Islington Council has recently commissioned a consortium, led by Renaisi, to undertake a review of Voluntary Sector premises across the borough, to investigate the potential options around community asset transfer.
The asset transfer scheme, through providing the voluntary and community sector with premises, would aim to support community development and empower local community groups and enterprises to help them deliver their own solutions to local needs and demands for services.
Renaisi, along with BPS Chartered Surveyors and McGrigors LLP, will assess the relevant risks involved before developing a set of transfer options. They will do this by adopting a robust research and evaluation assessment, looking at financial viability, legality, social value and tenure arrangements.
It is essential for the review that each asset has a clear public benefit and must generate social or community benefits without putting wider public interest concerns at risk. It is also important to not over burden organisations with complex asset management, in a way that diminishes their ability to serve the community.
Rob Pearce, Renaisi Director of Strategy said that, “In undertaking this review, Islington joins a few select local authorities at the forefront of policy development and delivery in this increasingly important area of public policy.
“Renaisi are highly skilled in developing robust community led approaches to service delivery, and we look forward to working closely with Islington on similar projects in the future”.
