Members were reminded that the Localism Act 2011 required local authorities to keep a list of assets (meaning buildings or other land) which were of community value. Once an asset was placed on the list it would usually remain there for five years. The effect of listing was that generally speaking an owner intending to dispose of the asset must give notice to the local authority. A community interest group then had six weeks in which to ask to be treated as a potential bidder. If it did so, the disposal could not take place for six months. The theory was that this period known as the “moratorium” will allow the community group to come up with an alternative proposal - although, at the end of the moratorium, it was entirely up to the owner whether a disposal  went through, to whom and for how much. There were arrangements for the local authority to pay compensation to an owner who lost money in consequence of the asset being listed. 

A nomination had been received by Hutton Community Partnership in relation to Hutton Community Centre as indicated on the site plan attached as Appendix A to the report.

The report informed Members in consideration if whether  to list or not to list Hutton Community Centre as an Asset of Community Value as indicated in Appendix B to the report.

Cllr Chilvers MOVED and Cllr Mrs Squirrell SECONDED recommendation 2.1 in the report.  A vote was taken on a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that  the land as indicated in Appendix B of the report be listed as an Asset of Community Value.

Following a discussion regarding the risk to the Council of having to pay compensation in relation to listing Assets of Community Value,  Cllr Chilvers MOVED and Cllr Mrs Squirrell SECONDED that, in addition, the risk to the Council in this regard should be monitored by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee through inclusion on its Risk Register. 

A vote was taken on a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that the risk of having to pay compensation in relation to Assets of Community Value be monitored by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee through being added to the Committee’s Risk Register.