Briefing:
Campaign Briefing : Community Assets 

From:
benwest
For attention of:
,
Published:
25th April 2017
Last updated:
7th December 2017
Printed:
22nd December 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:

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 campaigning
    Using 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

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