ASSETS OF COMMUNITY VALUE – COMMUNITY RIGHT TO BUY (BID)
Assets of Community Value – Policy Statement Sept 2011
John Liddell
Asset Manager
PURPOSE
• Give communities right to identify building or other land that they believe to be of
importance to a community’s social well-being.
• Aim - if an asset comes up for sale, they will be given a fair chance to make a
bid to buy it on the open market.
• Owner will have a right to internal review by the council, & right of appeal to
independent tribunal against result of internal review.
• Nothing further will happen unless & until owner decides to dispose of asset,
either through freehold sale, or grant or assignment of lease, granted for at least
twenty-five years.
Provisions do not restrict who owner of a listed asset can sell his property
to, or at what price.
Not a right of first refusal.
WELLBEING OR SOCIAL INTEREST?
“The asset supports the wellbeing or social interests of local community”
• Its realistic to think that there can continue to be non-ancillary use of
building/land which will further (whether or not in same way) social wellbeing or
social interests of local community and
• There is a time in the recent past when actual use of building/ land (not
ancillary use) furthered social wellbeing or interests of local community and;
• It is realistic to think that there is a time in the next five years when there could
be non-ancillary use of the building/land that would further social wellbeing or
social interests of local community (not necessarily the same one)
PROCEDURE FOR INCLUDING LAND ON LIST
“Land in a local authority’s area which is of community value may be included by a
local authority in its list of assets of community value only:-
•
In response to a community nomination, or;
by a parish council
by a person that is a voluntary or Community
Body with a local connection
•
Where permitted by regulations made by the
appropriate authority?”
SO WHAT IS A COMMUNITY BODY?
“We envisage that “local voluntary and community body will be defined as a body,
other than a public or local authority, which may be incorporated or unincorporated,
must not be run primarily for profit, and must have a primary purpose concerned
with the local authority’s area, or the neighbourhood in which the asset is situated
where this is in more than one authority’s area. We will set out the full definition in
regulations.”
As in September Policy Document
THE LIST – 1 LIST OR 2?
Notice of inclusion or removal
Authority must give written notice to:•
Owner of land
•
Occupier (if not owner)
•
Person who made Nomination
•
Additional persons as regulated
•
Notices must describe the provision and Consequences
•
Right to ask for review
•
Notices of removal must state reasons
Neighbourhood Planning Forum
Community
Organisation
Local Authority asks
owner for comment
Local Authority decides not to list
asset
Owners objection successful
List of land nominated by unsuccessful
community nominations (5 years)
Parish Council
Identify Land or
Building of Community
Value
Local Authority decides to list
asset
No objection from
owner
Added to list of Community
Value and Local Land
Charge Register (5 years)
Owners objection
unsuccessful
Local Authority
publicises and
maintains list
List of Assets of Community Value
LIST OF LAND NOMINATED BY UNSUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY NOMINATIONS
•
Authority must maintain list
•
Assets may (but not need be) removed after 5 years
•
Include the reasons for rejection
PUBLICATION AND INSPECTION OF LISTS
•
Local Authority must publish both lists
•
Make available for free inspection
Owner free to sell
asset after interim
window of opportunity
LA informs nominator and
publicises to community
Community groups express interest
in bidding
Window of
opportunity starts
when LA is
informed by
owner of intention
to sell
Interim window of
opportunity ends
Community groups prepare
business plan and finance
Full window of
opportunity ends
Owner can sell to whoever they
choose at end of full window of
opportunity
18 months
Any owner can sell to a community interest group at any time
Protected period
No community groups
express interest
Interim 6 weeks
Owner decides to sell listed asset
and informs Local Authority
Full monitoring period 6 months
MORATORIUM PERIODS
THE LIST
ONCE ON THE LIST WHAT HAPPENS?
Publication of Receipt of Notice
Amend list to include:
• that notice has been received in respect of the land
• the date when the authority received the notice, and
• the ends of the initial moratorium period, the full moratorium period and the
protected period
If land is included on list in response to community nomination then
authority must give written notice, to the person who made the nomination, with
details as above
Authority must publicise details in the area where the land is situated (no details in
bill how)
If there is interest from Community Group (in writing)
Local Authority as soon as practicable must pass on, or inform owner of details of
the request
MORATORIUM PERIODS
An owner cannot enter into a relevant disposal unless:-
Condition A
• They have notified local authority
Condition B
• Interim moratorium period (6 weeks) has ended without receiving a written
expression of interest from any community interest group, or
•
Full moratorium period has ended
Condition C
• The protected period has not ended
•
Note :- At the end of the Moratorium period the asset can be sold
under normal market conditions on the open market at market
price! (subject to planning) BUT not constrained in any way
EXCLUSIONS AND EXCEPTIONS FROM THE LIST (AS AT SEPT 2011)
•
Residential premises, including sites for mobile homes and boats. Residential
premises will include land held with the residence under a single legal title ( but
could include a flat above a shop)
•
Operational land as defined in Part 11 of the Town and Country Planning Act
1990 – i.e. land used for transport infrastructure and some other related
purposes by specified bodies with statutory powers.
•
Entitlement under a will or as a gift
•
By representative of deceased person to pay debts, taxes, costs, pecuniary
legacies or satisfy some other entitlement under the will
•
Family members (spouse/civil partner, lineal descendant of a grandparent)
(Continued)
(Continued)
•
Part listed land (needs to be specified)
•
Going concerns
•
Occasioned by person ceasing to be, or becoming a trustee, or partner
•
Entitlements under a trust, on in exercise of a power conferred by a trust
•
Other description specified by regulation – i.e. they haven't thought of yet !
COMPENSATION AND WHO PAYS?
“All owners, other than public authorities, will be entitled to claim compensation for
loss in Value or expense incurred as a result of listing and complying with any of
the procedures required by the scheme.”
Likely that the District would have to meet claims up to £25 approx
So far under the Scottish Scheme most claims are relatively small and relate to
expenses incurred by holding the property for longer as a result of the process.
Claims for loss in value have not be so successful but this may relate to the
depressed property market over recent years
LCC response to proposals to Transfer assets
In the event of a transfer of a LCC asset, the principal asset management
concerns are that the asset is:
•
Effectively and positively helps to build a more active community, with
extensive and inclusive use throughout the local community
•
Properly used – efficiently, effectively and in keeping with good estate
management and maintained
•
Represents a best value decision for the County Council (whether the
transfer is permanent or temporary)
•
Maintains its full market value (where the freehold continues to be owned
by the County Council)
Information required by LCC to consider a transfer request (Continued)
The asset is to revert to LCC upon:
•
Cessation of agreed community use
•
Persistent failure to delivery Business Case benefits
•
Breach of agreed Management Plan, governance arrangements,
reporting requirements and any other agreed conditions
•
The Community group is liable for yielding up the transferred asset in
reasonable condition upon termination of the community use and
occupation, howsoever this is determined