The purpose of this short-term action research programme (May 07-March 08) is to demonstrate in selected local authority areas how local authorities and local community-led third sector organisations can be supported to develop joint plans for asset transfer, in line with the recommendations of the Quirk Review.
The demonstration programme is funded by Communities & Local Government as part of implementing the conclusions of the Quirk Review ‘Making Assets Work’. The programme aims to demonstrate in the selected areas how local authorities and community-led third sector organisations can be supported to develop joint plans for asset transfer in line with the recommendations of the Quirk Review, and to begin to implement them. It is led by the Development Trusts Association and delivered in partnership with Community Matters, the Local Government Association and ACRE.
The local authority areas that will be involved in the programme cover a good geographic spread of areas and are from a mix of urban, rural and coastal environments, they are:
Devon County Council; Restormel Borough Council; Hastings Borough Council; London Borough of Tower Hamlets; London Borough of Lambeth; London Borough of Lewisham; Dacorum Borough Council; Peterborough City Council; Forest Heath District Council; Nottingham City Council; Ashfield District Council; Birmingham City Council; Warwick District Council; Leeds City Council; Sheffield City Council; Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council; Cheshire County Council; Cumbria County Council; North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council and Tynedale District Council.
Each local authority area will benefit from tailored packages of support in order to advance up to 40 asset transfer projects over the next 12 months and build confidence, in both the local government and community sectors, that asset transfer can be taken forward through a partnership approach, in different local authority situations.
The programme also includes nine regional seminars targeting public sector participants to develop and test new guidance on risk management in asset transfer. For further information please visit /advancingassettransferseminars.htm
In parallel, Capacity Builders are supporting the DTA to deliver six regional workshops to help community organisations appraise potential asset transfers to ensure ‘viability not liability’. For further information please visit /whatsnew/Viability+not+Liability.htm
