Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015
Forth Valley College supports the principles of community empowerment and recognises the role that community organisations can play in delivering social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities.
Part five of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 gives community organisations the right to make a Community Asset Transfer Request in respect of land or buildings owned or occupied by certain public bodies, including Scotland's colleges. Community organisations may request ownership, a lease, management arrangements or other rights which would enable them to use an asset for the benefit of their community.
Any requests will be considered in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Act and associated regulations.
Who can apply?
Applications may be made by eligible Community Transfer Bodies (CTBs) as defined within the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
This includes organisations that are community-controlled and have a defined community interest or geographical area which they represent. Examples may include:
- Community associations
- Development trusts
- Community councils
- Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIOs)
- Community benefit societies
- Companies limited by guarantee with appropriate community benefit provisions
Applicants should ensure they satisfy the statutory requirements before submitting a request.
Assets available for transfer
Forth Valley College will consider requests relating to land and buildings owned or occupied by the College.
A register of College land and property assets is available below:
Please note that these assets are essential to the delivery of education, training and student services and may be subject to operational, legal, planning or funding constraints which will be considered as part of any assessment process.
Before submitting a request
Community organisations are encouraged to contact the College at an early stage to discuss their proposals before making a formal application.
Early engagement can help to:
- Clarify ownership and availability of assets
- Identify any operational constraints
- Discuss potential community benefits
- Determine the information required to support an application
- Identify any legal, planning or funding considerations
How to submit a community asset transfer request
A Community Asset Transfer Request must be made in writing and contain the information required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and the Asset Transfer Request (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2016.
Applications should include:
About the Applicant
- Name of the Community Transfer Body
- Contact details
- Governing document or constitution
- Evidence of eligibility as a Community Transfer Body
About the Asset
- Identification of the land or building
- Location and site plans (where appropriate)
- Type of rights requested (ownership, lease, management agreement or other rights)
About the Proposal
- Proposed use of the asset
- Explanation of community benefits
- Expected social, economic and environmental outcomes
- Evidence of community support
- Business plan and financial sustainability information
- Funding arrangements for acquisition and ongoing operation
- Proposed timetable for implementation
Completed applications should be submitted to:
Executive Office
Forth Valley College
Grangemouth Road
Falkirk
FK2 9AD;
or via: principal@forthvalley.ac.uk
Community Asset Transfer Request FormHow the College assesses requests
The College will assess each valid request in accordance with the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and Scottish Government guidance.
Requests will be considered on their individual merits and evaluated against a range of factors including:
- The benefits the proposal will deliver for the community
- Social, economic and environmental outcomes
- Support for community wellbeing
- Financial viability and sustainability
- The applicant's ability to deliver the proposal
- The impact on College operations and educational activities
- Best value considerations
- Risks associated with the proposal
The College will seek to support proposals which demonstrate clear and sustainable community benefit while ensuring the continued delivery of its statutory and educational functions.
Reviews and Appeals
Applicants have statutory rights to seek a review of certain decisions and, where appropriate, to pursue an appeal in accordance with the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and associated regulations.
Information on review and appeal procedures can be obtained from the College
Community Asset Transfer Requests
The College will publish details of valid Community Asset Transfer Requests received.
Current Community Asset Transfer Requests
| Applicant | Asset | Date Recieved | Status |
| No current requests | - | - | - |
Completed Community Asset Transfer Requests
The College will publish information on concluded requests and decisions in the interests of transparency.
| Applicant | Asset | Date Recieved | Status |
| No completed requests | - | - | - |
Annual Reporting
The College will report annually on Community Asset Transfer activity, including the number of requests received and the outcomes of those requests, in accordance with statutory requirements and good governance practice.
| Year | No of Requests | Decision |
| 2016/17 | 0 | - |
| 2017/18 | 0 | - |
| 2018/19 | 0 | - |
| 2019/20 | 0 | - |
| 2020/21 | 0 | - |
| 2021/22 | 0 | - |
| 2022/23 | 0 | - |
| 2023/24 | 0 | - |
| 2024/25 | 0 | - |
| 2025/26 | 0 | - |
Further Information
Legislation
- Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015
- Asset Transfer Request (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2016
Scottish Government Guidance
- Scottish Government guidance on Community Asset Transfer is available at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/community-empowerment/asset-transfer/
Contact Us
Community Asset Transfer Enquiries
If you would like to discuss a potential Community Asset Transfer proposal before making a formal application, please contact us and we will be pleased to assist
Executive Office
Forth Valley College
principal@forthvalley.ac.uk