Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

This was the annual report for the Community Grants fund for voluntary, community, and not for profit organisations.

The report also provided updates for 2021-22 and outlines key areas of work going forward.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

      i.          Approved the Community Grants to voluntary and community organisations for 2022-23, as set out in Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report, subject to the budget approval in February 2022 and any further satisfactory information required of applicant organisations.

     ii.          Approved £30,000 to Cambridge Council for the Voluntary Sector (CCVS) for a building community power and resilience project following on from the remarkable support undertaken by communities during the pandemic and linking to the Council’s ‘Our Cambridge’ transformation programme, as detailed in section 4 of the Officer’s report.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Community Funding and Development Manager.

In response to the report Councillors asked for the Committee’s thanks to the Community Funding and Development Manager and her Team to be recorded for their hard work.

The Community Funding and Development Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          A funding statement to mitigate the impact of Covid had been put out in March 2020. Details set out in the agreement said the City Council would support groups if applicants contacted officers to request assistance.

     ii.          There had been no applications from voluntary groups to support the Gypsy and Traveller community. Applications had been received from other communities. Officers were working with the Equalities Officer to understand how to approach groups who did not apply to encourage them to do so.

   iii.          Different amounts of funding were allocated around the city wards based on population size. The calculation had been in place for ten years.

   iv.          A budget of £1,000,000 was available for Community Grants 2022-23 subject to approval of the Council’s budget in February 2022. £70,000 of the Community Grants budget was allocated to Area Committee Community Grants as in previous years. The amount had been the same for years. Inflation was taken into consideration.

    v.          Applicants had to meet criteria to receive funding. Funding was awarded according to what was considered acceptable under project criteria.

The Executive Councillor said the City Council was one of the few District Councils in the country who maintained a community funding pot. If some sections were increased, the impact on the overall budget would have to be reviewed.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.