PME3304 - Library Community Asset Transfer programme - Information Update

Tender description

Walsall Council is offering the opportunity for a voluntary and community sector organisation to occupy the various current Library premises through the council's Community Asset Transfer programme. Walsall Council welcomes expressions of interest from voluntary and community sector organisations or several organisations working as a consortium who have the necessary expertise and imaginative proposals to take over the occupation of these buildings and make them available for use to the wider community. This note is to keep potential interested parties informed of the progress of the programme and to inform them that it is expected that the Expressions of Interest Briefs and Documents for each of the current library sites will be released through the Council's e-tendering portal on Friday 17 March 2017. There is no requirement for interested parties to Express an Interest for this Information Update. As part of the closure decision, the council has decided that opportunities for the community use of these buildings should be explored. The council therefore now wishes to explore Community Asset Transfer (CAT) as an alternative way of keeping the buildings open and available for use by the wider community. If any local small community groups are interested in being involved in the future use of these buildings, but do not have the capacity or do not wish to submit their own expression of interest, they may provide their contact details to the council. In order to facilitate contact between interested parties, the council will be pleased to share contact details with organisations or groups interested in developing a joint or consortium proposal, on request and in exchange for the contact details. Proposals from commercial organisations or projects that do not deliver, social, economic and environmental benefits to the local community and the people of Walsall will not be considered.