1. Asset Transfer Shrewsbury’s Case Study Helen Ball - Town Clerk Shrewsbury Town Council

2. Health Warning Asset Transfer: Can be frustrating Can raise your blood pressure Make you wake up at 3am Shouldn’t be taken lightly Can make you unpopular Can be rewarding!!

3. Outline of Presentation Overview of the Town Council Background that led to transfer Hurdles Going Forward Will Localism Act help in the future?

4. The Numbers Bit Established 1 st April 2009 Land & Buildings £4million Plant & Equipment £600k Staff63 Councillors17 (10 Cons/4 Lab/3 Lib) Wards 17 2012/13 Budget £3.4million 2012/13 Precept £950k (Band D - £39.89) Residents 70,000 Electors 52,750

5. Bit of Background Council formed in 2009 Vesting Order transferred –Land & Buildings –Staff –Plant & Equipment –Civic Regalia –Market Rights

6. Austerity Measures Shropshire Council cuts (£80m) Reduction in the overall public purse Funding of the service Protection of Local Services Could the service be run more cheaply

7. The Deal Freehold Transfer of Countryside Unit (89ha) – At zero cost (with Clawback Covenants) Transfer of Plant specific to those sites – At zero cost 15 Sites 1 Full Time Member of Staff (+ 2 Student Placement) All Liabilities Budget Reduction of £200k

8. Countryside Sites Map

9. Countryside Sites

10. Budgetary Issues Salaries & Wages Repair & Maintenance Capital Costs Increases to Central Costs –H&S –Payroll –Insurance –Supervision & Management –Servicing & Fleet Management

11. Agreements Wayleave Single Payment Scheme Grazing Rights Business Tenancies Fishing Rights SSSI Sites Lease Agreements Easement Rights

12. Barriers Political Will v Officer Won’t Officer Decision or Council Resolution Protection of Budgets Protection of Assets Commercial v Community Twin Hatters & Conflicts of Interest

13. TUPE Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 Due Diligence Staff Welfare Protection of Terms & Conditions

14. Operational Logistics Can existing staff undertake the work Health & Safety Risk Assessments Supervision Transferred Staff Uniform/PPE Branding

15. Disposal of Land Circular 06/03 – LGA 1972 – General Disposal Consent (England Regulations) 2003 Disposal of land for less that the best consideration £2million Secretary of State Approval

16. HMRC Issues Stamp Duty Land Tax Chargeable Consideration Contingent Consideration & Need for Deferment

17. Land Registry Issues Registration Deeds/Plans What’s on the ground What’s Registered Any need for Easement Rights

18. Great Crested Newts Protected Species Numbers in decline!!!! Sch. 5 Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 Ecological Management Plans English Nature

19. Historic Connections Sites of Special Scientific Interest Battlefield Sites Darwin Listed Parks Scheduled Ancient Monuments

20. Localism Act Community Rights to Challenge Parish Councils best placed to deliver local services Need to think differently

21. This is only the start Further discussions with principle council & other stakeholders Shared service delivery Councillor Wish List on Asset Transfer –Carparks –Castle –The Square

22. Helen Ball BA (Hons) FILCM helen.ball-stc@shropshire.gov.uk Shrewsbury Town Council The Guildhall Frankwell Quay Shrewsbury SY3 0PR Tel 01743 281010 www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk www.facebook.com/shrewsburytowncouncil