Whatever your motives – from real community empowerment to secretly hoping your white elephant can become a cash cow – asset transfer is no quick-win when it comes to protecting the public purse.

In 2010, we were riding the wave of a successful, award-winning disposal programme which raised more than £2.3m while finding the best buyers to secure the future of the assets. So, when a local town council requested control of a number of assets, we were confident and keen to oblige, hoping to generate capital, reduce revenue costs and set an early example of localism in action.