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Update on the Community Rights and other opportunities. Glenn Arradon Locality. Locality Members. Community led Driving social change Committed to community enterprise Aiming for long term sustainability Developing assets Independent
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Update on the Community Rights and other opportunities Glenn Arradon Locality
Locality Members Community led Driving social change Committed to community enterprise Aiming for long term sustainability Developing assets Independent Over 700 members across the UK - £660m community owned assets
Community Right to Bid Right to Buy? Asset Transfer?
Community Right to Bid BID BUY Buy Asset Transfer delay the sale and bid to buy assets of community value
BID List of assets of community value The Pub? The Post Office? The Village Hall? The Corner Shop? The School? The Allotments? Your House?
BID Who and what can be nominated? • Nominations – locally connected groups: • A Parish Council • Incorporated - charity; CIC; non profit distributing company or IPS • Unincorporated group with at least 21 local members • Applies to public and private land • 5 year listing – need to re-nominate!
BID Definition Current/recent past use furthers the “social well-being” or “social interests” of the community, and likely to continue Social interests defined as: cultural, recreational or sporting interests This must be its principal current or “recent past” use
BID Moratorium Period • Triggered when owner wants to sell – freehold/25 year lease • Owner cannot conclude sale • 6 weeks for community group to notify LA they wish to bid • A further 4.5 months to raise capital to purchase (6 months in total) • Followed by a protected period – 18 months: to protect owner from repeated attempts to block sale
BID Exemptions • Disposal is a gift • Disposal between members of family • If part of bigger estate disposal • If a going concern business is operating (providing that sale will result in the business continuing)
BID Funding for CRtBid • Available from Social Investment Business (Community Ownership & Management of Assets programme) • Pre-feasibility grants of £5k to £10k • Feasibility grants of £10k to £100k • Intended for capacity building, training, expertise, business planning, market research • Not intended for equipment, building costs or day to day running costs
Community Right to Bid BID any questions?
CHALLENGE Propose a better way of delivering a local public service and trigger a procurement process
Who can use it ? • Voluntary/community organisation. • Charities. • Parish Councils. • 2 or more employees of the Local Authority involved in that service. • These are called ‘relevant bodies’.
Which authorities can be challenged? • Local Authorities • County councils • District councils • London Borough Councils • Certain other fire and rescue authorities. • These are called ‘relevant authorities’.
What services are in scope for challenge? In essence: • Any service provided by a local authority/fire service - presumption in favour of acceptance. But there are some (minor) exceptions: • A relevant service jointly commissioned with an NHS body (until April 2014). • A relevant service commissioned or provided by a relevant authority in respect of a person with complex health needs/direct payments.
How is the challenge made? The relevant body submits an expression of interest (EOI) to the relevant authority
EoI requirements • A sound business case: • Financial resources; • Capable of providing the service; • Outcomes to be achieved; • How the provision will improve the social, economic or environmental well-being of the area; • How it will meet the needs of users; • Engagement with affected employees (for spin-outs). • LA either accepts, rejects, or passes back for amendment - can only pass back if they would otherwise reject.
Reasons for rejection • “Inadequate or inaccurate” plans. • “Not suitable” to provide service. • Service related to NHS body. • Already subject to procurement. • Subject to mutual ‘spin-out’. • “Frivolous or vexatious”. • Lead to breach of duty/law.
Pros Opens a dialogue with the commissioner Introduces some ‘local’ thinking Third sector collaboration Cons Causes defensive behaviour from LA Opens the market to competition – be prepared! The eventual contract opportunity might look very different Pros and cons of making a challenge
Community services grants from SIB • Available from Social Investment Business: • Pre-feasibility grants - £5k to £10k. • Feasibility grants - £10k to £100k (can apply for 50%/30% of contract costs; depends if under/over £30k). • For consortia building, training, expertise, business planning, market research, etc. • Not intended for equipment, building costs or running costs.
Eligibility Criteria A valid reference number from Locality’s Advice Service - www.mycommunityrights.org.uk Community interest groups with well evidenced local connections. Demonstrate good levels of local control with local people and local representatives making the majority of decisions. Unable to finance the work from own funds.
What type of contracts/services are being considered through those grants? • managing children’s centres • social care services • youth services • housing repairs & maintenance services • transport services • Drug & Alcohol support • environmental services • What have the grants been • used for? • business plans (consultants) • building a consortium • feasibility plans • building quality systems • tender preparation
Over 2,000 enquiries Since last June
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