The Culture and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Commission met on 11 September 2025, and agreed to send the updated Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Policy to the full council for approval. The commission also received a verbal update on Heritage Places Funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Community Asset Transfer Policy Update

The Director of Estates & Building Services presented a report to update the commission on the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Policy, which was last updated in 2022. The policy has been amended to reflect changes to legislation, council objectives, the Community Services & Library Needs Assessment, policy, and practice since its adoption in 2008.

The Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Policy allows community and voluntary organisations that are not-for-profit and registered to use council assets. The report recommended that the updated CAT Policy be accepted and presented to the full council at the next available meeting. This was agreed.

Key points regarding the CAT policy:

• Community Asset Transfers are not mandatory.
• The Localism Act 2011 sought to empower communities to self-manage.
• The CAT Policy is only one way in which groups and organisations can acquire assets. Other ways include a commercial arrangement under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Community Right to Bid.
• Since 2011, 11 Community Asset Transfer (CAT) leases were considered under the Transforming Neighbourhood Services (TNS) programme.
• The council is consulting on proposals for libraries and communities which could release up to 8 buildings which are no longer proposed to be run by the council for further proposed CAT opportunities.
• Monitoring of CATs and Pre-CAT Policy-equivalents is imperative in order to continuously meet best consideration under the disposal legislation as detailed in s.123 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The main changes to the draft policy include:

• Minor amendments to the Land Transaction rules to integrate the CAT Policy and the flow of the Policy in the context of those rules.
• Moving the process of application out of the Policy into a 'Guide to Community Asset Transfers' on the council's website.
• Adding an 'Exclusions to the Policy' section at Clause 3 to aid organisations in determining whether a CAT Policy may apply to them.

The Land Transaction Rules were updated in June 2025.

Heritage Places Funding, National Lottery Heritage Fund

The commission received a verbal update on Heritage Places Funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.