Community asset transfer

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Community asset transfer (CAT) is a procedure under United Kingdom law that allows a local community to take on the ownership or management of publicly owned buildings or land, at less than market rates, for the purposes of promoting social, economic and environmental well-being. [1] [2] Agreement by the public body is at their own discretion. [1]

A pilot project, Advancing Assets for Communities, took place in Birmingham in 2008. [3] A national organisation called the Asset Transfer Unit was established to oversee the initiative, and to support both parties in CAT arrangements. [4]

There were around 1,500 such transfers in England in the period 2011-2012. [5] [1] Premises subject to the procedure, said to be in community asset ownership, now number in the thousands. [2]

The procedure is distinct from the assets of community value initiative, although the two are often conflated. [1] It is also distinct from the related community right to bid, which allows community groups to have a "first refusal" if premises of community interest, such as community halls or pubs, are put up for sale by public or private owners. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Understanding Community Asset Transfer" (PDF). MyCommunity. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 Building Powerful Communities Through Community Asset (PDF). Local Government Association . Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. Salman, Saba (25 May 2011). "Making community asset transfer work". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. Petrie, Nick (2 March 2011). "Best bits - Live Q&A Asset transfer and social enterprises". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. Niven, Rosie (19 March 2013). "Top tips for communities taking care of their assets". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 December 2023.