1. 1 Community Facilities Unit Milton Keynes Council’s Approach to: Community Asset Transfer (CAT) “Putting more control in the hands of local people”

2. 2 Why Asset Transfers Not a new way of working for MK Strong track record working with partners A variety of outsourced arrangements already Trusts; leases, management agreements, clubs, community interest, community groups, schools and parish/town councils Empowers citizens, communities to design and deliver services Local management responsibility More say locally, running own facility to meet local need CAT difference: promoting primarily the freehold opportunity for smaller local assets

3. 3 Organisational Transformation Programme Council: radically reduced government funding, more enabling and smaller in future CAT is part of 4 th Strand of Alternative Methods of Service Delivery Focus is on different ways of delivering services to both protect service delivery and deliver efficiencies Key focus on asset transfers to parish/town councils, voluntary and community sector OTP also considers Open Space management, Shared Services, Transport and Environmental Services

4. 4 Corporate Plan 2012 - 2016 Reflects the Organisational Transformation Programme Strong emphasis on supporting Civic Society Outcomes supported by CAT include: 1.Being an exemplar for building and supporting new communities 2.Be satisfied with their area as a place to live 3.Experience choice and control 4.Strong leisure and cultural offer High quality open, green public spaces and buildings

5. 5 National Policy Context May 2007: “Quirk Review Making Assets Work” (independent report for DCLG looked at barriers but also tremendous potential) “…optimising the use of public assets is not the primary objective: the over-riding goal is community empowerment”. November 2011: “Localism Act” – Royal Assent (decentralisation/local control and choice/right to challenge) “…we want to pass significant new rights direct to communities and individuals, making it easier for them to get things done and achieve their ambitions for the place where they live.” Catalyst for developing CAT Toolkit and Pilot

6. 6 CAT Development and evolving Localism Bill 1.10 th March Parishes Forum 2.22 nd June Bucks Local Councils Conference 3.30 th June Parishes expressions of interest invited 4.5 th July Partnerships and Growth Committee 5.7 th Sept Workshops with parish & town councils 6.12 th Sept Engagement of Community Matters (National Network) 7.13 th Sept Engagement of Community Action MK 8.30 th Sept Closure of expressions of interest Scoping the project under the MK Approach Framework: Initial engagement Gauging the interest Researching best practice Developing the Toolkit and Asset Register for consultation reflecting the Localism Bill MKC leading the way - LGA interest _____________________________________________________________________________

7. 7 CAT Development and evolving Localism Bill 6 th Oct Management committee workshops held 28 th Nov Workshop with members of MKCLIP (Local 3 rd Sector Partnership) 23rd Nov One Council communication on CAT and single Council contact point 8 tH Dec Parish Forum Agenda item 21 st Dec Communication and press release on 5 pilots 6 Th Dec Cabinet papers published including CAT papers 17 th Jan Draft Toolkit/Pilots approved by Cabinet for 12 weeks consultation

8. 8 What is Milton Keynes Council’s CAT? A coordinated Council wide approach to all asset transfers Focus on ‘built community infrastructure’ including the following assets: 1.Open Spaces 2.Bereavement Services 3.Play and Youth Centres 4.Libraries 5.Arts & Heritage 6.Leisure & Community 7.Housing properties Vision: “Our aim is to work with parishes/town/community councils and the voluntary/community sector to provide and support the delivery of effective local community assets and related services for the people of Milton Keynes.”

9. 9 Key Drivers Operating in a constrained financial climate Develop innovative solutions for the future and deliver efficiencies Assets managed more efficiently and effectively at a local level rather than by the Council Protect community access to assets regardless of who manages/owns (seamless transfer) Opportunities to extend building use and access Potential new organisations / joint ventures established Ability to lever additional resources not available to MKC Freehold value of the asset to organisation

10. 10 Key Drivers Opportunity: NO closures if not taken up: “status quo” MKC Legal capacity resourced to deliver Community capacity better in some areas than others Training and support being resourced Some assets of better quality than others Some facilities more viable therefore more attractive Not open to commercial/profit making Release of assets in tranches so manageable

11. 11 Assets for consideration Major Council-wide scoping exercise undertaken Built facility asset list: 365 (excluding schools) Open Spaces: strategy to Cabinet April 2012 Phase 1 largely freehold (39 properties) Phase 2 strategic borough-wide significance /retention if not wanted in phase 1 / outsourced management (47) Not for sale – commercial properties (166) Out of scope – under contract / long term lease (33) Under Review – as part of Council review (80) Continued internal challenge regarding eligibility of transfer

12. 12 Toolkit Principles(1) Preference for organisations to be: Strong track record and experience of delivering services (5yrs) Locally run Locally controlled Non-profit distributing Inclusive Democratic Each transfer on case-by-case basis. Cost - MKC expects partners to meet their own legal / surveying costs to proceed with transfer Community Protections - Clawback

13. 13 Toolkit Principles(2) Constituted / Incorporated group Credible business plan Asset Assessment Stage 1 & Stage 2 Fair, Open, Transparent process Open to all eligible groups/organisations from voluntary/ community sector: –Parish and Town Councils, Registered Charities, Companies limited by guarantee, Community Interest Company (CIC)

14. 14 Pilots as a part of Consultation / Testing 5 Pilots - to evaluate feasibility of CAT Toolkit. Lessons-learnt published on Council’s webpage Cross-section of arrangements e.g. management committees, lease deals, recent investment, not by area- by interest (5 at a time) Green Park Community Centre Stony Stratford Library Simpson Village Hall Frank Moran Centre Downs Barn Pavilion & Sports Ground

15. 15 Assessment Panel Fair and open process - representatives will include: - MKC’s Property Services Manager - Council’s Senior Legal Services Officer - Business Support Officer HR (Mouchel) - Council’s Link Officer - Voluntary Representative nominated via MKCLIP - Ward and Parish Councillor Each representative will sign a form to say that no ‘conflict of interest’ arises from a forthcoming assessment

16. 16 Stages of CAT Stage One Application (4 weeks proposed) – to determine if anything might derail asset transfer at a later date Available to 5 pilots online (3 received so far) Assessment of Stage One applications (2 weeks) if successful: Stage Two Application draw up credible business plan (8 weeks) Information provided at Stage Two (where available) such as site plans, legal docs, historical running costs, planning consent, maintenance plans, surveys etc. Delegated Decision – final report recommending transfer to successful organisation and outline terms and conditions If agreed ‘Yes’ then negotiate final terms

17. 17 Stages of CAT Stage 1 application (4 weeks) Stage 1 assessment (2 weeks) Stage 2 application (4 weeks) Delegated Decision (1 week) Transfer Y/N Stage 2 assessment (4 weeks)

18. 18 Future Timetable of CAT ActionCompleted by Consultation24 th April 2012 Delegated Cabinet Decision – Consultation / Refined toolkit / pilot results June 2012 Pilot (5) TransfersJuly 2012 onwards Tranche 1 = (5) Asset Tfr Phase1October 2012 Tranche 2 = (5) Asset Tfr Phase 1December 2012 Tranche 3 = (5) Asset Tfr Phase 1March 2013 Tranche 4-7=(20)Asset Tfr Phase1March 2014

19. 19 How to Get Involved All details on line Events at various locations in February & March 2012 - 150 road-show attendees and 316 comments so far) Online: comments Paper comments forms Copies of all documents on web: Cabinet Paper and toolkit Asset Register Lessons-learnt Pilot & Toolkit – reflect changes - Cabinet Member Decision - June 2012. No transfers will occur until after the conclusion of the consultation and adoption of the refined toolkit.

20. 20 Over to you ANY QUESTIONS? “Our aim is to work with parishes/town councils and the voluntary and community sector to provide and support the delivery of effective local community assets and related services for the people of Milton Keynes.” http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/communityassettransfer