process attached at Appendix 1 to further streamline the process.

(v)  To delegate authority to the Associate Director, Capital Assets following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture, and Leisure, the Service Director (Growth) and the Service Director, Legal & Governance to make any minor or consequential amendments and/or refinements to the CAT Policy or process as may arise from time to time.

(vi)  To delegate authority to the Service Director (Growth) following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, the Cabinet Member for Finance, the Associate Director, Capital Assets and the Service Director, Legal & Governance to do anything necessary to give effect to the recommendations contained in this report.

To ensure that progress continues to be made with the Council’s Community Asset Transfer programme and that to ensure that the council makes decisions in a consistent, transparent, fair and open way and that such decisions are made on the basis of sustainability and robust financial, property and needs assessments.

1.  Do nothing and continue with the Council’s Community Asset Transfer Strategy and associated application process. This option was rejected.

2.  Southampton City Council’s Community Asset Transfer Strategy was approved by Cabinet on 18th June 2013 to cover the period to 2017 during which a proactive programme of transfers would be progressed. The Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Strategy provided the framework to drive forward the first phase of the Community Asset Transfer Programme. A Strategy was required at this point because it was the first time that the council proactively considered transferring assets at less than best consideration to community, voluntary and faith organisations. The first phase is nearing its conclusion so the priorities and processes captured in the Strategy have become ‘business as usual’. It is therefore more appropriate to develop a Community Asset Transfer policy that captures the aspirations of the Strategy while providing guidance to support officers to progress future community asset transfers.

3.  The option of continuing with the current application process was also rejected as previous feedback from community, voluntary and faith organisations supported streamlining of the process. The process was reviewed and changes approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 21 April 2015. This report recommends a further change to shorten the process for applicants who are not existing tenants. It also recommends extending the time for organisations to prepare their applications. The option of adhering to the current timeframes was considered but rejected based on the experience of the pilot phase as applicants require sufficient time to discuss their proposals with their governing bodies prior to submission.