1 Community Facilities Unit Community Asset Transfer Public Consultations -Overview -Findings of Analysis -Future Recommendations

2 OVERVIEW The consultations took place in order to: inform key partners what Community Asset Transfer is all about and the reasons for undertaking such a programme ensure there is an opportunity for all community partners who have an interest in asset transfer to provide feedback on the Toolkit through various media communications and refine it where necessary to improve the transfer process ensure that the aims of Community Asset Transfer have been understood.

3 List of Consultation Events DateVenueTime 31 st JanDowns Barn Pavilion 6 – 7 pm 1 st FebFrank Moran Centre 6 – 7 pm 7 th FebBletchley Leisure Centre 6 – 7 pm 8 th FebSimpson Village Hall 6 – 7 pm 9 th FebStony Stratford Library 6.30 – 7.30 pm 13 th FebMedbourne Pavilion 2 – 3 pm 15 th FebGreen Park Community Centre 6 – 7 pm 23 rd FebPavilion at Woughton-on-the-Green 6 – 7 pm 27 th FebCaldecotte Outdoor Education Centre 2 – 3 pm 8 th MarGreenleys Meeting Place 6 – 7 pm 15 th MarGreen Park Community Centre 2 – 3 pm 22 nd MarGreat Linford Memorial Hall 2 – 3 pm 27 th MarCMK Library 6 – 7 pm 3 rd AprOlney Library 6 – 7 pm

4 Outcome of Consultations -150 attendees -292 questions / comments (inc. and hard copy) -All feedback analysed to find patterns / themes -25 categories of question identified altogether -8 main themes emerge -4 of these main themes amount to ~75% of total feedback

5 Analysis Outcome (Table) THEME / PATTERNNo. of instances General Processes91 Post-Transfer29 Rationale Behind Asset Transfer28 Funding23 Communications21 Questions About Specific Assets18 Time-Frames13 *Opinions/Input69

6 Analysis Outcome (Chart)

7 Complete Sub-Category Listing General Processes: Current Processes/Developments; Applicant Eligibility; What Applicants Need To Do; Decision-Making Process; Definitions; Appeals; Automatic Transfer Post-Transfer: Asset Conservation; Service Conservation; Outside Organisations Rationale Behind Asset Transfer. Why This Process; Why These Assets; What Benefits Funding: Obtaining Funding; Earning Funds Communications: From/By MKC; Mutual Dialogue; From/By the Public Questions About Specific Assets: Individual Assets; What Is Included Time-Frames: no sub-categories *Opinions/Input: Opinions/Advice; Objections/Criticism; Compliments/Praise

8 FINDINGS / RECOMMENDATIONS GENERAL PROCESSES: While there are specific improvements to be made, the process that has been designed was generally perceived as robust, transparent, and fair. The two-stage application process drew on national best practise and was made more user-friendly by making changes to the Toolkit, not least the inclusion of a pre-application checklist.

9 FINDINGS / RECOMMENDATIONS POST-TRANSFER: Anxiety that if the assets weren’t transferred then they would close. Closure was not an option. The myth of large commercial external organisations acquiring local assets was also dispelled. RATIONALE BEHIND Community Asset Transfer: Majority complimentary, although still considerable scope for increasing awareness and understanding of the programme amongst key stakeholders, including local management committees and the wider voluntary and community sector. Concern about how / why MKC selected particular assets – in future those assets nominated for transfer should be published well in advance.

10 FINDINGS / RECOMMENDATIONS FUNDING: A programme that is successful over the medium to long term will require greater capacity to bid for assets during a time of limited resources to provide direct support. There is an opportunity now to consider how else this might be achieved and to build this in to the Programme roll-out. An option could include integrating support for the Programme into ongoing joint working between the Council and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors.

11 FINDINGS / RECOMMENDATIONS COMMUNICATIONS: The consultation process enabled the Council to communicate the programme and document a great deal of interest. Vast majority of organisations positive about the transfer of assets - in a better position than the Council to manage and develop them, with the potential for greater community benefit and involvement. Maintaining a single point of contact for applicants as the programme rolls out will be an important element in enabling successful transfers to take place.

12 Learning from the pilots - strengths Emphasis on learning and openness to challenge Single point of contact and accessibility of MKC officers Two-stage application with clear criteria and decision-making process Transparency and fairness Support for development of Stage 2 applications

13 Learning from the pilots - opportunities

14 CONCLUSION The complete break-down of the 292 items of feedback, sorted by theme and category, can be found online. The findings from the analysis will form the basis of a report that will be sent to Cabinet in July Future consultations will bear the current findings in mind. THANK YOU!