What is Community Right to Challenge?

Apply to run council services: the Community Right to Challenge

Community groups can express an interest in running council services as part of the 'Community Right to Challenge'. The scheme for Hastings was approved at the Cabinet meeting on 08 October 2012.

Who can apply?

Groups that are eligible to express an interest include:

• Voluntary and community bodies
• Parish councils
• Council employees

How it works

The scheme will be open for groups to express an interest from April 2013 for two months, until 31 May, and it will then run in an annual cycle.

April to May: you express an interest in running a council service

The scheme is open for expressions of interest in April and May each year.

April to September: we decide whether to accept, modify or reject your proposal

We have a maximum of six months (up to September) to decide whether to accept, modify or reject your proposal. Once we've made a decision, we'll notify you of our decision within 10 working days.

October to March: we start a procurement process

If we accept your proposal, we'll start a procurement process where you can make a formal bid to run the service. The period between our decision and the start of the procurement process will be between three and six months and the timescales will depend on each individual case.

During the procurement process other organisations will also have the chance to bid to run the service.

How to express an interest

You can make an expression of interest from April 2013.

• Community Right to Challenge expression of interest form (.pdf 161KB)

Please send completed forms to:
Continuous Improvement and Democratic Services team
Muriel Matters House
Breeds Place
Hastings
East Sussex
TN37 6QT

Advice for relevant bodies including step by step guidance and a spreadsheet to help you assess if you are ready to submit an expression of interest is available from mycommunity.org.uk/what-are-community-rights

For enquiries please email righttochallenge@hastings.gov.uk, telephone 01424 451482 or 01424 451485.

Background

This document outlines the background of the Community Right to Bid scheme, the process and timetable of specific dates:

• Community Right to Bid background and timetable (.pdf 44KB)

Guidance notes

This document outlines guidance on how the scheme will work in Hastings:

• Guidance notes (.pdf 65KB)

Funding

The Social Investment Business has introduced a grants programme for groups who want to take up opportunities under the Community Right to Challenge.

Visit mycommunity.org.uk/what-are-community-rights for further information.

Funding

If you have an idea and would like to get involved, please contact us about the Community Right to Challenge righttochallenge@hastings.gov.uk