Community Buildings Advice
The Quirk Report on “Making Assets Work” recommended the transfer of community buildings from public authorities to local communities.
Surrey CC transferred two youth centres in Banstead and Bookham into the voluntary sector . The County Council is currently developing a new property strategy based on the Quirk Report.
Surrey County Council has reviewed its assets policy in a report to the Cabinet of 30 November 2010. A new policy was proposed in the report to the effect that that:
‘The County Council is prepared to consider, on a case by case basis, applications from voluntary, community and faith organisations for the transfer of assets, at an appropriate consideration, subject to detailed assessment and approval of individual business cases, and subject to the County Council being satisfied that each transfer would not compromise other strategic corporate objectives and capital and revenue targets’.
It also approves the adoption of a formal assessment process and procedure relating to applications for the transfer of public assets to voluntary, community, and faith organisations. The assessment process and procedure is set out in Appendix 1. The assessment procedure is being set up in the form of an asset review panel on to which the voluntary sector has been invited.
It should also be remembered that the new Localism Bill currently being discussed in Parliament includes “ the right to challenge” the retention of assets by a public authority , and so there is the prospect of further liberalisation of assets when the Bill is enacted.
It should be kept in mind that organisations like St John Ambulance, which has 25 buildings in Surrey and the churches, do have many buildings in Surrey that could, by arrangement, be used by others for youth activities (see Member entry, and the Resources Directory). A contact for St John Ambulance is: stuart.green@surrey.sja.org.uk
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