Charity Premises - Occupation Licence - Anecdotal National Picture.

• Of the estimated 4,500 Community Associations in England and Wales, anecdotal evidence indicates that the greatest proportion occupy premises on either a formal "Occupation Licence," or no formal written terms (potentially a "Tenancy at Will"), or arrangements written on the back of a "box of matches" - (Likely to ignite at any time).
• The issue of "Security of Tenure" is, therefore, of paramount importance to community associations (and indeed all voluntary and community sector organisations).
• We need FACTS - and that means we need to encourage all community associations (and the broader community/voluntary sectors) to provide real factual information of what the position is in their area. You now have the opportunity - please use it - help us to help you!

The Occupation Licence for Charity Premises

• Put bluntly and blandly, for many it is at best an historical (local political) comfort agreement giving no ongoing security of tenure to the Charity.
• A new political regime (or corporate policy change) could wipe out all those years of belief that all "was rosy in the garden!" All that investment of "Voluntary Action!" -all those years of "Progressive Investment" support by the Lead Political Party and supporting political parties - gone with a new regime!
• Community Associations are charity/businesses and cannot manage their economies on the basis of 4 year terms of a plethora of differing external political programmes. The issue of "Security of Tenure" is, therefore, a paramount issue for all Community Associations and other community and voluntary sector organisations occupying Local Authority owned/leased premises.
• You may feel comfortable with your "Occupation Licence" or your "On the back of a matchbox agreement" - you may take the view "If it aint broke why fix it" - who can say, you may be the exception to the trends and never have a problem.
• HOWEVER, as trustees of a public charity, can you take the risk of burying your head in the sand and not looking at what is happening on a national scale? Security of tenure is a big issue.
• Many Local Authorities are themselves revisiting this whole issue. You need to be "on the ball" armed with the facts and a good advocacy case to ensure that a change of direction into "so-called" security of tenure is what you want, appropriate, reasonable, affordable, manageable.

Let us know what your situation is: Click the SURVEY Tab and complete the survey.Look at the Report of a Conference on the subject of "Occupying Community Premises" - it contains many of the issues and arguments for Advocacy. Click the ADVOCACY Tab