COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER POLICY 'A FIG LEAF TO COVER UP FOR ASSET SALES'

1.21.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th May 2008

A proposed new policy on Community Asset Transfers, that comes before the Conservative Elected Mayor's Cabinet on 20th May, is no more than "a fig leaf to cover up for asset sales' claim the Liberal Democrats.

The new policy, if approved by the Mayor, would "enable community and voluntary sector groups to apply for the transfer of council owned assets, specifically for the benefit of local communities."

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Torbay Council Councillor Steve Darling said:

"This policy is quite clearly being adopted to deflect attention from the council assets that the Mayor is planning to flog to the highest bidder at the very same cabinet meeting. As Appendix 1 to the report says, the legislation for this policy was passed in 2006 so there is no reason why the Conservative administration could not have had this policy in place before planning their sale of the century of council assets."

Councillor Ruth Pentney said:

"Residents in Paignton would love to be able to apply for a community asset transfer for the Monastery in Paignton, but have been thwarted at every turn by the Conservatives and their elected Mayor. This policy is just a fig leaf to cover up for their asset sales."