Community Empowerment Annual Report 2022-23
Perth and Kinross Council · 21 June 2023
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 21 June 2023 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee 21 June 2023 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ANNUAL REPORT 22/23 Report by the Head of Culture and Communities Service (Report No. 23/193) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report seeks approval of the Community Empowerment Annual Report for 2022/23. The Annual Report provides an overview of the work done to support and promote Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests made to Perth and Kinross Council between 1 April 2022 and 30 March 2023. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: • approves the Community Empowerment Annual Report 2022/23 (Appendix 1). 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background/Main Issues • Section 5: Report Summary • Section 6: Participation Requests • Section 7: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 4.1 The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 sets out rights for communities to have greater influence or control over decisions and services which are most important to them. The Council has a statutory duty to report on the number of Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Requests and Participation Requests it receives every year, how they have been responded to and the Council's activity to promote these rights as follows: • Part 3 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 enables communities to request to participate in processes to improve outcomes in their local community. • Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 gives community groups the right to request ownership, lease, or access to assets owned by the Council and other public bodies.
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4.2 This Annual Report summarises how the Council has supported community groups who are interested in Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and Participation Requests during the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. 5. REPORT SUMMARY Community Asset Transfer 5.1 Between April 2022 and March 2023, Perth and Kinross Council has supported twenty-six community organisations that have shown interest in the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process. This figure includes Expressions of Interest (EoIs) received and supported by the Council's CAT Team, as well as general interest in the CAT process that has not progressed any further. The report in Appendix 1 summarises some of the key activities that have been taking place, and how Perth and Kinross Council has supported these organisations through the process. 5.2 It is anticipated that four of the EoIs received in 2022/23 will develop into full CAT Requests in 2023/24. The EoI stage is non-statutory but introduced to allow community groups to give a short overview of their interest in an asset, in order to allow the CAT Team to work with them to find the best outcome. This may not necessarily be a full CAT Request, as alternatives to a full asset transfer can sometimes provide a better solution. These may include: • a standard purchase or lease • a lease or disposal through the Disposal of Land (Scotland) Regulations (2010) • some other form of management or access agreement. 5.3 The Annual Report also includes a summary of wider work by the Estates team to support community organisations who have been looking for access to Council assets but have not come through the CAT process. 5.4 2023/24 will also see a specific focus around community management or ownership of community halls and facilities currently owned by the Council and managed by Live Active Leisure (LAL). The CAT Enablement Budget of £120k for 23/24 will be used to support this activity. 5.5 All of the information that community groups need about Community Asset Transfer, including previous Annual Reports is available on the Council’s website at https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/19819/Community-Asset-Transfer. Participation Requests 5.6 In 2022/23, no Participation Requests were received by Perth & Kinross Council. This is not unique to Perth and Kinross and the number of Participation Requests received nationally has been very low. However, we continue to promote the opportunity - for example in March 2023 to Community Councils.
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5.7 In 2023/24, the Consultation Hub will be promoted as the best opportunity for community groups to get involved in shaping outcomes and services in Perth and Kinross. This is a key focus of our work on Participation Requests. We continue to promote Participation Requests as part of the PK Offer. 5.8 In addition to this, further guidance and information about the provisions of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 will be developed for PKC staff. 5.9 All of the information that community groups need about Participation Requests is available on the Council’s website. 6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires the Council to produce an Annual Report, setting out the work done to promote and respond to Community Asset Transfer Requests and Participation Requests. In 2022/23, 26 enquiries and other notes of interest were received for Community Asset Transfer, and no Participation Requests were received. The Community Empowerment Annual Report 2022/23 is attached as Appendix 1. Authors Name Designation Contact Details James Gardner Lee Haxton Community Empowerment Officer Community Planning Team Leader (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 9 June 2023 APPENDICES • Appendix 1 - The Community Asset Transfer and Participation Requests Annual Report 2022/23.
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal None External None Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This report supports all of the priorities within the Community Plan 2022-27. i. Reducing Poverty (including child poverty, fuel poverty and food poverty) ii. Mental and physical wellbeing iii. Digital participation iv. Skills, learning and development. v. Employability Corporate Plan 1.2 This report supports the objectives within the draft new Corporate Plan: - (i) Children and young people grow up safe, respected, well-educated, and confident in their ability to realise their full potential. (ii) People and businesses are increasingly able to prosper in a local economy which support low carbon ambitions and offers opportunities for all. (iii) People can achieve their best physical and mental health and have access to quality care and support when they need it.
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(iv) Communities are resilient and physically, digital, and socially connected. (v) Perth and Kinross are a safe and vibrant place, mitigating the impact of climate and environmental change for this and future generations. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 Not Applicable. Workforce 2.2 Not Applicable. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 Not Applicable. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Proposals that have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) are assessed as not relevant for EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 Not Applicable. Sustainability 3.3 Not Applicable. Legal and Governance 3.4 Not Applicable. Risk 3.5 Not Applicable. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Not Required. External 4.2 Not Required.