WILTSHIRE Council employee David Bowater was recognised for his work supporting local communities in a reception at the House of Lords, after winning a Locality Public Sector Hero Award.

Locality, which is a national network of community-led organisations, holds the Public Sector Hero Awards to recognise shining examples of good practice – the public sector staff who go above and beyond the call of duty to help the local community sector. 

Wiltshire Community Land Trust nominated Mr Bowater for the Supporting Localism category for the work he did promoting guidelines for community rights and how to use them

The citation for his award read: “David is an excellent enabler, who brings the right people together to move things forward to positive and tangible outcomes for communities.”  

Wiltshire CLT works to support communities in Wiltshire and Swindon to own and manage their own assets and worked with Mr Bowater and Wiltshire Council to produce Wiltshire’s Community Ownership of Assets Toolkit.

CLT manager Rose Seagrief said: “We nominated David because of the great work he’s done to support Wiltshire communities to take advantage of the opportunities created by the Localism Bill by publishing Wiltshire’s Community Ownership of Assets Toolkit.

“These are simple guidelines on the various Community Rights and how to use them. Now David’s exploring ways to enable elderly people to stay independent in their communities longer – they are in good hands.”

Two of the things that the Toolkit, which can be found on Wiltshire Council’s website, covers are the Community Right to Bid and the Registration of Assets of Community Value. 

To date more than 30 Wiltshire communities have registered a range of community assets including 24 pubs, a number of schools, social and youth clubs, village halls and nature reserves, as well as a shop, a post office, a library, a doctor’s surgery, a playing field and a footpath. 

Ms Seagrief said: “It’s good to see that Wiltshire communities are beginning to develop neighbourhood and village plans that map all the local places, buildings and facilities that are truly valued by local people.

“They are successfully registering them as Assets of Community Value with Wiltshire Council and this ensures that their importance to those communities is formally recognised.” 

If one of these listed assets comes up for sale, the Community Right to Bid delays the selling process to give a community the chance to put together a bid to acquire it.

Wiltshire CLT is now working with Community First to gather experts together for an autumn event for communities that want learn more about owning, developing and managing their own assets for community benefit.