Community Asset Transfer and Support Programme

This guidance with any updated clarification points will be published on 21 November 2025 on the Council’s website, points which have been added will be marked “NEW@dd/mm/yyyy”.

Individual enquiries can be sent to communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

Enquiries will receive a response within 4 working days either with the response requested or confirming a date by which a response can be provided.  Please note that due to capacity constraints detailed asset information and site visits will only be available during the second stage. If you feel such information is essential to your bid, you are welcome to submit an EOI and specify that your interest is subject to certain information.

Business case development support and guidance

All eligible organisations who are taken through to the second stage will be offered a briefing meeting with relevant Council officers to talk through the requirements of the second stage and respond to enquiries.

Where the organisation is seeking a Community Asset Transfer an information pack about that asset will be issued to them with key information about the asset and its current running costs (where available) that will support the organisation to draft their business case.  Accompanied site visits will be offered at this stage.

For eligible organisations who are taken through to the second stage who have not previously run an asset and/or written a business case of this nature additional one-to-one support will be offered through independent organisations. Though please note such support will be advisory in nature and the task of writing and submitting the business case remains with the bidding organisation.

Support once final decisions are made

For those organisations whose proposals are agreed, additional grant support will be considered, please see the Community Asset Support Scheme for details. If organisations are requesting this support they should make this clear in their second stage business case.

Clarification points - general

Why might an organisation complete more than one expression of interest?

An organisation might be interested in the transfer of more than one asset. It should complete an expression of interest form for each asset it is seeking.

An organisation might be interested in the transfer of an asset and a grant for an asset it already owns. It should complete an expression of interest form for each element of support it is seeking.

Will all the high scoring expressions of interest be taken forward?

In light of the tight time scales in advance of Local Government Reorganisation and the related capacity constraints only those EOIs that are assessed as being a high priority will be progressed to the second stage and invited to submit a full business case.

What will happen if there is more than one expression of interest for the same asset?

The Council will consider each expression of interest on its individual merits. If there is more than one high scoring expression of interest for the same asset the Council may alert each organisation and ask them to consider the potential for a partner approach in the second stage. It is possible that more than one organisation will be invited to complete a business case in the second stage for the same asset, and organisations would be notified if this was the case.

Can the guidance and/or online expression of interest form be made available in different formats?

Please contact the Council if there are any accessibility issues with the guidance or forms and we will work with organisations on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are addressed. Please email communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk or ring the team and leave a voicemail on 01737 276493.

Clarification points - community asset transfer

What assets can an eligible organisation apply for?

The Council’s Asset Register dataset sets out the Council’s assets.

Eligible organisations can submit expressions of interest on assets on this list in line with the criteria within the Community Asset Transfer policy. Please note that the policy states that the Council will not consider applications for Community Asset Transfers in a number of circumstances, this includes buildings that deliver key Council services. Examples of buildings that deliver key Council services are: the Earlswood Depot; the Town Hall; the leisure centres in Tadworth, Redhill and Horley (which operate under contract); the community centres in Banstead, Woodhatch and Horley; the Harlequin Theatre. 

What if our organisation thinks the Council owns an asset that is not on the list?

If an eligible organisation believes that an asset is owned by the Council but it is not on the asset register they may submit an expression of interest but must also submit evidence of why they believe the asset is owned by the Council e.g. evidence from the Land Registry.

We want to find out more about an asset on the list?

Organisations can submit specific questions about assets on the list to communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk. Please identify the name of the asset in the enquiry. Please note that whilst efforts will be made to respond to enquiries, due to capacity constraints the responses may be high level at the expression of interest stage. Those organisations whose expressions of interest are taken forward to the second stage will be provided with an information pack about the asset and invited on an accompanied visit to the asset.

We are already a leaseholder for a building on the asset register?

Eligible organisations who are already leaseholders can submit expressions of interest for properties they are currently the leaseholder of where they are seeking to extend their lease or seek a freehold and/or apply for a capital grant under this programme.

Where an eligible organisation submits an expression of interest for an asset which has an existing leaseholder other than the eligible organisation, the Council will consider these expressions of interest on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the Community Asset Transfer policy, the terms and conditions of the existing occupational lease and the current usage of the building.

The Community Governance Review is consulting on the creation of new Town and Parish Councils, can the potential ‘new’ councils apply?

As set out in the Community Asset Transfer policy the Council will consider the potential transfer of assets to existing town and parish councils, they are eligible organisations. This gives parish and town councils the opportunity to play a greater role in improving their areas and the quality of life of their residents; and, ensures decisions relating to assets of local relevance (i.e. those enjoyed by residents of a single parish or town council area) are taken as close to communities as possible. 

Decisions relating to new town and parish councils will be considered after the Council's Community Governance Review has concluded in April 2026, however in the interim the Council may choose to hold certain assets until they can be transferred to new town and parish councils. As new town and parish councils cannot formally make an application before their establishment in May 2027, the Council will consider at both the expression of interest and business case stage whether the long term stewardship or community benefit of an asset might be better served by consideration at a later date of transfer to a new parish or town council rather than a transfer through this programme.

Clarification points - grants to improve community assets

What statutory permissions or licences might an organisation need to take forward a project to improve its community asset?

You do not need to have secured Statutory Permissions and/or Licences before submitting your idea as an expression of interest. If you are invited to the second stage all Statutory Permissions and/or Licences must be in place when the business case is submitted or a clear delivery plan must be available i.e. they must be in train. You are responsible for ensuring you get the Statutory Permissions and/or Licences that you need.

Permissions might include:

• Listed Building Consent
• Planning Permission
• Scheduled Monument Consent
• Faculty Licence
• Bat Licence
• Tree Felling Licence
• Landowner’s permission
• Change of use
• Health and safety
• Building control

What insurance might I need for the project?

Examples of required insurances include, but are not limited to, public liability, employer’s liability and buildings insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct insurance for your project.

• Public liability insurance protects you in case your business is brought to court by a client, a customer or a member of the public. If your business/organisation is sued, public liability insurance will cover the cost of your legal defence, plus any compensation or settlement money you have to pay out.
• Employers’ liability insurance covers you and your business/organisation for compensation costs if an employee becomes ill or injured as a result of the work, they do for you. It’s legally required of all businesses with one or more employees. See gov.uk for information about employers’ liability insurance.
• Buildings insurance, which covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding the structure should it be damaged or destroyed by one of the insured risks, such as fire or flood, as detailed in the policy.

What financial quotes for the works does the organisation need to evidence costs for the expression of interest?

We do not require evidence of quotes at the expression of interest stage, however if they are already available please submit them as supporting information.

What financial quotes are needed for grants of up to £75,000 (noting the programme is not currently open to applications of this value but there may be an opportunity in 2026)?

• For all costs <£9,999 – at least one written quote
• For all costs £10,000 - £99,999 – at least 3 written quotes

What financial quotes for the works does the organisation need to evidence costs for the business case/second stage ie grants over £75,000?

• For all costs £10,000 - £99,999 – at least 3 written quotes
• For all costs/works >£100,000 you should undertake a competitive tender process to arrive at the costs for your project.

Where you are engaging consulting professionals, contractors or suppliers to help develop your idea and costs into a formal proposal you must use an appropriate procurement process that is compliant with your organisation's procurement policy or accepted good practice in the public / charity sector.

If you plan to do any work using your own labour or equipment you must supply a detailed estimate of costs for each activity and support this together with three competitive quotations as evidence of the normal commercial rates for these activities. Quotations should be obtained from suppliers of goods or services independent of your organisation. This means that they must not be related to, or linked in business in any way, to any member of your organisation. 

Download

Download the Community Asset Programme Guidance (PDF).