Asset Transfer

Asset transfer involves the transfer of the ownership of land or buildings from organisations such as local authorities to community groups, for example local sports clubs, trusts, arts facilities, libraries, theatres and buildings of historical interest.

Welsh Government Consultations and Written Statements

1. Welsh Government

What you should know before, during and after you successfully acquire ownership of land or a building offered for rent or sale by a public body on this one Community Asset Transfer; What you should know before, during and after you successfully acquire ownership of land or a building offered for rent or sale by a public body.
2. Statement from Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty

Statement from Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty has agreed funding for a pilot Regional Community Asset Transfer Support Officer across Gwent for a 12 month period during 2015-16 to support community organisations aiming to take over and manage to local assets, building on existing work in Blaenau Gwent. This post will be hosted by Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) with funding delivered via the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. It will aim to provide support for community groups to increase capacity, training, awareness and to provide advice and signposting support.
3. Statement from Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

Assets of Community Value, which sets out the Minister’s intention “…to produce a Consultation Paper in May 2015, which will set out the current policy and practice context and analyse options to take forward a Welsh model. The paper will consider assets in both public and private ownership and will underpin discussions with stakeholders in summer months.
4. Written Statement - Toolkit for the Transfer of Community Assets for Sport, Arts and Cultural Purposes

launch Ken Skates Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism February 2015
5. Written Statement - Community Asset Transfers in Wales launching ‘Community Asset Transfers in Wales –

A Best Practice Guide’ Jane Hutt, Minister for Finance and Government Business 01 April 2015
6. WLGA Response to Welsh Government Consultation on Protecting Community Assets

Resources and Guidance

1. Presentation from Supporting Strategic Commissioning event – Workshop 3 – Community Asset Transfer: Not Just Bricks and Mortar (10th March 2015)

This workshop aims to: Why Community Asset Transfer is currently a “hot topic” in Wales – national context and work of National Assets Working Group; How Community Asset Transfer can protect and enhance local services; it is not just about property; The benefits of using a structured, robust and pro-active approach to Community Asset Transfer; the Blaenau Gwent CBC approach (including lessons learned); The benefit of using a Third Sector support organisation as a conduit between the Authority and the Applicant; lowering the risk for Local Authorities; Case studies highlighting the benefits of Community Asset Transfer to the Local Authority and Third Sector
2. Land and Asset Transfer - Wales Audit Office event 3rd April & 30 April 2015

The evaluation of public sector land or assets may well need to be undertaken in this current economic climate. The aim of this seminar was to demystify what can be a very complex process and help to avoid pitfalls with contributions from stakeholders involved in the process.
3. Making better use of Public Assets Seminar – Wales Audit event 15th and 22nd January 2015

This seminar provided delegates with practical examples of innovative and collaborative approaches to asset management. Delegates were able to identify opportunities to drive efficiencies and improve the way in which services are delivered in Wales.
4. Guidance

Guidance in this section covers acquiring, leasing and disposing of property, and managing other assets including vehicles, IT equipment, land and intellectual property for third sector organisations.
5. Community interest companies: guidance chapters.

Comprehensive information for people who want to form a community interest company (CIC), other stakeholders and those giving professional advice about CICs.
6. Tips for applying for funding for community buildings; Big Lottery Fund Wales
7. Plunkett Foundation

Plunkett Foundation helps communities to take control of their challenges and overcome them together. We support people, predominantly in rural areas, to set up and run life-changing community co-operatives; enterprises that are owned and run democratically by large numbers of people in their community.
8. Information on the current projects managed through the National asset working group.
- ePIMS - The electronic property information and mapping service created by UK Government and maintained by cabinet office.
- Space Cymru - Space Cymru advertises public sector property that's available to let or buy.
- Fleet Project - Identifies the level of "maturity" in the Welsh public sector in relation to fleet management and passenger transport.
- ICT Project - The development of a centrally procured, comprehensive asset management IT programme for use by public sector organisations in Wales.
- Invest to Save - The delivery of public service improvement projects that result in significant cash-releasing efficiency savings.
- Land Transfer Protocol - Sets out advice by the National Assets Working Group (NAWG) for a best practice solution for the transfer or disposal of land between public bodies in Wales.
- Property Indicators and Benchmarking - Good data helps people to make better and more informed decisions.
9. Community Asset Transfers in Wales – A Best Practice Guide

The guidance is intended to support a step-change in enabling communities to play a more active role in service design and delivery; to enable organisations to be better equipped to undertake community asset transfers.

10. Asset management planning

Asset management planning is central to the achievement of excellent property control and delivery of financial priorities
11. Property Indicators and Benchmarking
12. Community Asset Transfer

In light of the increasingly difficult financial outlook, as part of planning process to agree the 2010/11 budget, the Cabinet of Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) undertook a review of a number of services, including commissioning a management options appraisal of its leisure service.
13. Aneurin Leisure

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council began initial discussions regarding alternative models of service delivery for Leisure services during 2012. The key drivers were to sustain the delivery of Leisure’s social objectives, meet the requirements of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, including the achievement of NNDR savings for the Council. In January 2013, an external consultancy company was brought in during the early stages to contribute to the development of a business case having supported the set-up of multiple charitable trusts across the UK and they later formed part of a project board which was set up in August 2013.
14. Community Asset Transfer - Big Lottery Fund
15. Assets and services toolkit ( Welsh Government)

Useful Links:

Assets Cymru

Making the best use of the assets of the Welsh public sector is key to delivery high quality services for the people of Wales
CAMRA

The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.
DTA Wales

DTA Wales has developed a new site, the 'Asset Portal'. The Portal is a source of information to any organisation that wishes to own, develop or manage an Asset.
Locality

Locality is the national network of ambitious and enterprising community-led organisations, working together to help neighbourhoods thrive.
National Assets Working Group

The National Asset Working Group (NAWG) enables and influences organisations to adopt a collaborative approach in asset management.

Contact Us

Welsh Local Government Association, Local Government House, Drake Walk, Cardiff, CF10 4LG
Phone: 029 2046 8600
Email: info@goodpracticewales.com