The Community Right to Challenge was established by the 2011 Localism Act; it came into force in June 2012. The right allows voluntary and community groups, charities, parish councils, and local and fire and rescue authority staff to bid to run council services where they believe they can do so differently and better.
Groups, classed as ‘relevant bodies', can submit a written expression of interest to us to bid to run one or more of our services. Relevant bodies include;
voluntary or community organisations
charities
parish and town councils
two or more employees of the relevant authority
We will consider and respond to expressions of interest. If we accept an expression of interest, we will then carry out a procurement exercise for that service. The challenging body and other interested parties can bid for the contract to run that service. The successful bidder will take over delivery of the service.
Our arrangements for responding to expressions of interest under the Community Right to Challenge are set out below:
Only those expressions of interest that promote or improve the social, economic or environmental wellbeing of the local area will be considered
Expressions of interest must include the information set out in paragraph 4.2 of the Community Right to Challenge Statutory Guidance. Following receipt of an expression of interest we may ask the relevant body to demonstrate that it meets the definition of a relevant body.
We will acknowledge receipt of an expression of interest within 12 weeks of receiving the EOI.
Where possible we will notify the relevant body of our decision about an expression of interest within 12 weeks of receiving it.
If we accept an expression of interest, we will start a procurement process in no less than three months and no more than twelve months (note; this is a guide and may be subject to change dependent on the expression of interest).
The deadline for expressions of interest is now closed. A detailed schedule for 2014, which will include eligible services and timescales will be added to the website early in 2014.
