New laws on asset transfers from public bodies to the community under spotlight at Edinburgh seminar

This legislation gives a wide range of community bodies the right to request “relevant authorities” to transfer land, including buildings, to the community. The transfer can take the form of ownership, lease, management, or use of property. The list of “relevant authorities” potentially affected is extensive, and includes local authorities, Scottish Ministers, health boards, SEPA, the Scottish Police Authority, and many more. The default position under the new Act is that “relevant authorities” must agree to valid asset transfer requests unless there are “reasonable grounds” for refusal.

The way that this new community right to request asset transfer will work is one of the topics at a seminar to take place in Edinburgh on Monday 29 January. The seminar will also look at the way that the extended “community right to buy land”, introduced under the 2015 Act, has been working in practice. The seminar will hear from legal experts on the new legislation, along with those with practical “case study” experience on how it has been operating.

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