The report goes on to say ‘There are risks but they can be minimised and managed – there is plenty of experience to draw on. The secret is all parties working together.’
Steve Wyler, Director of the DTA, commented, ‘At a stroke the Quirk review has demolished the excuses of do-nothing bureaucrats who have pretended for years that they don’t have the powers or that risks are too high or that community asset ownership is not in the public interest.
‘At the same time the report gives hope to those in town halls everywhere with a can-do attitude. To place land and buildings in community hands is to provide the means for people to create profound and long term transformation in their neighbourhood. This is what community empowerment is really about. If anyone still doubts this they only have to look at our development trust members - we have £350m of assets in community ownership, driving change from the bottom up.’
Read the DTA press release on the Quirk Review
DTA briefing on the Quirk review
Read the Quirk Review (pdf)
Background to the Quirk Review
The Quirk review was announced by Ruth Kelly at the DTA conference in September 2006. The review's terms of reference are to find ways to overcome barriers to more community asset management and ownership, while taking account of the need to manage risks.
The review team comprised Barry Quirk (Chief Executive Lewisham Council), Stephen Thake (London Metropolitan University) and Andrew Robinson (DTA special advisor).
The DTA submitted some initial evidence to the review in November 2006, with examples and case studies from our membership. We would like to thank all those who contributed. This was followed up with meetings with officials and with Barry Quirk. The DTA also arranged a tour of development trusts in Bradford for officials working on the review and Ruth Kelly's special advisor.
There will be a launch of "Opening the transfer window: the government’s response to the Quirk review of community management and ownership of public asset" at the DTA Symposium on 22 May 2007.
