Community asset transfer (CAT)
Community asset transfer (CAT) is the transfer of responsibility for land or a building from the council to a voluntary organisation or social enterprise. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, a CAT lease is usually made up of a 35-year lease and a 'Partnership Agreement'.
The purpose of CATs
A CAT is an opportunity to extend the use of a building or piece of land. There is the potential for it to be put to more uses and for more people to benefit from it. Community-led ownership can also present opportunities to use local resources and empower residents.
Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations make a significant contribution to community life and to the social and economic wellbeing of Gateshead residents. Transferring an asset to a VCSE sector organisation can unlock local enterprise, engage and develop volunteers, and offer local employment. This can then attract capital investment to create a thriving community asset.
Working with our communities and partners is fundamental to enabling empowered and resilient communities that are better connected to the assets in their neighbourhoods. CATs are one way we can unlock the potential in our communities.
The benefits of CATs
The benefits for a community can be measured in economic, social, or environmental wellbeing terms. Potential benefits include:
- using surplus council assets to deliver community-led services at a more local level
- physical assets providing a base for building relationships and creating opportunities in the community (for example, training, communal warm spaces, and support and advice services)
- offering suitable lease terms so that VCSE sector organisations can access grant funding (for example, funding to refurbish the building or to support staff training and development)
- opportunities for increased financial self-sustainability through supportive agreements
- an opportunity to work with the council to make sure the building is suitable for the community's needs and the proposed services
- VCSE sector organisations will be signposted to appropriate networks and peer support. This will provide opportunities to pool knowledge and resources
Any proposal to transfer an asset to the community will need to clearly demonstrate a range of benefits for the local community.
CATs also benefit the council. A transferred asset may:
- provide a more accessible and responsive base from which to deliver services that will benefit the local community and the wider borough
- promote inward investment into the local area
- help to build relationships between the council, the VCSE sector and the community
- rationalise the council's estate; maximise use of buildings and reduce financial outgoings
- maximise the community benefit by focusing on better local services and outcomes
- support the community to help deliver the council's goals by encouraging stronger, long-term partnerships between local groups, the council, and VCSE sector organisations.
How it works
Once an asset has been agreed as potentially suitable for a CAT, it is offered to the local community via this website.
If you are interested in one of the available assets, submit an expression of interest form to property@Gateshead.Gov.UK
We review the expressions of interest and, if we identify a suitable applicant, we ask them to submit a full application form and prepare the necessary documentation. See the Community asset transfer policy for details of the documentation required.
For any transfer to be a success, the VCSE sector organisation must demonstrate that they have a proposal with a clear business model backed by a robust business plan. This must show their ability to manage the asset effectively, evidencing the financial and organisational capacity of the organisation and outlining the services to be delivered.
Organisations applying for a CAT will need to meet set criteria, including being able to demonstrate that:
- they are an appropriately constituted voluntary and community sector organisation or social enterprise
- they have good governance and an appropriate legal structure, for example as:
- registered charities
- development trusts
- community interest companies
- community benefit societies
- companies limited by guarantee
- a constituted body
- the proposed use has extensive reach into the community and will be open to all. Organisations that serve a particular interest group or area will need to demonstrate how they will be inclusive
- they have the skills and capacity to effectively deliver services and manage the asset and/or have access to the necessary skills and capacity
- they can build capacity within their organisation and show how they intend to do this
- they have a viable business plan that covers the costs of holding the property and managing it effectively
- they have an up-to-date legally adopted constitution or governing document which provides that the organisation can enter into a lease
- they have a robust management committee/board of trustees with defined roles and responsibilities which meets on a regular basis and is elected in accordance with the governing document
- they have appropriate financial systems and procedures in place
- they have appropriate policies, procedures, licences and insurance cover in place
- they have up-to-date, signed, examined or audited accounts which do not show a deficit
- they have a robust business plan which demonstrates the organisation's plans for the asset and how these will contribute to Gateshead's corporate goals and objectives
- they have evidence of community need and support for the proposal
If you are interested in taking on land or property via a CAT, please refer to our Community asset transfer policy which outlines the process and gives details of the requirements, responsibilities and implications.
If you are interested in an asset listed here, complete an expression of interest form and return it to property@gateshead.gov.uk.
Documents and information
Community asset transfer policy
Property compliance guidance for VCSE sector organisations
Landlords consent process and application form
Properties available for CAT
There are no properties currently available. Please check here for updates.
Notices of intention to lease
In some cases, the council is not the freehold owner of sites which are being leased on a CAT and is acting as trustee on behalf of a charity. In these cases, the council must comply with the Charities Act 2011 (opens new window)
which includes advertising their intention to dispose of a property by way of a community asset transfer lease.
When notices of intention to lease are live, they will be displayed here and on site so that the public is aware of their opportunity to make representations.