Hollins Forecourt ACV nomination withdrawn

Three Assets of community Value were listed at the last Area Committee meeting: two allotments sites and the Oldknow Recreation Ground.

A fourth nomination was submitted, but subsequently withdrawn because the  Corporate Directors Report was of the opinion that the nomination did not meet the criteria although no reasons were given in the report. However, we believe it is because it is a public footpath/highway. We also understand that the council is considering making  a footpath/highway an automatic exclusion to ACV listing.

The Localism Act - Community Right to Bid, sets out the criteria and exclusions to listing ACV. It is the use of a building or open space, not its ownership, that determines whether a nomination should be successful and listed as an ACV. The status and ownership of the Hollins Forecourt, as a footpath/highway, does not automatically preclude it from being listed as an ACV as it is not one of the listed exclusions. The Hollins Forecourt is very much a people/community space valued and used by local people on a daily basis.

Following a Select Committee Review, a Government Review is due sometime this year. After talking to the Department of Communities and Local Government we have sent details of the Hollins nomination to support an amendment to the Localism Act to include A Right of Appeal for the nominatiing body. Should this be successful, and the Localism Act amended accordingly, we will re-submit the nomination and consider appealing against the decision should the nomination be refused.

See Corporate Directors Report HERE

See Hollins Forecourt nomination HERE