New year marked with enthusiastic show of support for community assets in Senedd

Despite increasingly challenging circumstances faced by individuals and communities, 2023 has got off to a promising start in relation to stronger community rights. The Local Government and Housing Committee’s report into Community Assets was debated during the second Plenary session of the first week back in the Senedd on Wednesday January 11th.

We were pleased to provide written and oral evidence to the inquiry last Summer, bringing grassroots community experiences to the attention of policy and decision makers. After hearing from lots of witnesses, and undertaking visits to community groups, the Committee published their findings; notably calling for “action to establish a commission to stimulate innovative thinking on community ownership of land and assets in Wales.”

The government chose to accept the majority of the Committee’s recommendations, either in full or in principle, whilst expressing some concerns about the timescales suggested. The only exception to this was recommendation 14 “to establish a specific Welsh fund for community housing projects, similar to the funds available in England and Scotland.”

We heard from the majority of Committee Members in the accompanying debate in addition to Jack Sargeant MS, Peredur Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Communities and Older People and Vikki Howells MS who all recognised the vital importance of community assets and stronger rights for groups wanting to undertake an asset transfer. It was good to hear that many Senedd members could see the benefits of peer-learning; enabling groups to learn from those who have been there and know the pitfalls of the asset transfer process!

During the debate the Minister for Climate Change was asked about timescales involved and was challenged about the need for legislation which could grant communities rights to acquire assets as present in both Scotland and England. The Minister responded stating that legislation is absolutely “not off the table,” should the Commission deem it the right option.

It is clear that work has begun to create a Commission. We firmly believe that the Commission’s membership must include those who have experience of undertaking asset transfer. Moreover that creating the Commission must be undertaken as a matter of urgency.  

Whilst we’re pleased by the positive tone of the debate, yet another example of strong cross-party support, words alone are not enough to equip communities with the rights necessary to support community action.