North Ayrshire Council have put town halls and other buildings up for grabs for community organisations, writes Drew Cochrane.

Under a new scheme, promoted by the Scottish Government, the council have launched Community Asset Transfer to encourage local people to take over the running of community centres and underused buildings.

At recent workshops in Ardrossan NAC officers outlined a deal to make it easier for groups to run council facilities.

Mr Drew MacEoghainn of the Community Support Service said that transfers would be done under "viability not liability" with maintenance provided, in most case, by NAC.

There is the option of purchasing, leasing or simply managing council buildings as has already been done in places as widespread as Irvine and Skelmorlie.

Mr MacEoghainn said that although a community organisation should have at least 20 members the council would be flexible if the applicants had office-bearers and a constitution. The council would also insert a "claw-back clause in case the venture went bust."

In answer to a question from a community representative he added that not only halls and centres were available, but also police stations and offices.

"People will not have to meet the market value as long as they can use the asset better than at present. The cost of renovation will also be taken into consideration."

Mr MacEoghainn said: "We don't want the council transferring a millstone or a whole load of trouble. There could even be a repair and replace contract under a lease agreement. The council understands community groups may struggle to take liabilities on."

Communities officer Jim McHarg told the workshops that in cases where there was council staff such as caretakers they would also have to be transferred to the new group. A few organisations which could not apply included political parties and faith-based groups.

He pointed out that in Fairlie (see picture) and Skelmorlie NAC leased the halls from community groups while West Kilbride Hall was run in an agreement with a voluntary committee.

Mr McHarg said that if a community group wanted to take over the Brisbane Centre, anyone who used the Largs Bath Street building would have to be fully consulted.

He added that NAC were taking a different approach from East Ayrshire Council who had said "you can buy our community centres or we'll close them."