A £61m fund has been launched to help communities take ownership of local assets such as pubs, shops and community centres.
Announced by Steve Reed during a speech in London yesterday, the Community Right to Buy Fund will help people in deprived areas buy local assets that are at risk of closing.
The scheme forms part of the government’s wider Pride in Place programme, backed by £5.8bn of funding.
Speaking at New Local’s Stronger Things Conference, Reed said communities should have a greater role in shaping local services and regeneration projects, arguing that decision-making in England remains too centralised.
The fund follows legislation giving communities the first opportunity to buy certain local assets when they are put up for sale.
The news is part of a wider £301m package to support high streets and community spaces. The government is also launching Community Power Pilots in 25 neighbourhoods, backed by £15m, to help residents and councils improve services.
Reed also confirmed plans for Place-Based Budget pilots to test whether local areas can benefit from greater flexibility over public spending.
‘We must pool budgets so they can be reprioritised based on local priorities – not priorities imposed from outside,’ he said.
The Communities Secretary announced reforms aimed at giving social housing tenants more control over the management of their homes.
‘As part of our new Right to Manage, more social housing residents will be able to take control of the management of their own homes if their current landlord is letting them down,’ Reed continued.
He added that the government would launch a consultation on extending similar arrangements to housing association tenants.
Reed also used the speech to criticise what he described as excessive profits being made by some providers of children’s accommodation and temporary housing, saying authorities are prepared to introduce profit caps if necessary.
Reed claimed: ‘It is quite frankly outrageous that in children’s accommodation, the 15 biggest providers make an average operating profit of £45,000 for every child.’
Photo: Victor Clime
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