Community asset transfer policy 2025
Introduction
1. Gateshead Council's property estate contains a wide range of assets including, but not limited to, corporate offices, operational sites used to deliver council operated services, recreation and leisure sites and community assets (land, buildings, and other structures) used for a variety of different social, community and public purposes.
2. When a council service no longer has use for a property asset, we need to consider what is the best future use for this asset and how else it could be operated. This could include:
- different service using the asset for an operational purpose
- disposal at best value or market value (see below)
- using the asset to contribute to council strategic goals and objectives, including regeneration priorities, by disposal at less than market value
- transfer to voluntary and community sector organisations through a Community Asset Transfer
Market value
Local authorities have powers under the Local Government Act 1972 (opens new window) to dispose of assets that they own, such as land and buildings, in any manner that they wish. This broad power is limited by a duty to achieve the best consideration obtainable by a disposal which is to ensure, so far as reasonably possible, that public assets are not sold by public authorities at an undervalue, excepting where a 2003 General Disposal Consent (opens new window) applies, or consent has been granted by the Secretary of State.
Download the Community asset transfer policy as a PDF (PDF, 1 MB)