Calling all local authority lawyers…

Advocate Mark Lazarowicz, one of the organisers of the event, said: “The conference has special relevance to local authority lawyers because councils are likely to be particularly affected by the ‘right to request asset transfer’ which is now in force. This gives a wide range of community organisations the power to ask public bodies to transfer public assets to them.

“Community groups can ask for the ownership of land and buildings to be transferred to them. They can also ask for property to be leased to them, or for particular facilities to be made available for their use. The default position under the new law is that public bodies must agree to a transfer request ‘unless there are reasonable grounds for refusing it’, so it is likely that many councils and other public bodies will find themselves the subjects of a transfer request.”

The seminar will also be looking at the extended community right to buy land, from any owner, which was also introduced by the 2015 Act. The seminar will feature legal experts, along with speakers with direct practical experience of the new legislation.

A discounted early bird price of £60 per place is available for bookings made before 10 January.

Full details of the seminar programme, speakers, and how to book, can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-rights-for-communities-to-buy-land-and-acquire-public-assets-tickets-41186118790