Community Asset Transfers Scrutiny Report Cover Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 20 September 2022
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 20 September 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