[comradio-l] Deadline approaches for communities to make the most of local assets

[CMA-L]

Fwd:

The Government's drive to empower people by giving them the chance to
run their own local services is entering a new phase as the latest
round of applications for the Advancing Assets for Communities scheme
closes.

The deadline for the scheme, which will engage people and improve
services by transferring local assets into community management and
ownership, including disused schools, swimming pools, office blocks
and community centres, closes on 15 February.

Thirty four pilots are already underway across the country and this
will rise to 50 once applications have closed on 15 February. But with
the closing date drawing near, the opportunity for more authorities to
join is fading fast.

Councils can hand over any asset to be owned or run by local people if
it is in the interest of the local community. But a major report last
year found that many were not aware of the benefits, or considering
how best to use them which is why the Government is supporting areas
that want this opportunity with support and advice.

In Hastings for example, the Friends of Hastings Pier are working with
the local council to explore bringing the local pier, closed for
health and safety reasons and in legal limbo, into the hands of the
community. Meanwhile in Lewisham a group of artists are working with
the council to formalise their occupancy in the old Carnegie Library
and make it sustainable for the future. On a deprived estate in
Cheshire a local group are taking over a community centre from the
county council to enhance the services it can deliver to local
residents.

Projects where local people are directly involved in running local
services not only promote a greater sense of community, but they have
also been shown to raise public interest and satisfaction.  Already in
the early stages of this pilot, there is evidence that communities in
the areas that have taken part have better knowledge of council policy
and activity.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:

"This is a hugely exciting agenda. By giving local assets such as
markets, disused schools, libraries, swimming pools and community
centres to local people, we can breathe new life into local
neighbourhoods.

"Asset transfer creates new social enterprises, trains a new
generation of active citizens, and helps rebuild grassroots democracy.
Already some exciting new initiatives are getting started, and I am
looking forward to the next wave."

The closing date for submitting expressions of interest is 5pm on 15
February 2008. For details on how to express an interest see
http://www.dta.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

1. Advancing Assets for Communities is a demonstration programme led
by the Development Trusts Association

Opening the Transfer Window: The Governments Response to the Quirk
Review is available here:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510746

Making Assets Work The report on Community Management and Ownership of
Public Assets by Barry Quirk, Chief Executive of Lewisham Council was
commissioned as part of the Local Government White Paper, 'Stronger
and Prosperous Communities' and published on 15 May 2007. The report
can be accessed here:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510515

2. Barry Quirk's review, Making Assets Work, recommended that local
authorities needed more information on how community management and
ownership works successfully in practice. This programme, Advancing
Assets for Communities, is working to provide that.

3. The Government also supports community ownership of public assets
through the £30 million Community Assets programme, funded by the
Office of the Third Sector.  The Big Lottery Fund (which delivers
Community Assets) will announce successful applicants in April.

4. A summary of Barry Quirk's recommendations:

* The publication of comprehensive, up-to-date and authoritative
guidance on all aspects of local authority asset management, including
within it detailed and explicit guidance on the transfer of assets to
community management and ownership.

* The publication of a toolkit for local authorities and other public
bodies on risk assessment and risk management in asset transfer to
communities.

* The provision of much greater access for local authorities and
community organisations to expert advice and organisational
development support relating particularly to the transfer and
management by communities of land and buildings.

* The smarter investment of public funds designated for community-led
asset-based developments, where permissible, through the involvement
of specialist financial intermediaries with expertise in the field and
the ability to achieve high leverage ratios.

* A major campaign to spread the word, through seminars, roadshows,
training, use of the media, online and published information, and the
dissemination of good practice, as well as promotion of "bottom up
mechanisms" such as the proposed Community Call for Action and the
existing Public Request to Order Disposal (PROD).

5. Recent analysis into Best Value Performance Indicators has found
that the extent to which people believe they can influence and
participate in local decision making can significantly influence their
level of satisfaction with their local council.

6. The Attitudes to Asset Transfer Survey was conducted in the 20
initial demonstration areas by Ipsos-MORI, on behalf of Communities
and Local Government. Some key findings were:

* Over the 6 months following the publication of the Quirk Review, and
during which support through the demonstration began, the proportion
of respondents feeling they know a more about asset transfer increased
dramatically.

* Two-thirds of council officers and community groups thought that
their council had become more proactive regarding asset transfer,
thought only one third of councillors thought so.

* 78% of council officers agreed that passing power to local
communities would make sure that local services reflect people's
needs.


ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY GNN YORKSHIRE & HUMBER. TEL 0113 341 3177.
email helen.atha at gnn.gsi.gov.uk GNN press notes at
http://www.gnn.gov.uk