This event is an opportunity to hear directly from CLG about the impact and opportunities that they envisage the community rights to bid and to challenge will have for local authorities.
“The Localism Act 2011 introduced the new Community Rights to Challenge and to Bid to buy assets of community value – a set of powers that give local people more of a say over the things that matter in their area – local shops, parks, pubs and services. This reflects the government’s ambition to devolve more power from central government to local people. The new rights include the Community Right to Bid, which gives communities time to raise funds to buy land or buildings of importance to them; the Community Right to Challenge, which gives opportunities for communities to bid to run local services. These new powers, along with Neighbourhood Planning and the’ Community Right to Build,’ present exciting opportunities for local communities and local authorities alike.” Matthew West DCLG
The seminar will provide delegates with:
- A better understanding of the Community Rights from experts from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Big Society and Community Rights Team and a chance to ask them questions.
- A chance to consider and discuss what the Community Rights mean for your authority and how you can make the most of them.
- Opportunity to network and share ideas with other local authorities on issues related to localism and the Community Rights.
- The knowledge needed to enthuse and empower their own local communities to utilise the new powers.
Programme*
10:15-10:45 Registration and refreshments
10:45-11:00 The aims of the workshop and delegate objectives for the day
11:00-11:45 Community Rights and what they mean for local government, Matt West and Sam Ashby (DCLG)
- What are the ‘Community Rights’?
- Place of the rights within the localism agenda
- Case studies
- Future opportunities
- Capacity building & Support – ‘Locality’
11:45-12:00 Question & answer session, Matt West and Sam Ashby (DCLG)
12:00-12:15 Coffee break
12:15-12:45 The Community Rights – a local government perspective, Alan Waters, LGIU
12:45-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:15 Group Discussions
- How the rights might help communities in your area
- How the rights fit with what your authority is trying to achieve.
- Potential barriers/threats to use of the rights.
- The support that communities may need
14:15-14:45 Feedback and discussion: issues to be followed by your council
14:45-15:00 Sum up and close
*This programme is correct at time of publication, but programme content may be altered without notice to reflect speaker changes which are beyond our control.
