Sports pavilions, scout huts and community halls among assets to be transferred to community groups

The scheme was set up to empower local organisations to take over vital facilities to ensure that they can continue to deliver benefits to local residents long term, beyond the life of the Council.

The Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee is set to receive a report on the progress of the scheme at its meeting on 11 June.

Of the 42 business cases submitted, 15 applications are being progressed relating to asset transfers with associated grants, along with 9 applications for grants to enable organisations to improve an existing community asset. In total, £5.7 million is being awarded in grants.

Organisations that have been made a conditional offer of a community asset transfer via a long lease and an associated grant to improve that asset include:  

• Beecholme Pavilion, Banstead to be transferred to Beecholme Belles Women and Girls Football Club
• Sovereign Youth Centre, Woodhatch to YMCA East Surrey
• Chipstead Rugby Football Club Pavilion to Chipstead RFC
• Kingswood Village Hall to Kingswood Village Community Association
• Nork Community Centre to Nork Community Association

On the impact of securing the Sovereign Centre in supporting local families, Judith Brooks, Head of Children and Young People and Deputy CEO. Of YMCA East Surrey, said:

“The Sovereign Centre is a key part of YMCA East Surrey's ability to deliver vital services to the local community, including a pre-school, after school clubs, youth clubs and specialist clubs for children and young people with disabilities. Having longer term security over the building and funding for improvements will help us to continue delivering these services to families from Reigate, Redhill and beyond for many years to come.”

The majority of asset transfers are being made to existing tenants or via new leases on vacant assets that have little capital value.

Organisations offered a conditional offer of a grant to improve an existing community asset include:

• Age Concern Merstham Redhill & Reigate
• Chipstead, Coulsdon and Walcountians Cricket Club, Woodmansterne
• Reigate Priory Football Club
• Pathfinder Scouts, Salfords
• The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of All Saints South Merstham.

Chipstead, Coulsdon & Walcountians Cricket Club’s Chairman, Craig Wilson, explains how the grant to improve their facilities will be transformational for the 160-year-old club and the local community:

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this funding. It is a huge moment for our club and for the wider community. These improvements will allow us to welcome more players, support our growing youth and women’s sections, and continue providing a positive, inclusive environment where people can be active, build friendships and feel part of their local community."

In addition, the Council has also advertised its intent to transfer the following assets, subject to the outcome of consultation:

• Bay Close Recreation Ground, Court Lodge Field and Yattendon Recreation Ground in Horley to Horley Town Council which already manages most of the open spaces in Horley
• Merstham Football Club stadium, pitches and changing rooms to Merstham FC.

All transfer and grant offers are conditional on evidence being provided to meet the requirements of the Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy and Community Asset Support Scheme. Agreements will include conditions that ensure transferred assets are protected for community use and that grants will be spent only for the intended purposes.

Immensely proud

Cllr Ben Green, Executive Member for Finance and Assets, said:

“I am immensely proud that we have been able to get this brilliant scheme over the line. For historical reasons, the Council has collected a number of assets that do not produce an income and are not needed to deliver services. It is right that we put those assets directly into the hands of the community who can now benefit from them for years to come.

“We received many high-quality applications. I want to thank everyone who worked hard on putting their business cases together.”

Cllr Green added:

“Sadly, we have not been able to take every proposal forward, but I hope to be able to announce a follow-on small grants scheme later in the year for local organisations who were not able to participate this time around.”

The submitted business cases were assessed against key criteria in the Council’s Community Asset Transfer and Support Scheme including their long-term sustainability, financial viability, community benefit and inclusivity, avoiding duplication of existing services, supporting growth in the voluntary sector and demonstrating local demand. Local ward councillors were consulted on the proposals in their area.

Earlier this year, the Council received over 160 expressions of interest from 84 local organisations keen to take on the management of assets. In addition, almost 30 organisations bid for grants to improve buildings they already own to secure their long-term future. Following a thorough assessment, 52 expressions of interest were invited to put forward a full business case for consideration, and organisations were offered support to help with their business case development. 42 business cases were ultimately submitted.

A community asset typically refers to land or buildings that provide a benefit to the local community rather than being held primarily for commercial reasons. Bids received for assets that were not up for transfer, such as those that deliver key council services, produce significant income, or are needed for strategic reasons, were declined.

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