Briefing:Campaign Briefing : Community Assets From: benwest For attention of: Council Candidates, Labour & Co-operative Councillors Published: 25th April 2017 Last updated: 7th December 2017 Printed: 18th April 2024 Other formats: Print Key Points : The Co-operative Party believes in enabling and empowering local communities, by giving local people ownership and power to provide solutions and services for themselves. The Co-operative Party believes in public ownership first, however co-operative models provide an alternative to privatisation. There are many examples of community transport, co-operative pubs and locally owned community services already across the country – could a co-operative solution help protect your local services? Time for action : Local communities have suffered under seven years of Tory austerity, which has meant funding for services is stretched and some local community assets have come under threat. For example : Bus routes have seen a 40% cut in core funding between 2010 and 2015; meaning many subsidised rural bus routes have disappeared or are under threat. 23 pubs a week are being lost across the UK, losing key hubs in the community. Unused public buildings can cause problems for communities, as former community centres and libraries etc. move or close. 100s of community assets have already transferred to local community groups, who are running them for the benefit of their local area. Co-operation in Practice: ContentsKey Points :Time for action :Co-operation in Practice: West Oxfordshire Community Transport Labour & Co-operative Councillor Laura Price helped to set up West Oxfordshire Community Transport when two lifeline bus routes in Witney were under threat. The service has now carried more than 4000 passengers. Read their story here The Bevy Brighton’s only community owned estate pub, opening in 2012. The pub shut in 2010, but over 700 people bought community shares, raising £200,000. This allowed local people to realise their ambition of having more than a pub, and now 70 different groups use The Bevy including tenants’ associations, Scouts groups and arts and craft clubs. Read their story here Springhead Community Centre in Oldham This community building almost closed in 2007 but was saved when residents formed a community association and begun fund-raising. Now it is a thriving centre used every day of the week and home to a wide range of local groups, including a playgroup, table tennis, line dancing, arts, karate group and whist. There is also a rifle and pistol range, as well as a pottery shed, IT suite, library corner and kitchen. The centre became a pilot for how the council passed their assets over to local people. Centre website Action Points Protect your community assets by listing them as “Assets of Community Value.” You can get 21 local people to nominate for example, local pub, telephone box or community hall, so if it is threatened with closure the local community has rights to intervene. If your local services are under threat, have you considered a co-operative model?Does you council provide help and support for local groups to go down this route? There is specific help for to put local pubs into community ownership through the he Community Pub Business Support Programme run by the Plunkett Foundation. (More) Let us know when you are out on the doorstep campaigningUsing the hashtag #coopdifference – our accounts are @CoopPartyLocal in England and @WalesCoopParty in Wales. For more information To learn more about community assets, or for help with any aspect of being a co-operative councillor, contact our Local Government Officer Emma Hoddinott Resources Get Labour & Co-operative stickers and badges Becoming a co-operative councillor