Assets of Community Value (ACV) Update

The Civic Society has been campaigning to change Stockport MBC guidance on Assets of Community Value to bring the guidance in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.  Following initial difficulties the guidance is now fully compliant and is a good example of what can be achieved when communities and local authorities work together.

The authority asked if we knew of other authorities who had specific arrangements for publicising "intention to dispose" and, if so, they would review their procedures in the light of further information.  We have contacted Civic Voice who have added our request for help to the latest Civic Update (see below) so we look forward  to hearing from fellow Civic Voice members from across the country.

Civic Voice News Item

See HERE for more Civic Voice News 

Right of Appeal for Assets of Community Value

Yesterday, Gillian Postill met with William Wragg MP to discuss the planned, but overdue, Government Review of Assets of Community Value (ACV). William Wragg MP agreed to make inquiries to find out when we can expect the review to take place. The Select Committee Review of ACV, which took place last year, approved the suggestions for amendment put forward by Civic Voice, which included a Community Right of Appeal. Currently, only the owner of the asset can appeal. 

The civic society submitted the Hollins Forecourt for listing which was supported by 97 members of the public at a consultation held at Marple Carnival, but we subsequently withdrew the nomination because the corporate director's report was of the opinion that the nomination did not meet the criteria, although no reasons were given in the report. However, we discovered later that it was recommended for refusal  because it belonged to Highways. This was perplexing as it is the use of the asset, not its ownership, that determines if it meets the criteria for listing. Of course, not all highways would fulfill the ACV listing criteria but the Hollins forecourt is very much a people/community space valued and used by local people on a daily basis.

Should the Localism Act be amended to include a Community Right of Appeal we will re-submit the nomination and consider appealing against the decision should the nomination be refused.

Two civic society members are now working on getting more ACVs listed. There are about 30 nominations yet to be submitted. If anyone else would like to help us with this work, please get in touch. No prior knowledge is required as training can be given.

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

Assets of Community Value - Marple Case Study

Since Marple Civic Society put forward a campaign for Civic Voice to urge every civic society to nominate at least one "Asset of Community Value" Civic Voice has been championing and promoting "Assets of Community Value".

In the past few months, since the start of the campaign, many groups around the country, working with Civic Voice, have developed action plans to nominate "Assets".  Not content with nominating one, many groups have nominated dozens! 

Civic Voice have chosen Marple Civic Society as a case study to demonstrate the different powers available to communities through the Localism Act.

To view the Civic Voice case study on Marple Civic Society see HERE

AGM and Speaker Meeting March 2015

The society's 53rd AGM took place on Tuesday 24th March at Marple library.

Minutes of the meeting can be found HERE

Chairman Gillian Postill reported a busy year for the society both locally and nationally.  She reminded members that the society's most effective tools are its membership and its communication processes.

Members and Friends 

Her report focussed on two key aspects of the society's work: preserving community assets and finding an appropriate regeneration scheme to ensure a viable and vibrant Marple for the future.

The two means identified to achieve this are listing "Assets of Community Value" (ACV's) and "Neighbourhood Planning".  Both these community powers were created by the Localism Act of 2011. 

An ACV can be anything that is valued by the local community - open spaces, public buildings, libraries, pubs etc.  The first three listings of ACV's are now in place with more in the pipeline.  The three main political parties are committed to ACV's and, following lobbying by Civic Voice, it seems likely that the next government will strengthen the legislation, adding greater protection to ACV's.

Regarding planning, she said that despite running numerous workshops and public consultations showing substantial support from residents, our call for an independent urban design study to develop a strategy to guide the development of the town centre has met with resistance from decision makers. Last year the society learned that the council's local plan for Marple (the Allocations DPD) has been put on indefinite hold leaving Marple hugely vulnerable.

In view of this, she reported that the society has set up a steering group to examine Neighbourhood Planning and to carry out preparatory work with a view to implementing a Neighbourhood Plan.

A Neighbourhood Plan allows local residents and businesses to have their own planning policies that reflect their priorities, deliver tangible local benefits and have real weight in planning decisions.

Read Gillians report in full HERE

Treasurer Gordon Johnson presented the annual accounts.  Gordon reported that we had a surplus for the year of £76.46 (compared to £190.47 last year) and the balance of the society's funds is £2480.92 (compared to £2404.46 last year) which is sufficient to fund the society's activities throughout 2015.
 He paid tribute to Mike Kinder, our honorary examiner for many years, and confirmed that Mike has agreed to continue for the coming year.

The society's accounts for the year ending 31st December 2014 can be viewed HERE

For a summary of the society's work during 2014 see the Trustees Annual Report HERE

The election of officers and committee members was followed by a talk by Ian Harvey, Director of Civic Voice.

Ian Harvey, Director Civic Voice

In an inspiring, and frequently amusing, talk Ian spoke about the history of the Civic Movement and his recollections of the formation of Civic Voice five years ago following the demise of the Civic Trust.

He went on to talk about the Civic Voice manifesto (Localism for Real), the first in the Civic Movements history, which proposes measures to achieve real local input to the shaping of our towns and villages, and collaborative planning (Collaborative Planning for All) to bring collaborative processes into mainstream planning.

He emphasised the grassroots approach of Civic Voice using the example of the campaign to register "Assets of Community Value".  This campaign was proposed by Marple Civic Society at the Civic Voice AGM in November 2014 and was subsequently adopted by Civic Voice.  Since then the campaign has led to a huge surge in registrations nationally.

Finally, he praised the local work of Marple Civic Society and encouraged us to press forward with our listing of Marple's "Assets of Community Value" and our preparatory work for a Neighbourhood Plan.  For more details of Ian's talk see HERE

Photos by Arthur Procter, more here

First Marple Listing of Asset of Community Value - Windlehurst Park

Windlehurst Park is the first successful listing of an Asset of Community Value in the Marple Area. Friends of Windlehurst Park, who made the nomination, are a relatively new group set up as a result of park equipment being removed from the park by Stockport MBC.

This is the first of many nominations suggested by local groups and Marple residents. The Civic Society is co-ordinating a community project which will see up to 36 nominations submitted to Stockport MBC for listing.

We are working with the council to coordinate the submission of nominations with the aim of all  listings being made before the end of 2014.

Congratulations to Friends of Windlehurst Park for successfully listing Windlehurst Park as an Asset of Community Value.

Huge support for Assets of Community Value

Marple Carnival was the ideal event to celebrate the 4th National Civic Day and the public launch of Assets of Community Value (ACV). The sun shone all day attracting locals and visitors in droves.

Assets of Community Value attracted much attention

The ACV nominations, put forward by many local community groups, attracted huge attention and by the end of the day we had registered support from 103 members of the public. This will be used by the community groups as additional supporting evidence to strengthen their nominations when they are submitted to Stockport Council for listing.

There was much interest from society members and members of the public who visited the stand and in addition to the support we gained for ACV we also recruited 6 new members.

Two new members sign up  

      A succesful day all round. 

We are grateful to the Marple Carnival organising committee for organising such a wonderful event.

      Photos by Arthur Procter

The Listing of Assets of Community Value is part of the Community Right to Bid; one of four community rights set out in the Localism Act 2012. To find out more about this, and the Marple Community Project to List Assets of Community Value, go to "Assets of Community Value" in the News Items section to the right of this page.

Marple celebrates Civic Day by nominating 32 Assets of Community Value

Marple Civic Society will be having a stand at Marple Carnival to celebrate National Civic Day, organised by Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement. This is the 4th year that the society has taken part in National Civic Day and this year we will be consulting the public to find out which nominations                       of Assets of Community Value they support for submission to Stockport Council.

Marple Memorial Park
 Nominated by Friends of Marple Memorial Park

Compstall Post Office
Nominated by Compstall Community Council

Marple Methodist Church and Hall
Nominated by Hawk Green Residents Association

Thirty two nominations have been put forward by local groups and residents. We now need public support which will help to get the nominations successfully listed.

             Photos by Arthur Procter

The Localism Act 2012 introduces an important power called "The Community Right to Bid" which is relevant to all community groups seeking to protect community assets that are important to their local communities. This new power gives community groups an increased chance to save much-loved pubs, community/village halls, parks, swimming pools, libraries and other local community facilities. It will also be taken into consideration if a planning application for a community asset is received by our Local Authority.

Join us for a chat and coffee at Marple Carnival and give your support to the nominations. Alternatively, you can email your support to mail@marplecivicsociety.org.uk 

For more information see the following links:

Display Poster of Nominations see here

List of Assets of Community Value and main nominee see here

Invitees to stakeholder meeting April 2014 see here

Assets of Community Value project plan see here

Report on Marple Area Committee Meeting 4th June 2014

A report of the Marple Area Committee meeting that took place on 4th June 2014 can be viewed here

Chadwick street Foodstore

The chair's report on the Chadwick Street foodstore development consisted of the following:

• there is still interest in the project
• interested parties will work up a bid
• action is possible by the end of June

Marple residents were promised a monthly report on progress, the few bland words above are not a report.  This is not good enough and residents should let their elected representatives know.

Straight answers to a few simple questions would be helpful:

• what sort of retailers are interested?
• what criteria will be used to judge the options?
• who decides if a new planning application will be required, bearing in mind that a planning consent is in place for a foodstore that includes a traffic scheme wholly unaceptable to the Civic Society and everyone consulted by the Civic Society?
• when and how will residents be consulted in particular on traffic management and the public realm?   

The Civic Society's position is clear:

The Civic Society has asked the council to commit to an independent study of the public realm in the town centre of which the traffic scheme would be an integral part of the design. This must include meaningful consultation with the people of Marple - nothing less will do.    


Community Right to Bid - Windlehurst Park

The first nomination for listing of an "Asset of Community Value" under the Community Right to Bid legislation is Windlehurst Park and it was considered by the committee.  The "decision to list" was delegated to the committee chairman who will consult the relevant officer.  A positive outcome is anticipated.   


Future Area Committee Meetings

Wednesday 9th July 2014

Wednesday 6th August 2014

Wednesday 24th September 2014

Wednesday 5th November 2014

Wednesday 10th December 2014

Hawk Green Residents Association May Day Festival

The Civic Society had a stand at the Hawk Green Residents Association Mayday Festival, held in bright sunshine on "The Green" on 17th May.  The festival theme was a commemoration of the start of the 1914 -18 war.  The event included maypole dancing by children from All Saints Primary School, music from the Hawk Green brass band and a range of stands from local groups and craft stalls.

The society's stand included a display on the "Right to Bid" legislation to protect our "Assets of Community Value" and details of our views on the proposed traffic management arrangements associated with the new foodstore the council are planning for Chawick Street car park. 

We received seven suggestions of Assets of Community Value from members of the public which the civic society will consider nominating for listing.

We took the opportunity to brief local councillors

and our patron, Andrew Stunell MP, on the society's view regarding the Chadwick Street development traffic scheme and our call for an "independent urban design study" of which the traffic scheme would be an integral part.

Thanks to Arthur Procter for the photos.

Community Support for Assets of Community Value

A well attended meeting of representatives from local community groups, held on Thursday 24th April, gave enthusiastic support to a plan to create a list of Assets of Community Value for Marple and surrounding villages.  The Right to Bid (and the associated List of Assets of Community Value) is one of                                        four "community rights" conferred by the Localism Act of 2012.

The meeting was addressed by Andrew Stunell MP, Holly Rae, SMBC Corporate Policy Officer and Gillian Postill chair of Marple Civic Society.

Andrew Stunell, who as a government minister helped write the bill, discussed how the Localism Act was intended to provided new opportunities for communities to take greater control of their affairs. 

However, whilst welcoming this initiative, he cautioned that the legislation is still new, aspects are still being tested and it will take time for the legislation to "bed in".

Holly Rae explained the listing criteria, the nomination process and how Stockport MBC will work with communities to create and maintain a list.  She commented that Stockport has only one "Asset of Community Value" listed currently and looked forward to working with the communities from Marple and surrounding villages to substantially increase the number.  

  

Gillian Postill explained how the Civic Society would work with Stockport MBC by making nominations and assisting other local groups by making nominations on their behalf if they did not meet the nomination criteria.

For further information see the following websites:
My Community Rights
Stockport MBC Right to Bid                                                                     

Or contact Gillian Postill on 07793 214 591

Assets of Community Value - meeting in Marple Library 7.00pm 24th April 2014

Help us to protect Marple and the buildings and open spaces that we treasure in our communities.                                                                                                

Join us this evening

Thursday 24th April 2014, in Marple Library 

at 7.00pm

to find out how you can make nominations to the List of Assets of Community Value to help protect buildings and open spaces of community value in Marple and surrounding villages.

Assets of Community Value - Community meeting arranged 24th April 2014

Marple Civic Society has arranged a community meeting on 24th April 2014 and invited local groups to join us to find out about "Assets of Community Value" in order to help protect buildings and open spaces of community value in Marple and surrounding villages.

The Localism Act 2011 introduces an important power called "The Community Right to Bid' which is relevant to all community groups seeking to protect community assets that are important to their local communities.

This new power gives community groups an increased chance to save much-loved pubs, community/village halls, parks, swimming pools, libraries or other local facilities. It will also be taken into consideration if a planning application for a community asset is received by our Local Authority, Stockport MBC.

We will invite community groups to make nominations which will be displayed at the society's stand at Marple Carnival where we will invite the public to comment on the nominations and make further nominations if they wish.

If anyone is interested in attending the meeting on the 24th April with a view to learning more about Assets of Community Value and how to make nominations
please email: mail@marplecivicsociety.org.uk

Nationwide Community Match Scheme Award to Marple Civic Society

Nationwide Building Society customers have voted to donate £100 to the civic society under the Nationwide Community Match Scheme.  During April Marple Civic Society will be displayed in local Nationwide branches and customers will be given the opportunity to vote on a local cause to which they want Nationwide to donate a further £500.

We intend to put the £100 donation towards the cost of our "Assets of Community Value" community project display materials for the public consultation on Civic Day at Marple Carnival.  The project will have a significant impact on Marple in bringing the community together to protect our community assets.

If successful in the second round we will use the donation to contribute towards the cost of facilities and community events at Marple Lime Kilns. For more information about the Lime Kilns follow the link to "Oldknow's Legacy HLF Project" under "News Items" to the right of this page.

Many thanks to Nationwide and its customers.