As state funding reduces, and communities look to take responsibility themselves, there are places in many communities that are of particular importance to the local people. They may be facing closure or sale or may be being considered by the council for alternative uses or being run in alternative ways.
Community asset transfers look to put ownership and/or management back into the hands of the community and the organisations and charities that represent them.
We are holding a seminar jointly with the Ethical Property Foundation for small charities and other organisations to consider how they can become involved in community asset transfer.
This is an area of particular interest as town halls, parks, libraries and other buildings are considered for transfer of ownership or management from a statutory body, such as the council, to a community group or charity at less than the market value provided they are used for social, economic or environmental benefit.
There is clearly a myriad of issues to consider, from: understanding exactly what asset transfer involves; understanding the liabilities that can be taken on; financial management and risk management; as well as looking at the relevant legal structure to enable community bodies and groups of individuals to succeed.
We have been lucky to be involved with a number of community asset transfers which have seen, amongst other things, the following:
This seminar will look to uncover some of the issues involved and give real life examples of successes and failures to enable those attending to better understand the opportunities for them.
If you are interested in attending this event please sign up here.
For further advice or information on community asset transfers please contact Dominic Curran.
International Women’s Day is not just another event in the calendar. Striving for social equality is a daily mission as we work towards building a society of gender equality.
Next in our series of ebriefings on the Government’s Green Paper: Transforming public procurement; looking at the Chapter 4 proposal to change the basis of contract awards.
The Academies Financial Handbook is updated annually by the Department for Education and the Education and Skills Funding Agency; it contains a number of governance requirements for academy trusts.
Supreme Court publishes key decision for those working in the UK’s gig economy.
The 'Chocolate Snowman Appeal' is an amazing initiative that Anthony Collins Solicitors' (ACS) employees take part in every year.
The Building Safety Bill (the Bill) is said to be the most significant and wide-ranging change to the regulatory environment for higher risk building (HRBs) for over 45 years.
On 4 November 2020, the Restriction of Public Exit Payments Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) came into force; exit payments for the public sector were capped at £95,000.
The case was brought by the Official Receiver who sought disqualification orders under section 6 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (CDDA 1986) against the seven trustees of Kids Company and its CEO. It illustrates well the tension between the role of a fulltime paid CEO of a large charity and the role of its board as voluntary trustees/directors.
At the end of 2020, The Charity Governance Code was updated or 'refreshed' as it is termed on its website.
Anthony Collins Solicitors is today (Thursday 11 February) revealing the scale of its social impact during 2020.
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.