Principle 4 – Provides strong democratic accountability, representation and community empowerment

With our communities we will mobilise resources

We will promote community ownership, working with communities to support them to take on or contribute to the running of local community assets and services where it makes sense to do so.

The ability for communities to be autonomous in the delivery of local services, activities and facilities helps to ensure that, in partnership with the new unitary authorities, important local activity is preserved or enhanced in truly collaborative, community led ways.

Adopting models that support transferring the ownership or management of local community assets, is one approach through which this can be achieved.  Whilst this may be an effective and financially efficient method of delivery, future viability and sustainability in short, medium and long terms are critical.

With support, communities can continue to deliver affordable activities and services to residents, with the transfer of decision making on development, growth and new opportunities in response to unmet local need placed in the hands of those who understand their communities best.

Pinewood Lodge in East Hampshire – Case Study

In 2018, Pinewood Village Hall in Whitehill and Bordon shut after many years of dwindling use as better facilities became available elsewhere in the town. East Hampshire District Council took a novel approach to redeploying the asset and, in a national first, worked with a housing manufacturer and local charity to convert the redundant village hall into modular housing for those facing homelessness.

Now renamed as Pinewood Lodge, and leased to a local homeless charity, the site provides temporary accommodation to those experiencing homelessness, giving them their own front door and on-site support to help residents secure more suitable long term-term accommodation and address any wider wellbeing needs.

The scheme has transformed this once-redundant asset into a valuable community asset to help relieve homelessness pressures and improve outcomes for vulnerable local residents. It has also generated vital income for the council and has help significantly reduce the council’s need to place people experiencing homelessness into expensive Bed and Breakfast accommodation.