This report recommends the adoption of an updated Community Asset Transfer Policy to be applied if the Council decides to discontinue its use of certain buildings and land. This policy directly supports Wirral’s Community Wealth Building Strategy by encouraging the setup of community-based organisations and cooperatives in our local communities, and underpins our ambition to enable communities to become more independent, financially self-sufficient and take ownership of public assets to run them in ways that are beneficial to them It supports the Wirral Plan 2021-2026 which seeks to bring about safe, vibrant communities where people want to live and raise their families. It has implications for those wards which contain assets that may be declared surplus as a result of 2022/23 budget setting.

Resolved – That the updated Community Asset Transfer Policy be approved, subject to the following amendments:

1. The use of the terms “tenants, community groups and community organisations” to be replaced with “not-for-profit organisations”.
2. Removal of lease terms between 3 and 25 years and its replacement with lease terms to be determined based on the quality of each individual business plan.
3. Before an asset is transferred, organisation be made fully aware as to the condition of any asset prior to submitting a business case.
4. Where a community asset is located within an asset still owned and insured by the Council, the option for that insurance to be retained and the not-for-profit organisation recharged as opposed to seeking its own insurance be made available.
5. The terms of any rent increases be included in lease agreements with not-for-profit organisations.

The current Policy was agreed by the Council in 2009.

It is a sound document which builds on the previous policy and the successfully implemented of the asset transfer of community halls.

The policy requires updating to ensure it covers assets that will cease to be operated by the Council following budget setting decisions.

The proposed updated policy sets out criteria for determining: (a) which assets are suitable for transfer to community groups; (b) how expressions of interest to manage those assets should be dealt with; (c) how applications should be evaluated; (d) how and on what terms community transfers should be effected.

Retaining the existing Policy was rejected as the policy is out of date and current guidance is required following budget setting decisions.