Details of Asset Transfer Programme unveiled
The Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) has been given £250,000 over two years to encourage asset transfer from local authorities to community groups.
Details of the Asset Transfer Programme were announced by Alasdair MacKinlay, Scottish Government community engagement team leader, at the DTAS annual conference in Dunblane this week.
The programme, which was first announced in the government’s community empowerment action plan in March, involves a review of current practice for asset transfer across Scotland, while seminars and toolkits will be provided on the benefits and risks of acquiring land and property.
Eight ‘demonstration projects’ will involve local authorities and community groups working together to transfer assets into the hands of residents.
Ian Cooke, DTAS director, said the programme represented a significant opportunity to develop asset transfer after years of ‘patchy’ progress.
He told New Start: ‘A big culture change is needed with local authorities developing the confidence to pass on their assets to communities. Many councils see asset transfer as a threat and we must overcome that.’
However, he warned: ‘There is a risk in the current economic climate that local authorities will want to offload assets that are a liability so we must be careful with that.’
Mr Cooke said the plan was a ‘good start’ but added he wanted to see continuing commitment from the government.
Stressing that he didn’t want to be ‘prescriptive’ about the action taken by ministers, he suggested that possible ways forward could include removing restrictions on local authorities where they must get permission from government to sell land to community groups at below market value.
He also said ministers could consider creating a programme, where money would be given to community groups to buy assets.
Steve Wyler, DTA director, told New Start that Scotland was ahead of England when it came to transferring assets from private ownership to community organisations.
‘In England we don’t have community right to buy legislation (which allows areas of Scotland with a population of less than 10,000 to buy land when it’s put on sale).
‘It’s the missing part of the jigsaw – it needs more political will. There are iconic assets all over England that are slipping through our fingers because we don’t have community right to buy.’
Jim Bristow, DTAS board member and chief executive of Inverclyde Community Development Trust, said the action plan represented ‘genuine commitment’ from government.
‘We are pushing through a more open door nowadays. There is a greater sense of optimism because of the action plan. There are more and more development trusts registering with DTAS and the movement is gaining momentum.’
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