As a Parish Council, you can get involved in protecting or taking on local services and community assets and we are here to support you throughout the process

Local Devolution

The Council Plan 2025 to 2029 sets out the Council’s vision, ambitions and priorities for the next four years, as well as the approach we will take to achieve them.

Details from the Councils priority action list under 'Thriving and Empowered Communities,' to be implemenented over the next four years include:

• Creating opportunities for the devolution of services and assets
• Supporting you and other local community groups who want to run local services and assets and where it would deliver improvements and better value for money.

There is a growing framework of community rights and mechanisms for local devolution. We are fully committed to working with you to provide and explore opportunities for communities to manage local assets and services where they wish to take on additional responsibilities and where it is cost-effective.  This approach aims to bring decision-making closer to communities and empower Parish Sector Organisations to take on more responsibilities and drive lasting solutions that respond to community needs.

Local devolution involves transferring powers and responsibilities from:

• Central government → Principal authorities (North Yorkshire Council)
• Principal authorities → Parish Sector Organisations (or community groups)

Community Service Transfers

Unlike Community Asset Transfer, CST focuses on service delivery rather than land or buildings, with decisions based on organisational capacity and supported by standardised but flexible terms to ensure safe, sustainable management. Examples could include:

• Grounds maintenance
• Public toilets
• Park benches

Are you interested in a Community Transfer?

The first step is to complete an Expression of Interest form. Once this is received, we will carry out some basic checks on the asset/service and the organisation putting forward the request. We will then let you know the outcome. If things progress, we ask for a business case so that we can fully assess the idea. This could lead into our formal decision‑making process and, where appropriate, a transfer/agreement.

A CAT doesn’t necessarily transfer freehold ownership. In some cases this is the outcome, but more commonly it can provide a long leasehold interest at a below-market rent, with liability.

In all cases an initial discussion is beneficial, to arrange this please email localdevolution@northyorks.gov.uk

You might find information on these websites helpful:

Community Rights

The Localism Act 2011 set out a range of measures giving communities greater power to protect local assets and influence planning and services in your area. One of the Community Rights most frequently used by Parishes is the Community Right to Bid, also known as Assets of Community Value.

Assets of Community Value (ACVs) 

When something is listed as an ACV, it gives the community a chance to step in if the owner decides to sell, by triggering a pause in the sale process so local groups can prepare a bid to buy. It does not force a sale to the community, but it does give residents a fair opportunity to protect valued local assets for the future.

Parishes can nominate a site to be listed as an ACV by filling in the nomination form and providing a clearly marked boundary plan along with evidence that supports assessment. We then check the information and a decision is made based on whether the asset meets the legal test for listing, which is that its current or recent use benefits the community and this can continue or resume. If the legal test is met, it’s added to the ACV register for up to five years. Examples of ACVs include pubs, village halls, shops, or green spaces, because they play an important role in community life.

For more information and a downloadable version of the nomination form, click the button below.

What happens if an owner decides to sell an ACV?

When the owner of an ACV decides to sell, they have to let us know. This starts a short 6‑week pause, giving valid community interest groups time to say if they want to try to buy it. If a community interest group (including a parish council) does want to explore buying it, the process then extends to a 6‑month period where the owner can not sell to anyone else. This gives the community time to put a bid together, it doesn’t mean the Parish Council has to bid. After the pause ends, the owner can sell to whoever they choose, but the community has had time to act and gives local people a fair chance to save places that matter to them.

North Yorkshire Council's Register of Assets of Community Value

Click the button to view a full register of all ACVs in North Yorkshire.

If you would like you to contact the team about ACVs, please get in touch via Assetsofcommunityvalue.NYC@northyorks.gov.uk

Community Right to Build

Community Right to Build empowers local communities in England to undertake projects without needing traditional planning permission from the local authority through the development and approval of Neighbourhood Development Orders. For more information, click the button below.

Neighbourhood Plans

Neighbourhood Plans shape local development you can lead on the development of these in your Parish. Through Neighbourhood Development Plans, communities can influence where new homes, shops, and facilities should be built, and what they should look like. Once approved by a local referendum, these plans become legally binding and must be considered in future planning decisions. It is a powerful way for local voices to shape the places they live and work. For more information, click the button below.

For information and advice about devolution of assets and services, please email localdevolution@northyorks.gov.uk