This Council notes:-

?                    The important role local assets play in thriving communities;

?                    That these assets can take various forms and can range from community centres and pubs to cinemas and music venues;

?                    That there are thousands of Assets of Community Value (ACVs) listed throughout the UK, with six live ACVs currently listed in Manchester;

?                    That the Council has a Community Asset Transfer Policy, enabling the positive transfer of assets, including community and leisure facilities, to community groups, allowing them to continue to operate and provide a vital service to those communities;

?                    That there are currently 35 community interest transfers in place, with a number of others in the pipeline;

?                    That during 14 years of Tory economic mismanagement, the sad decline of the British high street paired with the UK’s stunted economic growth left our communities hollowed out of the assets that we all find important. Many vital assets have been left empty and vacant, ultimately becoming an eyesore to local communities.

?                    That despite the damaging impact of Tory austerity, the Council has worked proactively with communities across the city, to help revitalise district centres, and has supported those communities in saving and breathing new life into once-forgotten venues.

This Council welcomes:-

?                    The Labour Government’s plans to introduce a Community Right to Buy, alongside a commitment to strengthen the powers available to communities including:

·            A first refusal on a wider range of assets of community value, and; 

·            Doubling the time period for communities to raise finance to buy ACVs from six months to twelve.

?                    The Labour Government’s introduction of High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), along with funding to support these. HSRAs will allow local authorities to tackle persistently vacant properties in our city and district centres by putting the leases up for auction. 

This Council believes these initiatives will help boost the high street through a ‘right to rent’ commercial lots for businesses and community groups. They will also stop landlords from sitting on empty properties for more than 365 days in a 24-month period, before councils can step in and auction on a one-to-five year lease. In the long-term, bringing assets into community ownership will create jobs for local people and boost trade by bringing businesses, community services and customers back to our high streets.

This Council resolves to:-

(1)            Support community groups interested in acquiring an asset with connections to local and national funders as well as infrastructure support;

(2)            Recommend that the Executive ensure the ACV application process is simplified and made as accessible as possible, insofar as the legislative requirements applying to ACVs will allow this.;

(3)            Promote ACVs and Community Right to Buy;

(4)            Use the new tool of HSRAs to help communities take back control of their local assets and ensure these thrive under community ownership;

(5)            Continue to support community groups across the city to run assets and deliver vital support to communities;

(6)            Celebrate the success stories of ACVs in our communities.

Proposed by Councillor Wills, seconded by Councillor Johns and supported by Councillors McCaul, I Robinson, Stogia, Taylor, Whiston and White.

Councillor Wills submitted the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Johns.

This Council notes:-

?        The important role local assets play in thriving communities;

?        That these assets can take various forms and can range from community centres and pubs to cinemas and music venues;

?        That there are thousands of Assets of Community Value (ACVs) listed throughout the UK, with six live ACVs currently listed in Manchester;

?        That the Council has a Community Asset Transfer Policy, enabling the positive transfer of assets, including community and leisure facilities, to community groups, allowing them to continue to operate and provide a vital service to those communities;

?        That there are currently 35 community interest transfers in place, with a number of others in the pipeline;

?        That during 14 years of Tory economic mismanagement, the sad decline of the British high street paired with the UK’s stunted economic growth left our communities hollowed out of the assets that we all find important. Many vital assets have been left empty and vacant, ultimately becoming an eyesore to local communities.

?        That despite the damaging impact of Tory austerity, the Council has worked proactively with communities across the city, to help revitalise district centres, and has supported those communities in saving and breathing new life into once-forgotten venues.

This Council welcomes:-

?        The Labour Government’s plans to introduce a Community Right to Buy, alongside a commitment to strengthen the powers available to communities including:

·       A first refusal on a wider range of assets of community value, and; 

·       Doubling the time period for communities to raise finance to buy ACVs from six months to twelve.

?        The Labour Government’s introduction of High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), along with funding to support these. HSRAs will allow local authorities to tackle persistently vacant properties in our city and district centres by putting the leases up for auction. 

This Council believes these initiatives will help boost the high street through a ‘right to rent’ commercial lots for businesses and community groups. They will also stop landlords from sitting on empty properties for more than 365 days in a 24-month period, before councils can step in and auction on a one-to-five year lease. In the long-term, bringing assets into community ownership will create jobs for local people and boost trade by bringing businesses, community services and customers back to our high streets.

This Council resolves to:-

(1)   Support community groups interested in acquiring an asset with connections to local and national funders as well as infrastructure support;

(2)   Recommend that the Executive ensure the ACV application process is simplified and made as accessible as possible, insofar as the legislative requirements applying to ACVs will allow this.;

(3)   Promote ACVs and Community Right to Buy;

(4)   Use the new tool of HSRAs to help communities take back control of their local assets and ensure these thrive under community ownership;

(5)   Continue to support community groups across the city to run assets and deliver vital support to communities;

(6)   Celebrate the success stories of ACVs in our communities.

Resolution

The motion was put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it was carried unanimously.

Decision

This Council resolves to:-

1.     Support community groups interested in acquiring an asset with connections to local and national funders as well as infrastructure support.

2.     Recommend that the Executive ensure the ACV application process is simplified and made as accessible as possible, insofar as the legislative requirements applying to ACVs will allow this.

3.     Promote ACVs and Community Right to Buy

4.     Use the new tool of HSRAs to help communities take back control of their local assets and ensure these thrive under community ownership

5.     Continue to support community groups across the city to run assets and deliver vital support to communities.

6.     Celebrate the success stories of ACVs in our communities.