When the owner of an asset on the List of Assets of Community Value notifies the Council that they intend to dispose of their asset, the Council must share this information with the community.

One way this is done is by updating the List of assets of community value.

Then, unless the type of disposal is exempt from the provisions of the scheme, a six-week window of opportunity is triggered (called a 'moratorium period'), in which the owner cannot dispose of the asset.

During these six weeks, eligible community interest groups may signal to the Council their interest in being treated as a potential bidder for the asset. If they do, a longer moratorium period will be triggered in which the owner cannot dispose of the asset. During this time (six months from the date the owner announced their intention to sell), community groups can prepare their bid for the asset.

Only some community interest groups are able to request to be treated as a 'potential bidder'.

These groups must have a local connection and must have one of the following structures:

• a charity
• a community interest company
• a company limited by guarantee which does not distribute any surplus it makes to its members
• a community benefit society which does not distribute any surplus it makes to its members

A local connection means that the body's activities are wholly or partly concerned with the local authority's area or with a neighbouring authority's area and that any surplus it makes is wholly or partly applied for the benefit of the local authority's area or a neighbouring authority's area.

If your organisation meets the above definition of "community interest group", and you are interested in bidding for an asset that an owner intends to sell, then you must inform the Council before the six weeks interim moratorium period ends (for all moratorium end dates, please see the updated list of assets of community value). Please be aware that the Council will verify your group's eligibility to be treated as a potential bidder.

To request to be treated as a potential bidder, please submit the Community Right to Bid Potential Bidder form (PDF)