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Community Asset Transfer Scrutiny Review

Argyll and Bute Council · 23 June 2022
Back to Audit and Scrutiny Committee — 23 June 2022 and its agenda

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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL  AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
FINANCIAL SERVICES  23 JUNE 2022 
COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER SCRUTINY REVIEW 
1. SUMMARY
1.1  The Community Asset Transfer scrutiny review was carried out as per the
2021/22 scrutiny plan agreed by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee at their
development session on the 27 April 2021. 
1.2 The Community Asset Transfer scrutiny panel comprised of Mr Martin
Caldwell (Chair), Councillor Trail and Councillor McGrigor with support
provided by internal audit officers. 
1.3 The Community Asset Transfer process was chosen for inclusion in our
scrutiny priorities for 2021/22 as a result of findings from the Council’s Best
Value Assurance Review conducted by Audit Scotland in May 2020.  The
report identified ‘a perception that the Council’s current asset transfer process
is complex and does not fully support community empowerment to allow
community groups to progress transfer request without significant support’. 
2. RECOMMENDATIONS 
2.1 Committee to agree the Draft Community Asset Transfer Scrutiny Report. 
2.2 Committee to agree the most appropriate committee or other Council group for
the Community Asset Transfer scrutiny report to be presented to for
consideration. 
3.  DETAIL 
3.1 The agreed objectives of the scrutiny review were to: 
 ensure the council’s guidance is consistent with legislation and national
guidance
 ensure the Council’s process is supportive to community transfer bodies
 ensure there is adequate engagement with community groups to assess
feedback
 ensure that the action plan from Audit Scotland’s Best Value Assurance
Report is being progressed.   
3.2 Throughout this review two panel meetings were held to gather evidence.

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 Panel one – Council’s Social Enterprise Development Officer and the
Estates and Property Development Manager 
 Panel two – representative from Audit Scotland comprising of the Audit
Director and two Senior Audit Managers 
3.3 We would like to extend our appreciation for the cooperation and assistance
received from all witnesses invited to provide evidence over the course of the
review. 
3.4 Based on the information obtained over the course of the review the panel has
identified eight findings specific to this review. These are detailed in the report
attached as appendix 1. 
3.5 The report has been discussed with the officers and panel members involved in
the review to confirm accuracy and it is now for the Committee to decide
whether to approve the report and, if so, to agree the most appropriate
committee or other Council group for the Community Asset Transfer scrutiny
report to be presented to for consideration. 
4.  CONCLUSION 
4.1 Committee is requested to agree the attached report and agree the most
appropriate Committee or other Council group for the report to be presented to
for consideration. 
5. IMPLICATIONS 
5.1 Policy - None
5.2 Financial -None
5.3 Legal -None
5.4 HR - None
5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty - None
5.5.1 Equalities – None
5.5.2 Socio-Economic Duty – None
5.5.3 Islands Duty – None
5.6      Climate Change – None 
5.7 Risk – None
5.8 Customer Service - None 
Martin Caldwell
Chair of the Community Asset Transfer Scrutiny Panel
23 June 2022  
For further information please contact: 
Moira Weatherstone, Interim Chief Internal Auditor, 01546 604146 
Appendices:
Appendix 1 – Draft Community Asset Transfer Scrutiny Report

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