Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Community Ownership of Local Assets

Monday 2 December 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The community ownership fund enables community groups to sustainably own assets that benefit their local communities.
  • The English Devolution Bill introduces a new right to buy valued community assets, helping locals acquire spaces when they come up for sale.
  • Round 4 of the community ownership fund will be coming forward very shortly.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Naushabah Khan Lab Gillingham and Rainham
Community Security Local Government
Context

The community ownership fund supports community groups in taking sustainable ownership of assets. Round 4 of the fund is expected soon.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support community ownership of local assets, and how will round 4 of the community ownership fund be implemented?

Answer from Alex Norris

The community ownership fund has enabled community groups across the UK to sustainably own assets that benefit their local communities. The English Devolution Bill introduces a new right to buy valued community assets, helping locals acquire spaces when they come up for sale. I would be keen to meet the hon. Friend and campaigners on the issue of the Flying Saucer pub.

Answered
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Q2 Naushabah Khan Lab Gillingham and Rainham
Local Government
Context

The Flying Saucer pub is an asset of community value in Gillingham and Rainham, with a campaign to bring it back into local hands.

Question

Will the Minister assure my constituents that the Government are committed to supporting the retention of community assets such as this, and will he agree to meet me to discuss the Flying Saucer campaign and broader challenges in reclaiming and retaining assets?

Answer from Alex Norris

The new community right to buy will cover local pubs such as the Flying Saucer, which are assets of community value. I would be keen to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this issue.

Answered
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Q3 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
NHS
Context

East Devon District Council has declared Seaton hospital an asset of community value. NHS Property Services might seek to remove part of the hospital.

Question

In the meantime, NHS Property Services might be seeking to remove part of that hospital. Can the Minister ask his colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care to prevent this?

Answer from Alex Norris

The asset of community value status should provide protection, but I am happy to talk further about it. Round 4 of the community ownership fund will be coming forward very shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific prevention actions or timeline for intervention by Department of Health and Social Care colleagues not addressed

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